Easy Tech Tuts
Microsoft Excel

How to Log In to Microsoft Excel, Sign in Easily 2026

By Impran M N

Getting stuck on licensing errors or being blocked from editing cloud files usually comes down to not being properly signed in. This guide covers signing into Excel from the desktop app, the mobile app, and the web portal, plus handling multi-factor verification along the way.

01Open Account settings on desktop

Launch Excel, click the File tab, and select Account in the sidebar.

02Click Sign In

Click the Sign In button under your product information.

03Enter your credentials

Type your personal or corporate Microsoft account email, then enter your password and complete any multi-factor code.

04Sign in on mobile

Open the Excel app on your phone, tap your profile icon, and select Sign In to enter your credentials.

05Use the web portal as an alternative

Go to the official Microsoft 365 web portal and sign in to access cloud sheets directly in your browser.

06Confirm the sync

Check that your avatar photo displays in the application ribbon to confirm you're fully signed in across devices.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can I use the same account across desktop, mobile, and web?

Yes, Microsoft's unified identity system is designed to let you use the same credentials across all three environments.

What if I have both a personal and work account?

You can switch between personal and enterprise profiles, though you'll need to manage which one is active to avoid losing your layouts.

Do I need multi-factor authentication every time I sign in?

This depends on your account and organization's security policies, since some setups require it more frequently than others.

Is the web version free to sign into without a paid license?

Yes, the Microsoft 365 web portal offers free access to Excel for the web with just a basic Microsoft account.

Watch the full walkthrough

The same steps, demonstrated on screen from start to finish.