Lync for Windows 8 (from the store, for RT or Pro) won't login - just 'spins' while loggining into Office 365, requires reinstall to fix

The Lync app (the one you get from the Microsoft Store in Windows 8) just stalls (the wait 'circle' just endlessly circles) while trying to sign in with my Office 365 account.  It doesn't time out or provide an error message.  This happens on both my Surface RT and Surface Pro.  It happened on both devices when I had Windows 8, and continues to happen after upgrading both devices to Windows 8.1.  I'd like to point out that on the Surface Pro, I also have Lync 2013 installed as part of Office 2013 Professional Plus, and Lync 2013 never has a problem signing in.  I can sign in successfully with Lync 2013, then immediately try to sign in with the Lync app and experience the stalling login on the Lync app.

Following the app's troubleshooting tips (linked from the login page), I've tried removing my log in credentials, closing the app and restarting it, and even restarting the Surface.  None of these work.  The only thing that works is to uninstall the Lync app, then re-install, launch, configure, and login to it.  However the Lync app will only continue to work for 1-2 days and eventually the stalled login issue returns.

This has been going on since I first started using Lync in September 2013.  I've had to re-install it several times on the Surface RT.

I can't find anything in event viewer to help with this.  I've read about ensuring that the time is properly sync'd and can confirm the time is set properly.  Again Lync 2013 works on the Pro even when the Lync app won't.

I tried to do a clean reboot following these steps at KB 929135.  However there aren't any non-Microsoft services for me to disable, and there are no start up items to disable.

As I mentioned I updated my Surface devices to 8.1, but I even went to the trouble of completely refreshing them (complete re-install).  They are on the latest firmware, OS, and patch level.

Given that Lync 2013 works fine on the Surface Pro, I suspect the problem is with the Lync app itself, not with the device, Windows, or the Lync service.


  • Edited by Steve SOS Tuesday, October 22, 2013 3:03 AM Corrected grammer in one paragraph
October 22nd, 2013 5:58am

Hi,

The issue is more related to Lync online, you can post a question on Office365 forum to get further information. Thank you for your understanding.

http://community.office365.com/en-us/forums/163/categories.aspx

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October 23rd, 2013 9:11am

This is happening to me on as well on Windows 8.1 RT.  Local Lync 2010 FE Pool, and local Exchange 2010.   Worked fine for me before the 8.1 upgrade.  Have already uninstalled and reinstalled the Lync client.  Just sits and spins. 

October 23rd, 2013 10:36am

This is happening to me on as well on Windows 8.1 RT.  Local Lync 2010 FE Pool, and local Exchange 2010.   Worked fine for me before the 8.1 upgrade.  Have already uninstalled and reinstalled the Lync client.  Just sits and spins. 

  • Marked as answer by Kent-HuangModerator Tuesday, October 29, 2013 2:50 AM
  • Unmarked as answer by Steve SOS Thursday, October 31, 2013 7:01 AM
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October 23rd, 2013 5:34pm

This is happening to me on as well on Windows 8.1 RT.  Local Lync 2010 FE Pool, and local Exchange 2010.   Worked fine for me before the 8.1 upgrade.  Have already uninstalled and reinstalled the Lync client.  Just sits and spins. 

  • Marked as answer by Kent-Huang Tuesday, October 29, 2013 2:50 AM
  • Unmarked as answer by Steve SOS Thursday, October 31, 2013 7:01 AM
October 23rd, 2013 5:34pm

Why was this marked as the answer?  My Lync client doesn't work per above.

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October 29th, 2013 6:18pm

Hi Kent,

Thanks for your reply.  I didn't receive an email notification that you had replied so sorry for not responding sooner.  I have unmarked your marking of AROD1's confirmation of my issue as an answer.

Perhaps I should have mentioned this in my original post, but the reason I posted this issue in this forum is because I was specifically directed to by Yang Yu, from the Office 365 community forum (the very forum you redirected me to).

Here is my posting (and Yang's instructions to post to this forum instead)

http://community.office365.com/en-us/forums/166/t/197983.aspx

Between the two of you, can I please get direction on whose forum can own this issue as well as who can provide technical support?  Right now, Yang is pointing me to your forum and you are pointing me to Yang's forum.

Thanks,

Steve



  • Edited by Steve SOS Thursday, October 31, 2013 7:34 AM
October 31st, 2013 10:09am

Hi,

I apologize for incorrect mark and repeated redirection between two forums. I suggest you confirm with your colleagues if s/he also encounter the issue on RT client.

Here is the order of preference for Lync 2013 client:

lyncdiscoverinternal

lyncdiscover

sipinternal

sip

For Lync 2013 Windows Store App, it only queries lyncdiscoverinternal and lyncdiscover and does not advance further. If the issue happen on all RT client, please double check your lyncdiscover records.

If the issue persists, please refer to this KB article to collect log files for further troubleshooting.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2779848

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November 4th, 2013 4:33pm

Confirmed on my Surface RT and connecting to OFFICE 365.

Can only log in one upon a install / reinstall.  After which this joke will never sign in again.

I wish Microsoft would take ONE of their high profile products and just fix it.  IE, Skype, Lync are 3 that are in the FACE of the public day to day with reminders of freezes and crashes that are yet fixed after almost a year.

December 28th, 2013 7:37pm

I can confirm this issue as well on a SurfaceRT
This is after a clean Windows 8.1 install. Lync app will not log in. Using Lync Server 2013 standard. I do not have any other devices experiencing this issue. 

Device does prompt for login, but then spins indefinitely. Confirmed date and time as well. 
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December 30th, 2013 11:35pm

This started happening frequently to me this week.  Credentials are good.  On launch of Lync on my Surface RT I get the spinning white wheel indefinitely.  If I leave it for a few hours it will eventually logon.

My 8.1 workstation logon is working fine.  As is my windows phone 8 device.

----------------------------------

This appears to be fixed.

1) Uninstalled Lync

2) Found two windows (optional?) updates listed in PC settings-Update and Recovery - Office service pack and 8.1 update.  Selected and installed both.  I believe the UI these updates would be installed 'eventually'.  In my opinion they should have gone on immediately without me manually going in and selecting them.

3) Reinstalled Lync.

4) Restarted Lync, re-applied my credentials.

Bob's your uncle, signed in immediately.  

  • Proposed as answer by wolfstevent 23 hours 25 minutes ago
  • Unproposed as answer by wolfstevent 23 hours 25 minutes ago
  • Edited by wolfstevent 23 hours 21 minutes ago
March 6th, 2014 7:04am

This started happening frequently to me this week.  Credentials are good.  On launch of Lync on my Surface RT I get the spinning white wheel indefinitely.  If I leave it for a few hours it will eventually logon.

My 8.1 workstation logon is working fine.  As is my windows phone 8 device.

----------------------------------

This appears to be fixed.

1) Uninstalled Lync

2) Found two windows (optional?) updates listed in PC settings-Update and Recovery - Office service pack and 8.1 update.  Selected and installed both.  I believe the UI these updates would be installed 'eventually'.  In my opinion they should have gone on immediately without me manually going in and selecting them.

3) Reinstalled Lync.

4) Restarted Lync, re-applied my credentials.

Bob's your uncle, signed in immediately.  

  • Proposed as answer by wolfstevent Thursday, March 06, 2014 12:25 PM
  • Unproposed as answer by wolfstevent Thursday, March 06, 2014 12:25 PM
  • Edited by wolfstevent Thursday, March 06, 2014 12:28 PM
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March 6th, 2014 3:02pm

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