Outlook 2019 is no longer asking for password ...

[Dave Horne]

This just started very recently. I go to open Outlook 2019 (on Windows 11 Pro) and the program opens. It would always ask me for my four character password that I created, but now it just opens, no password required.

I have looked online for solutions and from within Outlook, tried ... File \ Account settings \ Update password \ entering in a new password \ entering the password for my Internet mail for my provider \ receive a message from Outlook ... but nothing changes.

My desktop is still password protected but anyone who just happens to be in my house could go through my Outlook.

Any suggestions? Thanks, Dave Horne

 

[Diane Poremsky]

Is the password for your email account or for a pst file? Or is it the pin you use to log into the computer?

 

[Dave Horne]

I believe it's the password for the pst file. The email password(s) are the ones for our provider and are different, and to start up the computer, there's yet another password.

 

[Diane Poremsky]

This is what the enter pst password dialog looks like

Try this:

1. Go to the top level of your folder, where Outlook Today is found. The folder name may include "Outlook Today" or your email account name.
2. Right click on it and choose Properties (Data File Properties in Outlook 2010)
3. Click the Advanced button
4. Click Change Password
5. Leave the Old Password field blank and enter a New Password and verify password.

You should be able to use the same password for new password - but uncheck the save password in password list box.

That is from

To Secure Your Personal Folders (*.pst) File


And if the password you enter is not correct, then that is probably not was the password was for.

 

[Dave Horne]

Diane, thanks for your prompt response.

I'll attach ascreenshot. The top folder in Outlook Today is my folder named with my email address. I've right clicked on that and tried Account Properties / Account settings / Update password ... didn't solve the problem. I also tried right click on the folder with my email adress ... / Data file properties / Advanced / Change password ... didn't work.

I have the feeling that there was once a folder above my folder that is no longer there.

If I were to create yet another folder, place it on top, and create a password for that, could that be a work-around?

EDIT ... in the following screenshot, I don't see a folder with my email address. Should there be one?

 

[Dave Horne]

Diane, thanks for your prompt response. View attachment 4032I'll attach ascreenshot. The top folder in Outlook Today is my folder named with my email address. I've right clicked on that and tried Account Properties / Account settings / Update password ... didn't solve the problem. I also tried right click on the folder with my email adress ... / Data file properties / Advanced / Change password ... didn't work.

I have the feeling that there was once a folder above my folder that is no longer there.

If I were to create yet another folder, place it on top, and create a password for that, could that be a work-around?

EDIT ... in the following screenshot, I don't see a folder with my email address. Should there be one?View attachment 4033

EDIT ... The more I think about it, there was a Personal Folder at the top of the folder list that must have gotten deleted.