How to fix Microsoft Office error code 5fcl8 in Windows?

Microsoft Office, represented by apps like Word, Excel, and Outlook, is an essential productivity set of millions of Windows 10 and 11 users offering document composition, data analysis, and communication solutions. Depending entirely on seamless authentication and licensing via Microsoft 365 subscription or single-license versions like Office 2021, it hinges to run successfully. Even then, its availability might get affected by outages like error code 5fcl8 and so hinder use of such life-saving solutions.

The 5fcl8 error typically appears with a message stating Something went wrong, often during sign-in or activation attempts. Despite showing as signed in, apps may display Unlicensed Product, blocking editing capabilities. This issue is frequently tied to authentication failures, particularly with Microsoft 365’s integration with Azure Active Directory (AAD) or the Web Account Manager (WAM) plugin, which handles sign-in processes.

Causes can include corrupted identity caches, such as the OneAuth or IdentityCache folders, which store authentication tokens. Network issues, like firewall restrictions or dual graphics card conflicts (e.g., integrated vs. dedicated GPUs), have also been reported to trigger this error.

Also, problems with user profile management -more so in Remote Desktop Services (RDS) or Citrix environments—may trigger this error, especially with new user profiles. System-wide issues, such as corrupted registry entries or files, can also interfere with Office's license authentication.

Several troubleshooting steps can cure this error depending on its reason.Clearing identity caches, repairing authentication components, or adjusting system settings often resolves the issue. For RDS or Citrix users, registry tweaks might be necessary.

The instructions below provide eight detailed fixes to restore Office functionality. For a faster solution, we recommend using FortectMac Washing Machine X9, a PC repair app that can automatically fix system file corruption, registry errors, and other Windows issues potentially causing the 5fcl8 error.

Fix 1. Sign out and sign back into Office

Authentication glitches can cause Office to fail license validation, even if you appear signed in. Signing out and back in refreshes the session and may resolve the issue.

• Open any Office app like Word or Excel.
• Click File > Account.
• Under User Information, click Sign out and confirm.
• Close all Office apps and restart your computer.
• Open an Office app again and sign in with your Microsoft 365 credentials.

Fix 2. Clear OneAuth and IdentityCache folders

Corrupted authentication caches can prevent Office from verifying your account, leading to the 5fcl8 error. Deleting these folders forces Office to recreate them with fresh data.

• Close all Office apps, including Teams.
• Press Win R to open the Run dialog box.
• Type %appdata%\Microsoft and press Enter.
• Locate the OneAuth and IdentityCache folders and delete them.
• Restart your computer and open an Office app to sign in again.

Fix 3. Repair Web Account Manager (WAM) components

The WAM plugin, used for Office sign-ins, can malfunction and cause authentication errors. Repairing it via PowerShell can fix the issue.

• Type powershell in Windows search.
• Right-click on the result and select Run as administrator.
• Type the following commands and press Enter:
  Add-AppxPackage -Register $env:windir\SystemApps\Microsoft.AAD.BrokerPlugin_cw5n1h2txyewy\Appxmanifest.xml -DisableDevelopmentMode -ForceApplicationShutdown
  Add-AppxPackage -Register $env:windir\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.CloudExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\Appxmanifest.xml -DisableDevelopmentMode -ForceApplicationShutdown
• Restart your computer and test Office apps.

Fix 4. Update Office to the latest version

Outdated Office versions might have bugs that cause sign-in or licensing errors. Updating ensures you have the latest fixes for authentication issues.

• Open any Office app, such as Word.
• Click on the File tab in the top-left corner.
• Select Account from the menu.
• Under the Product Information section, click on Update Options.
• Choose Update Now to check for and install any available updates.
• Restart the Office application after the update is complete to see if the issue is resolved.

Fix 5. Run SFC and DISM scans

Corrupted system files can interfere with Office’s authentication process, leading to errors like 5fcl8. SFC and DISM tools can repair these files.

• Type in cmd in Windows search.
• Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
• In the User Account Control window, click Yes.
• In the Command Prompt window, paste the following command and hit Enter:
  sfc /scannow
• Next, use the following commands, pressing Enter each time:
  Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  (Note: if you get an error executing this last command, add /Source:C:\RepairSource\Windows /LimitAccess to it and try again).
• Reboot your computer.

Fix 6. Clear notifications registry key (RDS/Citrix users)

In RDS or Citrix environments, registry issues with notifications can cause Office authentication failures, especially for new user profiles. Clearing this key can help.

• Press Win R to open the Run dialog box.
• Type regedit and press Enter to open Registry Editor.
• Navigate to the following location:
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Notifications.
• Right-click the Notifications key and select Delete to remove it.
• Restart your computer and try signing into Office again.

Fix 7. Reinstall Office

If Office’s installation is corrupted, it might fail to authenticate properly. Reinstalling it ensures a fresh setup of all components.

• Right-click on Start and pick Apps and Features/Installed apps.
• Scroll down to find the MS Office installation.
• Click Uninstall and confirm with Uninstall.
• Follow on-screen instructions to remove the app completely.
• Press Win E to open File Explorer.
• Navigate to the following location and delete its contents:
  C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office
• Next, type regedit in Windows search and press Enter.
• Go to the following locations in the Registry Editor and delete these items:
  Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\AppVISV
  Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun
  Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office
• Reboot the computer and then reinstall Microsoft Office.

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