SharePoint Document Issues

Fix Excel for iPad Not Saving SharePoint Data After Sign-In

Amos Gikunda Sep 27, 2026 872 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where Excel for iPad repeatedly prompts for sign-in, fails to save data to a SharePoint workbook, and causes recent entries to disappear.

Product: Microsoft Excel, SharePoint
Device & OS: iPadOS
Scenario: Entering and saving spreadsheet data into a SharePoint-hosted workbook using the Excel app on an iPad.
Observed behavior: Excel repeatedly requests sign-in, prevents data entry, and fails to sync with SharePoint, resulting in several days of missing data from the workbook.

Before you start

Ensure your iPad has a stable internet connection and manually copy any visible unsaved data to a local note app before resetting your credentials, as unsynced cloud data may be lost.

Solution 1Recommended

Reset Excel Login Credentials on iPad

Clearing outdated or corrupted login tokens can resolve recurring sign-in loops and restore normal syncing to SharePoint.

Authentication tokens can occasionally become corrupted on iPadOS, leading to constant sign-in requests. Resetting the credentials forces the app to generate a fresh, working token.

Open iPad Settings

Navigate to your iPad's home screen and tap on the 'Settings' app.

Find Excel Settings

Scroll down the left pane in the Settings menu until you find the list of installed apps, then select 'Excel'.

Reset Excel

Under the Excel settings, tap on 'Reset Excel' and toggle on the option for 'Delete Login Credentials'.

Restart and Sign In

Force close the Excel app by swiping it up from the app switcher, reopen it, and sign back into your Microsoft 365 account to reconnect to SharePoint.

Authentication Restored: Once signed back in, test the connection by making a small edit to your workbook and verifying that it saves to SharePoint automatically.

Solution 2

Recover Missing Data via Version History

If recent data was lost due to the sync failure, you can utilize SharePoint's built-in version history to restore a previous working copy.

Solution 3

Update or Reinstall Excel and SharePoint Apps

Running outdated application versions can cause synchronization and compatibility issues with Microsoft cloud services.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Mobile Spreadsheet Editing

If you frequently encounter sync errors, sign-in loops, or heavy resource usage in Microsoft Excel, WPS Office offers a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for iPad. It supports reliable cloud syncing without the recurring authentication hassles.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls) and CSV formats.Lightweight app design optimized for smooth performance on iPad and mobile devices.Free to use with a familiar, user-friendly interface that requires zero learning curve.Seamlessly connects to various reliable cloud storage services including Google Drive, Dropbox, and WPS Cloud.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel for iPad keep asking me to sign in?

This typically occurs when the authentication token stored on your iPad expires or becomes corrupted, often due to network switches or iOS updates. Resetting your login credentials in the iPad Settings for Excel forces a fresh authentication token to be generated.

Can I recover data that wasn't saved to SharePoint due to an offline sync error?

If the data never successfully synced to SharePoint, it will not appear in the SharePoint Version History. You can check the 'Recent' files list within your iPad's Excel app to see if a local offline cache was saved, though un-synced cloud edits are often difficult to recover.

How do I open a Microsoft 365 support ticket if version history recovery fails?

If you are using a personal account, you can request support through the Microsoft Help website. If you are using a managed enterprise device or a business account, you must contact your organization's IT administrator, who can raise a support ticket directly via the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.

Document & File Issues