How to Fix OneDrive Requiring Sign-in After Every Restart on Mac
Question details
Users experience OneDrive continuously prompting for sign-in and restarting the setup process whenever the Mac is rebooted or shut down.
- Product
- OneDrive
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Launching OneDrive after a system reboot or shutdown.
- Observed behavior
- OneDrive fails to remember login credentials across sessions, forcing the user to sign in and set up the application from scratch after every restart.
Ensure you have your Mac administrator password ready, as you will need it to modify Keychain Access settings. Save your work and completely quit all Office applications before proceeding.
Reset Keychain Access for the Login Profile
Locking and unlocking the login keychain forces macOS to refresh app permissions, allowing OneDrive to save your credentials properly.
On macOS, application passwords and login tokens are securely stored in the Keychain. If OneDrive's permissions within the Keychain become corrupted, it loses the ability to access your saved login state after a reboot.
Ensure that Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneDrive are completely closed. You can right-click their icons in the Dock and select 'Quit'.
Press Command + Space to open Spotlight Search, type 'Keychain Access', and press Enter to launch the utility.
In the Keychain Access app, select 'login' from the left sidebar. Go to the top menu bar, click on 'File', and choose 'Lock Keychain "login"'.
Open the OneDrive application. When macOS prompts you that OneDrive wants to use the 'login' keychain, enter your Mac administrator password and click 'Always Allow'.
Complete the OneDrive sign-in process if prompted. Once signed in, quit OneDrive and reopen it to verify that it now remembers your credentials without asking again.
Switch to WPS Office for a Seamless Cloud Experience on Mac
Tired of dealing with syncing and sign-in errors on Mac? WPS Office offers built-in cloud storage that works flawlessly on macOS. Enjoy a lightweight, highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office without the hassle of recurring subscription fees or constant login prompts.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the macOS installer.
- 2. Install and Launch: Drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder and open the app.
- 3. Sign in to WPS Cloud: Create a free account to securely sync your documents across all your devices seamlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does OneDrive keep asking me to sign in on my Mac?
This typically occurs when macOS Keychain loses the proper permissions to store or access OneDrive's login credentials securely. Resetting or unlocking the keychain access usually resolves the credential-saving issue.
Will locking the login keychain delete my saved passwords?
No. Locking the 'login' keychain simply restricts access temporarily. When you unlock it or grant an application like OneDrive access using your Mac administrator password, all your saved passwords and tokens remain completely intact.
What should I do if fixing the keychain does not stop the sign-in prompts?
If the problem persists, try updating your macOS and the OneDrive application to their latest versions. You may also need to completely uninstall and reinstall OneDrive, or clear stored Microsoft credentials from the Keychain manually.
