Office Settings & Configuration

Fix Old SharePoint Files Appearing in Office Recent Items on Mac

Jason Miller Oct 14, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to remove persistent recent file entries linked to a former employer's SharePoint and OneDrive on a personal Mac.

How to Stop Old SharePoint Files from Appearing in Office Recent Items on Mac

Product: Microsoft Office
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Managing recent file history and disconnecting old corporate cloud services after leaving a company.
Observed behavior: Old SharePoint and OneDrive files continue to populate the Office Home and Recent lists. Removed keychain entries and container files regenerate automatically when files are opened.

Before you start

Before removing connected services or clearing keychain credentials, ensure you have backed up any necessary personal files that might have been accidentally saved to your old work accounts.

Solution 1Recommended

Sign Out of Old Work Accounts and Remove Connected Services

Disconnect the previous employer's accounts from your Mac to stop Office from fetching old cloud files.

Microsoft Office syncs recent files based on the accounts currently signed in and the services connected to the application. To permanently remove old SharePoint files, you must completely sever the connection to the former company's environment.

Open Office Account Settings

Launch any Office application, such as Microsoft Word or Excel, on your Mac and click on your profile picture or initials in the top-left corner to view all signed-in accounts.

Sign Out of the Work Account

Locate the account associated with your former employer, select it, and click 'Sign Out' to terminate the active session.

Remove Connected Services

Navigate to 'File' > 'Open' and locate the 'Connected Services' section. Click the minus (-) or remove icon next to any old SharePoint or OneDrive services linked to the former company.

Authentication Tokens: If SharePoint tokens keep regenerating in your Mac Keychain when you open a file, your Mac's System Settings might still harbor an active Internet Account or Mobile Device Management (MDM) profile from your old company.

Solution 2

Clear Mac Keychain Credentials and Hide Unwanted Files

Purge lingering authentication tokens and manually hide the ghost files from the Recent list.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office to Manage Your Files Without Account Clutter

If Microsoft Office keeps retrieving unwanted files and continuously syncing with old work accounts on your Mac, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a clean, independent workspace without forcing cloud connections, while maintaining excellent compatibility with all your existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the 'Free Download' button for Mac.
2. Install WPS Office: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
3. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Office and start opening your local documents seamlessly without legacy account interference.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Office formats including .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx.Does not force unwanted background cloud syncing or persistent account connections.Clean and intuitive tabbed workspace optimized for Mac users.Free, lightweight, and requires no complicated uninstallation of old enterprise profiles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do deleted files still show up in Office Recent Items on Mac?

Office caches recent file history locally and continually syncs with connected cloud services like OneDrive and SharePoint. If an account is still linked or the local cache hasn't fully refreshed, deleted or disconnected files will persist in the list.

How do I permanently remove a SharePoint site from Mac Office?

You need to open an Office app, navigate to the 'Open' or 'Account' menu, locate the 'Connected Services' or 'Storage Accounts' section, and manually remove the specific SharePoint connection associated with the old organization.

Can a managed Mac profile force SharePoint connections?

Yes, if your personal Mac previously had a Mobile Device Management (MDM) profile or enterprise configuration installed by your former employer, it may continuously force account authentication and recreate Keychain tokens. Check 'System Settings' > 'Profiles' to locate and remove it.

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