Fix SharePoint Online Files Not Opening in Office 2016 or Microsoft 365
Question details
Users are unable to open SharePoint Online files using the "Open in App" feature in Office 2016 or Microsoft 365.
- Product
- SharePoint Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to launch and edit SharePoint Online documents directly within local Office desktop applications from a web browser.
- Observed behavior
- The Office application requests Microsoft account credentials and then displays an error message, preventing the file from opening. The issue happens in modern Office versions but may not occur in older versions like Office 2013.
Before proceeding, confirm whether you are a standard user or an administrator. Modifying Conditional Access policies requires Microsoft 365 Global Administrator or Conditional Access Administrator privileges.
Review Azure AD / Microsoft Entra Conditional Access Policies
Resolve authentication blocks by adjusting tenant-level conditional access policies that restrict modern Office desktop apps.
Office 2016 and Microsoft 365 applications use modern authentication by default, which is governed by Azure Active Directory (now Microsoft Entra ID) Conditional Access policies. If these policies are overly restrictive, they can block the "Open in App" functionality.
Sign in to the Microsoft Entra admin center or Microsoft 365 admin center using an account with Global Administrator permissions.
Go to Protection > Conditional Access to view all active access policies for your organization.
Look for policies that target "Office 365" cloud apps or specifically restrict "Client apps" (such as desktop clients). Check if these policies are blocking access from the affected users' IP addresses or devices.
Modify the policy conditions to permit users to authenticate and open SharePoint files from trusted devices or networks, then save the changes.
Clear Stale Office Credentials
Remove corrupted local credentials that might cause an authentication loop when launching files from SharePoint.
Use WPS Office for a Seamless Document Editing Experience
If Microsoft Office authentication issues are disrupting your workflow, WPS Office offers a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for editing your documents without complex tenant policy restrictions.
- 1. Download the File: Instead of using 'Open in App', select your file in SharePoint Online and click 'Download' to save a local copy.
- 2. Open in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your downloaded document to continue editing smoothly.
- 3. Save and Upload: Save your changes locally and upload the updated file back to your SharePoint document library.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does "Open in App" work in Office 2013 but not in Office 2016 or Microsoft 365?
Office 2016 and Microsoft 365 utilize modern authentication by default, which strictly enforces Microsoft Entra Conditional Access policies. Older versions like Office 2013 may still rely on legacy authentication, potentially bypassing these specific modern security restrictions.
Do I need administrator rights to fix the SharePoint "Open in App" error?
If the issue is caused by tenant-level Microsoft Entra Conditional Access policies, yes. Only a Microsoft 365 Global Administrator or a user with specific administrative roles can modify security settings affecting the whole organization.
Can I temporarily bypass this issue to edit my SharePoint files?
Yes. While the desktop app issue is being resolved by your IT admin, you can select "Open in Browser" to edit the documents using Office for the Web, or download a local copy of the file to edit offline.
