Office for Mac Issues

Fix Microsoft 365 Family Member Cannot Sign In to Office Apps on Mac

Ayan Masood Oct 12, 2026 868 views

Question details

An invited Microsoft 365 Family member is unable to sign in to desktop Office applications on a Mac, despite successfully logging into the Microsoft website via a browser.

Fix Microsoft 365 Family Member Cannot Sign In to Office Apps on Mac

Product: Microsoft 365 / Office for Mac
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: A user is trying to activate and use desktop Office applications on a Mac using their invited Microsoft 365 Family account.
Observed behavior: The Office applications automatically select another family member's stored account or display an error stating that the invited account does not exist, preventing access to the software.

Before you start

Verify that the family member has fully accepted the Microsoft 365 Family invitation via email and that their account shows an active subscription on the Microsoft web dashboard before troubleshooting the Mac apps.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Stored Microsoft Office Credentials from macOS Keychain

Removing old or conflicting Microsoft credentials from the macOS Keychain forces the Office applications to prompt for a fresh sign-in, resolving account conflicts.

macOS securely stores login credentials in a system called Keychain. If another family member previously signed into Office on this Mac, those credentials may be cached, causing the app to automatically attempt login with the wrong account.

Quit all Office applications

Ensure all Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are completely closed on your Mac.

Open Keychain Access

Navigate to Finder, open the Applications folder, go to Utilities, and double-click the Keychain Access app.

Delete Microsoft credentials

In the Keychain Access search bar in the top right corner, type 'Microsoft Office'. Select all the returned credential entries, right-click them, and select Delete.

Restart and sign in

Restart your Mac. Open any Office application and sign in using the invited family member's email address and password.

Clear Stored Microsoft Office Credentials from macOS Keychain

Clear Cache: Deleting these keychain entries will not delete your documents; it simply resets the automatic login preference.

Solution 2

Run the Microsoft License Removal Tool

If clearing the Keychain does not work, using Microsoft's automated License Removal Tool will completely clear corrupted license files on your Mac.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Mac Experience

Tired of dealing with subscription activation errors and family plan account conflicts? WPS Office provides a powerful, free, and lightweight alternative that works seamlessly on macOS without complex licensing setups.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the WPS Office website and download the installer for Mac.
2. Install the application: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder.
3. Open and edit files directly: Launch WPS Office and instantly open your existing Microsoft Office files without needing complex account activations.

No complex family plan activations or subscription headaches requiredFully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx)Lightweight installation optimized for macOS performanceFamiliar user interface allowing for an immediate and seamless migration

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Office Mac app say my Microsoft account doesn't exist?

This typically occurs when the Mac has cached credentials from a different Microsoft account or if your Microsoft 365 Family plan invitation hasn't fully synchronized with Microsoft's desktop licensing servers. Clearing your Mac's Keychain usually resolves this.

How do I switch accounts in Microsoft Office for Mac?

To switch accounts, open an Office application like Word, click on the application name in the top menu bar, select 'Sign Out', and then sign back in using the correct family member's account credentials.

Do I need to reinstall Office if my Family subscription isn't recognized?

Reinstalling the entire suite is rarely necessary. Clearing your Mac's credential cache via Keychain Access or using the official Microsoft License Removal Tool is usually enough to resolve account recognition issues.

Office App Problems