Error 1200: How to Fix This Microsoft Sign-in Issue

Refer to this guide for effective fixes

by Taiba Hasan
Taiba Hasan
Taiba Hasan
A postgraduate in Computer Applications, she is an avid technical writer who loves to craft content revolving around Windows, Android, and emerging technologies like SaaS. With How-To and... read more
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  • The error 1200 occurs during the Microsoft account sign-in process on OneDrive or Outlook app. 
  • Multiple cached identities in the Microsoft credential folder are the primary reason for this error. 
  • Deleting the Microsoft credential folder and disconnecting the work or school accounts resolves the error 1200. 
error 1200
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Signing into your Microsoft account is usually a straightforward process. However, some of our readers have been encountering the error code 1200 along with the message- Something went wrong when trying to sign into OneDrive, Microsoft Teams, or any other Microsoft service.

In case you cannot access any Microsoft service connected to your Microsoft account because of the error code 1200, this guide will present you with some effective methods to resolve this problem.

Why do I get an error 1200 during the Microsoft sign-in process?

You can run into the generic error code 1200 during the sign-in process for multiple reasons. Some of them are as follows:

  • Incorrect account credentials – You may be presented with the error code 1200 if you enter the incorrect sign-in credentials several times.
  • Corrupt browser cache and cookies – If the cached files and browser cookies stored get corrupted over time, this error is likely to show up. 
  • Suspended or blocked account – This error code can also show up if Microsoft blocks or suspends your account due to security reasons. 
  • Unstable internet connection – Poor internet connectivity prevents authentication of the sign-in credentials causing the error at hand. 
  • Corrupted credentials folder – If the Microsoft credentials folder gets corrupted or stores multiple cached identities, you will face problems during the Microsoft sign-in process. 

How do I fix the error 1200 during the Microsoft sign-in process?

Some of the simple workarounds to try before moving on to the complex solutions are as follows: 

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If none of these tricks helped fix the Microsoft sign-in error code 1200, move on to the advanced solution listed below. 

1. Clear browser cookies and cache 

  1. Launch Google Chrome on your Windows PC.
  2. Click the Menu icon (three dots) on the top right corner and select the Settings option from the drop-down menu. error 1200
  3. Switch to the Privacy and security option from the left navigation menu of the Settings window. error 1200
  4. Next, click the Clear Browsing Data button located on the right pane. error 1200
  5. On the pop-up window that appears, select all the listed checkboxes and press the Clear data button. error 1200
  6. After the browser cookies and data are deleted, check if the error 1200 is resolved. 

The method to delete the browser cache in other web browsers, such as Edge and Firefox, is similar to that of Google Chrome. 

2. Delete the Microsoft credentials folder

  1. Use the Windows + R shortcut to launch the Run dialog box.
  2. Enter the following environment variable in the text box and press the Enter key to access the following location. %localappdata% error 1200
  3. Here, locate the Microsoft folder and double-click it to access its contents.
  4. Now, locate the Credentials folder, right-click it, and choose the Delete option located on the context menu.

After deleting the credentials folder, reboot your PC and see if you can successfully log into the Microsoft account without encountering the error 1200.

Windows stores all the sign-in credentials in a dedicated folder, which, if gets corrupt, creates issues with the Microsoft sign-in process. Hence, deleting the corrupt folder should be a viable solution to resolve the sign-in error at hand. 

3. Perform a clean boot

  1. Use the Windows + R shortcut using the Run dialog box. Type the following command in the text box and press the OK button. Msconfig error 1200
  2. In the General tab of the System Configuration window, disable the checkbox for Load startup items and enable the Load system services option.
  3. Next, switch to the Services tab, look for the Hide all Microsoft services on the bottom left, and enable the checkbox for it. Next, press the Disable All button.
  4. Click Apply to save the changes and OK to close the System Configuration window. 
  5. Now, restart your PC as you normally do to access the clean boot state.

Now, follow the same procedure as before to sign into your Microsoft account. If the error 1200 does not present itself during the clean boot state, it means that third-party apps were restricting you from signing into the Microsoft account. You can now re-enable these processes one by one to identify the culprit. After that, uninstall the app to which the service is related.

4. Modify the registry

  1. Use the Windows + R shortcut key to launch the Run dialog box. Type the following command in the text box and press the Enter key. regedit.msc error 1200
  2. In the registry editor window, access the following subkey by pasting the following location in the address bar. Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Identity
  3. Now right-click the Identity key in the left navigation bar and press the Delete button in the context menu. error 1200
  4. Exit the registry window after this and see if the error 1200 issue is resolved.

After this, exit the registry editor and reboot your PC. Upon restart, relaunch the Microsoft app and try signing in with your Microsoft account. Hopefully, the error 1200 will no longer interfere with the sign-in process.

5. Disconnect Work and School accounts

  1. Launch the Settings app using the Windows + I shortcut.
  2. Switch to Accounts from the left sidebar and click the Access work or school option located under the Account settings. error 1200
  3. In the next window, look for any work or school accounts, if any, that are currently connected to your PC. If you find any, click it to reveal the related settings and press the Remove button.

Having the work and school account connected to your PC, you will likely face issues during the sign-in process of your Microsoft account.

That’s all in this troubleshooting guide! Hopefully, you successfully signed into your Microsoft account by implementing the workaround solutions above.

In case you run into the we need to fix your Microsoft account error, refer to this guide for help. 

Which of the solutions listed in this guide worked for you? Do let us know in the comments section. 

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