Permission & Access Issues

Fix Repeated Verification When Accessing SharePoint Folders on Mac

Tauseeq Magsi Oct 19, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user experiences repeated authentication prompts every time they restart their MacBook and try to access a client's shared SharePoint folder.

How to Fix Repeated Verification When Accessing a Client's SharePoint Folder

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: macOS (MacBook)
Scenario: Accessing a client's shared SharePoint folder after shutting down and restarting the computer.
Observed behavior: The system forces the user to complete the identity verification process again upon every restart, despite having been previously granted permission by the client.

Before you start

Before attempting to change access settings, ensure you have the contact information of the client's IT administrator or the folder owner, as you will likely need their assistance to adjust security policies.

Solution 1Recommended

Request a Review of Guest Access and Session Policies

SharePoint access persistence is governed by the host organization's security policies. You must contact their IT administrator to adjust session timeouts.

When accessing a client's SharePoint folder as a guest, your session duration is determined by their Azure Active Directory (Entra ID) Conditional Access policies. By default, many organizations enforce strict sign-in frequencies for external users.

This security measure forces re-authentication after a browser is closed or a device is restarted to protect sensitive corporate data.

Identify the Folder Owner

Locate the contact details of the person who originally sent you the SharePoint invitation link or granted you folder access.

Request a Policy Review

Ask the folder owner to contact their IT department to review the 'Sign-in frequency' settings and guest access policies for your account.

Enable 'Keep me signed in'

If the administrator updates the policy to allow persistent sessions, look for a 'Keep me signed in' checkbox during your next login and check it before proceeding.

Request a Review of Guest Access and Session Policies

Security Limitations: Some organizations have strict compliance requirements and may not be able to extend guest session persistence, meaning reverification after a reboot might remain mandatory.

Solution 2

Set Up Microsoft Authenticator for Faster Verification

If the client cannot change their security policies, using an Authenticator app can make the repeated sign-in process significantly faster and less disruptive.

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Collaborate Easily with WPS Office

While SharePoint access policies are controlled strictly by Microsoft and organization administrators, you can simplify your daily document editing and collaboration by using WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible suite for all your productivity needs.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installer package for macOS.
2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Mac's Applications folder.
3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and directly open or edit your client's documents with seamless format compatibility.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I have to verify my identity every time I restart my Mac?

When you restart your computer, your browser's session cookies for the client's SharePoint environment are often cleared or invalidated. Coupled with the host organization's strict guest access policies, this forces you to re-verify your identity to ensure security.

Can I change the SharePoint permission settings myself?

No, guest users do not have the administrative rights to change session timeouts or conditional access policies. Only the IT administrator of the organization hosting the SharePoint folder can modify these specific security settings.

Does checking 'Keep me signed in' bypass the repeated verification?

It can reduce the frequency of prompts by saving a persistent cookie in your browser. However, if the client organization's security policy overrides this, or if your Mac's browser clears cookies upon shutdown, you will still be asked to verify again.

Is there a way to sync the SharePoint folder to my Mac to avoid this?

You can try syncing the SharePoint folder using the OneDrive client for Mac. Once synced, the OneDrive application handles the authentication in the background, which may reduce the number of active browser verification prompts you encounter.

Document & File Issues