Office for Mac Issues

Fix Office for Mac Password Sign-In Stuck on macOS High Sierra

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users attempting to sign in to Microsoft Office on macOS High Sierra find that the application accepts their email address but fails to load or display the password prompt, effectively blocking activation or use.

Product: Office for Mac
Device & OS: macOS High Sierra
Scenario: Signing in to activate Office on an older unsupported Mac operating system.
Observed behavior: The sign-in window accepts the user's email address but gets stuck and does not display the password entry field.

Before you start

Check your exact macOS version by clicking the Apple menu and selecting 'About This Mac'. Ensure you have your Microsoft account login credentials handy, as you will need them to re-activate the software after troubleshooting.

Solution 1Recommended

Downgrade to a High Sierra Compatible Office Version

Because modern Office for Mac only supports the three latest macOS versions, you must replace your current installation with an older release that officially supports High Sierra.

Microsoft aligns its updates with Apple's OS releases. If you are running High Sierra, installing the latest Office version will cause missing interface elements like the password prompt.

Uninstall Current Office

Open the Applications folder on your Mac, select all Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), and drag them to the Trash.

Download an Older Installer

Navigate to the official Microsoft update history page for Office for Mac and download a version released when High Sierra was still supported (for example, version 16.43 or older).

Install and Sign In

Run the downloaded installer. Once finished, launch any Office application and sign in with your email and password.

Pause Automatic Updates

Open Microsoft AutoUpdate from the Help menu > Check for Updates, and uncheck the option to automatically keep Microsoft apps up to date so your compatible version is not overwritten.

AutoUpdate is Critical: If you do not disable automatic updates, the software will attempt to install the latest unsupported version, and the sign-in issue will return.

Solution 2

Upgrade macOS and Reinstall Latest Office

If your Mac hardware is compatible with newer operating systems, upgrading macOS is the best way to ensure continued support, security, and full functionality of Office.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for seamless document editing on older Macs

If your Mac cannot run the latest version of Microsoft Office and you want to avoid the hassle of managing outdated software, WPS Office offers a lightweight, highly compatible alternative. It requires fewer system resources while natively supporting standard Office formats on a variety of macOS versions.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac version.
2. Install the App: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder.
3. Start Creating: Launch WPS Office and immediately start editing your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint documents without compatibility issues.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Lightweight design that runs incredibly smoothly on older Apple hardware and macOS versions.Familiar tabbed user interface ensuring a zero learning curve for switching users.Completely free to download and use for essential daily office tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft Office only support the three most recent macOS versions?

Microsoft aligns its support lifecycle closely with Apple's OS release cycle. By focusing only on the three most recent versions of macOS, Microsoft ensures they can utilize modern security features and performance optimizations without maintaining legacy code.

Can I still securely use an older version of Office on High Sierra?

While an older version (like 16.43) will function and allow you to view and edit documents, it will no longer receive security patches or new feature updates from Microsoft. Exercise caution when opening files from unknown sources.

Where can I find historical installers for Office for Mac?

Microsoft maintains an 'Update history for Office for Mac' page on their official support site where you can download older installer packages for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and the Office suite.

How do I turn off Microsoft AutoUpdate on my Mac?

Open any Office application like Word, go to the 'Help' menu in the top menu bar, select 'Check for Updates', and clear the checkbox for 'Automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date'.

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