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Fix Repeated Sign-In Prompts for Stocks in Excel for Mac
Question details
The user needs a solution to stop persistent Microsoft 365 sign-in requests triggered by accessing the Stocks feature in Excel for Mac.
- Product
- Excel for Mac
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Accessing or refreshing the Stocks data type feature within an Excel spreadsheet.
- Observed behavior
- Excel repeatedly prompts the user to sign in to their Microsoft 365 account, and the loop persists even after completely reinstalling the current version of the Office suite.
Check your current Excel for Mac version by clicking 'Excel' > 'About Microsoft Excel' in the top Apple menu bar to confirm if you are running the affected build (16.65 or later).
Revert to Excel for Mac Build 16.64
Uninstalling your current buggy version of Office for Mac (16.65 or later) and downgrading to the stable 16.64 build is the proven method to resolve the continuous sign-in prompts.
This persistent authentication issue is directly tied to a software bug in specific builds of Microsoft 365 for Mac. Simply reinstalling the same newer build will not fix the problem. You must perform a clean uninstall of the current Office suite and manually install the older, stable 16.64 build.
Quit all running Office applications. Open 'Finder', navigate to the 'Applications' folder, and move Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook to the Trash.
In Finder, press 'Command+Shift+G', type '~/Library', and hit Enter. Locate and delete the Microsoft-related folders inside the 'Containers' and 'Group Containers' directories as per Microsoft's official complete uninstallation guide.
Open your web browser and navigate to the official Microsoft 'Update history for Office for Mac' page. Scroll down to locate the download link for the version 16.64 installer package.
Run the downloaded version 16.64 installer. Once the installation is complete, launch Excel, immediately go to 'Help' > 'Check for Updates' in the top menu, and turn off automatic updates to prevent your Mac from reinstalling the buggy version.
Submit a Bug Report to Microsoft Support
Report the persistent bug directly to the Excel engineering team so it can be patched in future builds.
Switch to WPS Office for a Bug-Free Experience
If persistent bugs and repeated sign-in loops in Excel for Mac are disrupting your workflow, consider trying WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, free, and lightweight alternative that allows you to manage spreadsheets efficiently without mandatory subscriptions or authentication errors.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download the Mac installer and set it up in seconds.
- 2. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and seamlessly open your existing .xlsx files without losing any layout formatting.
- 3. Work Uninterrupted: Enjoy editing and analyzing your data locally without frustrating authentication loops or buggy forced updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Excel Stocks data type keep asking for a Microsoft 365 sign-in?
This is a recognized software bug affecting Excel for Mac versions 16.65 and later. The application struggles to retain the authentication token required to fetch premium external data like Stocks, resulting in an endless sign-in loop.
Will uninstalling Excel for Mac delete my saved spreadsheets?
No, uninstalling the Microsoft Office application files does not delete your locally saved workbooks or documents. However, it is always a best practice to back up your Mac using Time Machine before making significant system changes.
How do I stop Excel from automatically updating back to version 16.65?
Open any Office application like Excel, click on 'Help' in the top menu bar, select 'Check for Updates', and uncheck the box for 'Automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date'.
