SharePoint Document Issues

How to Fix SharePoint Upload Failed Error in Office for Mac

Huda Qurayshi Oct 14, 2026 870 views

Question details

Users experience persistent 'Upload FAILED' errors requiring sign-in when trying to save Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files to SharePoint on a Mac.

How to Fix SharePoint Upload Failed Error in Office for Mac

Product: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), SharePoint
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Saving edited document changes back to a SharePoint library.
Observed behavior: Office applications repeatedly display an 'Upload FAILED' message and prompt for sign-in, despite the user already being signed in and software being updated.

Before you start

Ensure you have a stable internet connection and verify that your Office sign-in account exactly matches the account granted edit permissions for the SharePoint library.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Stale Microsoft Credentials in Keychain Access

Removing old or corrupted Microsoft login tokens from your Mac's Keychain is the most effective way to resolve persistent upload sign-in loops.

macOS stores your login tokens in a secure database called Keychain. When these tokens become corrupted, Office apps fail to authenticate with SharePoint, resulting in constant sign-in prompts.

Sign out of all Office applications

Open Word, click on your profile at the top left, and choose Sign Out. Repeat this process for Excel and PowerPoint, then quit all Office applications completely.

Open Keychain Access

Launch the Keychain Access app by navigating to Applications > Utilities, or by pressing Cmd + Space and searching for 'Keychain Access'.

Delete Microsoft credentials

In the Keychain Access search bar, type 'Microsoft'. Select all entries related to Microsoft Office, ADAL, or Office credentials, right-click, and select Delete.

Restart and sign in again

Restart your Mac to ensure all changes take effect. Open Word, sign in with your official SharePoint-linked account, and attempt to save the file again.

Authentication Restored: Clearing the keychain forces Office to generate a brand new authentication token, resolving most SharePoint sync errors.

Solution 2

Update Office and Test a Newly Downloaded File

If clearing credentials didn't work, updating Office apps and verifying file integrity can bypass version-specific sync bugs.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Document Editing on Mac

If Microsoft Office on Mac continues to give you upload errors, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for editing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files without the heavy background sync processes.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the macOS installation package.
2. Install and Launch: Drag the WPS Office application to your Applications folder and launch the software.
3. Open Your Documents: Open your existing .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx files directly and start editing with full format compatibility.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx), and PowerPoint (.pptx) formats.Free, lightweight, and runs smoothly on macOS.Allows saving files locally or to your preferred cloud drive without persistent login loops.Familiar user interface makes migration effortless.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Office for Mac keep asking me to sign in when saving to SharePoint?

This is usually caused by corrupted or expired authentication tokens stored in your Mac's Keychain. When Office tries to sync with SharePoint, it fails to verify your credentials locally, triggering an endless sign-in loop.

Can I save my SharePoint files locally if the upload fails?

Yes. If an upload fails, you can use the 'Save As' feature in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint to save a copy of your document directly to your Mac's hard drive. This ensures you do not lose any changes while troubleshooting.

How do I check if I have edit permissions in a SharePoint library?

Navigate to the SharePoint site in your web browser and sign in. If you are able to create a new document or edit an existing one directly in Office for the Web, your account has the correct edit permissions.

Does macOS Microsoft AutoUpdate fix SharePoint sync errors?

It can. Microsoft frequently releases patches to address known sync and authentication bugs on macOS. Keeping your Office applications updated ensures you have the latest stability fixes for SharePoint integration.

Document & File Issues