Outlook Login Problems

How to Fix Repeated Exchange Password Prompts on macOS Office

Ayan Masood Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to stop a recurring Exchange Password Required dialog on a Mac that persists even when entering correct credentials and using multi-factor authentication.

How to Fix Repeated Exchange Password Prompts on macOS Office

Product: Microsoft Office for Mac
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Opening or using Office applications on a Mac and being continuously interrupted by an authentication loop.
Observed behavior: The Exchange password dialog repeatedly pops up and fails to authenticate the session, despite the user providing valid login credentials and MFA codes.

Before you start

Ensure you have your correct Exchange account email and password handy, and verify that your Mac has a stable internet connection before proceeding with credential cleanup.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Office Identities from Keychain and Reset Licenses

Use this method to remove corrupted cached credentials that are causing the continuous authentication loops in Office applications.

Corrupted login tokens in the macOS Keychain often prevent Office from recognizing valid credentials. Removing these identities forces the apps to request fresh authentication.

Sign out and quit apps

Open any Office application like Word or Excel, sign out of your account, and then completely quit all running Microsoft Office applications.

Clear Keychain Access

Open Spotlight Search (Command + Space), type 'Keychain Access', and open the app. Search for 'Microsoft Office Identities' and delete any matching entries.

Run the License Removal Tool

Download and run the official Microsoft Office License Removal Tool for Mac to clear out old activation files that might be causing conflicts.

Restart and sign in

Restart your Mac. Open Word or Excel, and sign in again with your Exchange account credentials.

Clear Office Identities from Keychain and Reset Licenses

Safe Deletion: Deleting Keychain identities will not delete your documents or emails; it only forces a fresh login session.

Solution 2

Re-add the Exchange Account in System Settings

Use this solution if the password prompt is being triggered by the macOS system integration rather than the Office apps themselves.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Avoid Authentication Hassles with WPS Office for Mac

If Microsoft Office keeps prompting for Exchange passwords and disrupting your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, hassle-free experience with seamless compatibility for all your Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files without complex account syncing issues.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the installation package designed for macOS.
2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder to install.
3. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Microsoft Office documents without needing complicated Exchange account setups.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats.No complex Exchange authentication loops to interrupt your work.Lightweight and fast to install on macOS systems.Familiar user interface for immediate productivity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Mac keep asking for my Exchange password?

This usually happens because the login token saved in your Mac's Keychain has become corrupted or expired, causing the software to continuously request authentication even after a successful login.

Will removing Microsoft Office identities from Keychain delete my files?

No. Removing identities from Keychain Access only deletes saved passwords and login tokens. Your local files, documents, and emails stored on the server remain completely safe.

Do I need Outlook installed for this prompt to appear?

No. Even if you only use Word and Excel, a connected Exchange account in your macOS System Settings (Internet Accounts) can trigger these systemic password prompts.

What should I do if the License Removal Tool doesn't work?

If clearing the licenses and Keychain doesn't resolve the prompt, try removing the Exchange account directly from macOS System Settings under 'Internet Accounts' and then add it back.

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