OneDrive Error 0x8004de44 After Account Password Reset

OneDrive Error 0x8004de44 appears immediately after you reset your Microsoft 365 account password. The error message states that sign-in failed and your credentials are no longer valid. This happens because OneDrive caches your old password in the Windows Credential Manager and does not automatically refresh it. This article explains the exact cause of this error and provides three methods to remove the stale credentials and restore OneDrive sync.

Why OneDrive Error 0x8004de44 Occurs After a Password Reset

OneDrive for Business uses OAuth 2.0 tokens to authenticate with Microsoft 365. When you reset your Microsoft 365 password, the authentication server invalidates all existing tokens issued to your account. However, OneDrive and Windows do not immediately delete the old token from the local credential store. The next time OneDrive tries to sync, it sends the expired token to the server. The server rejects the token and returns error 0x8004de44, which translates to sign-in failure due to invalid credentials.

The cached credential is stored in two locations. The primary location is Windows Credential Manager under the category Windows Credentials. The entry is named MicrosoftAccount:user=your-email-address. A secondary location is the Stored User Names and Passwords vault, accessible through the Key Manager tool. Clearing both locations forces OneDrive to discard the old token and request a new one using your updated password.

What Error 0x8004de44 Looks Like

You see a pop-up notification in the system tray that reads: OneDrive needs your password. Sign in to continue syncing. Clicking the notification opens a sign-in window that fails with the code 0x8004de44. OneDrive then shows a red circle with a white X on its cloud icon. Files that were previously synced become placeholder files or show sync errors.

Steps to Clear Cached Credentials and Fix Error 0x8004de44

Use the methods below in the order they are listed. Method 1 is the fastest and works for most users. Use Method 2 if the error persists after Method 1. Use Method 3 only if the credential entry is hidden from Credential Manager.

Method 1: Delete the Credential from Windows Credential Manager

1. Open Credential Manager
   Press the Windows key, type credential manager, and select Credential Manager from the search results.
2. Switch to Windows Credentials
   Click the Windows Credentials tab. Scroll to the Generic Credentials section.
3. Locate the MicrosoftAccount entry
   Find the entry named MicrosoftAccount:user=your-email-address. Replace your-email-address with the actual email you use for OneDrive.
4. Remove the cached credential
   Click the arrow to expand the entry, then click Remove. Confirm the deletion when prompted.
5. Restart OneDrive
   Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in the system tray and select Close OneDrive. Wait 10 seconds. Open OneDrive from the Start menu or by typing OneDrive in the search bar. OneDrive will prompt you to sign in. Enter your new password.

Method 2: Unlink and Relink OneDrive

1. Open OneDrive Settings
   Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in the system tray and select Settings.
2. Go to the Account tab
   In the OneDrive Settings window, click the Account tab.
3. Unlink this PC
   Click Unlink this PC. A confirmation dialog appears. Click Unlink account. OneDrive closes automatically.
4. Restart OneDrive and sign in
   Open OneDrive from the Start menu. The setup wizard appears. Enter your email address and click Sign in. Type your new password. OneDrive re-syncs your files from scratch. Existing files in the local OneDrive folder are preserved unless you chose a different folder during setup.

Method 3: Use the Stored User Names and Passwords Tool

1. Open the Key Manager tool
   Press Windows key + R, type rundll32.exe keymgr.dll,KRShowKeyMgr, and press Enter.
2. Remove the OneDrive credential
   In the Stored User Names and Passwords window, select the entry for your Microsoft 365 account. Click Remove. Confirm the deletion.
3. Close the tool and restart OneDrive
   Click Close. Right-click the OneDrive icon in the system tray and select Close OneDrive. Open OneDrive again and sign in with your new password.

If OneDrive Still Shows Error 0x8004de44 After Clearing Credentials

OneDrive Re-Caches the Old Token After Sign-In

In some cases, a corrupted OneDrive configuration file causes the app to re-create the old credential entry immediately after you sign in. To fix this, reset OneDrive completely. Press Windows key + R, type %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset, and press Enter. Wait 2 minutes. Open OneDrive from the Start menu. The reset process clears the configuration cache and forces a fresh authentication.

Microsoft 365 Admin Policy Blocks New Sign-Ins

If your organization uses Conditional Access policies, a recent password reset might require multi-factor authentication again. Check with your IT administrator to ensure your account is not blocked by a sign-in risk policy. You can also test by signing in to the Microsoft 365 portal at office.com with your new password. If portal sign-in fails, the issue is with your account, not OneDrive.

Windows Hello or PIN Blocks OneDrive Sign-In

If you use a Windows Hello PIN to sign in to your PC, OneDrive might try to authenticate using the PIN instead of the new password. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and select Windows Hello PIN. Click I forgot my PIN and follow the reset wizard. After the PIN reset, OneDrive will prompt for your password again.

Credential Manager vs Unlink and Relink: Key Differences

Item	Credential Manager Deletion	Unlink and Relink OneDrive
Time required	2 minutes	10 to 30 minutes depending on file count
Local files affected	None	None if you keep the same folder location
Sync history preserved	Yes	No
Works with Conditional Access	Yes	Yes
Requires admin rights	No	No

Credential Manager deletion is preferred because it preserves your sync history and does not trigger a full re-sync. Use the unlink method only if the credential deletion does not resolve the error.

You can now fix OneDrive Error 0x8004de44 by clearing the cached credential in Windows Credential Manager or by unlinking and relinking your account. If the error returns after a future password reset, run the Credential Manager steps again. As an advanced tip, create a batch file that runs rundll32.exe keymgr.dll,KRShowKeyMgr and place it on your desktop so you can access the credential vault in one click.