Sign-in & Login Problems

How to Fix OneDrive for Mac Stuck on Signing In After Password Change

Steve K Oct 16, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to log into the OneDrive desktop app on their Mac because it hangs indefinitely on the signing-in screen after a recent password update.

How to Fix OneDrive for Mac Stuck on Signing In After a Password Change

Product: OneDrive for Mac
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Attempting to log into the OneDrive desktop client after the user's Microsoft 365 password has expired and been reset.
Observed behavior: The OneDrive app remains stuck indefinitely on the 'Signing in' screen and may become unresponsive, often requiring a force quit via Activity Monitor.

Before you start

Ensure you have your new Microsoft 365 password ready, and verify that both your macOS operating system and the OneDrive app are updated to their latest versions.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Stale Microsoft Credentials from macOS Keychain

macOS often retains old login tokens in the Keychain, which conflict with your new password and cause an endless sign-in loop.

When you change your Microsoft 365 password, the OneDrive app may attempt to authenticate using the outdated credentials cached securely in your Mac's system. Removing these stale credentials forces the app to accept your new password.

Force Quit OneDrive

Open the 'Activity Monitor' app from your Utilities folder, search for 'OneDrive', select the process, and click the 'X' icon at the top to force quit the frozen application.

Open Keychain Access

Press Command + Space to open Spotlight search, type 'Keychain Access', and press Enter to launch the app.

Delete Cached Credentials

In the search bar of Keychain Access, type 'OneDrive' and delete any saved application passwords or tokens. Repeat the search for 'Microsoft Office' and 'ADAL', deleting those related cached credentials as well.

Restart and Sign In

Restart your Mac, launch the OneDrive app again, and enter your newly updated Microsoft 365 password to complete the sign-in process.

Clear Stale Microsoft Credentials from macOS Keychain

Data Safety Guarantee: Deleting these tokens from Keychain Access will not delete any of your actual locally stored or cloud-synced OneDrive files.

Solution 2

Investigate Administrator and Authentication Blocks

If clearing credentials does not work, the issue might be rooted in network-level blocks or conditional access policies set by your IT department.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Experience

If you are tired of dealing with constant sign-in bugs, background sync freezes, and authentication loops in Microsoft 365, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, fast, and secure alternative for managing all your documents on Mac without forced background synchronization.

Highly compatible with standard Microsoft Office formats including DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX.Lightweight app installation that won't drain your Mac's battery or RAM with heavy background syncing.All-in-one tabbed interface combining Writer, Spreadsheet, and Presentation in one clean window.Works perfectly offline without requiring constant authentication checks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OneDrive freeze on 'Signing in' after I change my password?

This typically occurs because the macOS Keychain holds onto your previous login token. When the OneDrive app attempts to authenticate, it gets caught in a loop between the cached old token and the server demanding your new password.

How do I forcefully close OneDrive if it won't quit normally?

You can use the macOS Activity Monitor. Open Spotlight Search (Command + Space), type 'Activity Monitor', find OneDrive in the list of processes, select it, and click the 'Stop' (X) button at the top of the window, then choose 'Force Quit'.

Will removing items from Keychain Access delete my files?

No. Keychain Access only stores encrypted passwords, certificates, and secure notes. Deleting Microsoft credentials from the Keychain forces the apps to ask for your password again but does not affect your actual documents or files.

What if multiple Macs in my office are experiencing the same sign-in issue?

If this is an organization-wide issue, it is likely related to your company's Microsoft 365 tenant settings. Your IT administrator will need to investigate identity logs or conditional access rules that might be blocking macOS devices from authenticating properly.

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