Office for Mac Issues

Fix Stuck Sign-in When Adding SharePoint Folder to Word for Mac

Rana Garcia Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

External users need a way to bypass a freezing sign-in window when adding a SharePoint shared location in Word for Mac.

How to Add a SharePoint Shared Folder to Word for Mac as an External User

Product: Word for Mac, SharePoint
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: An external user is attempting to add a SharePoint shared folder to their storage accounts in Word for Mac to edit documents directly.
Observed behavior: The shared folder opens successfully in a web browser, but adding the location via Word for Mac's Manage Storage Accounts feature results in a permanently stuck sign-in window.

Before you start

Verify that you have already accepted the external SharePoint sharing invitation in your browser using the exact same email address that is signed into your Word for Mac application.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Direct SharePoint Path Instead of the Sharing Link

Bypass the sign-in glitch by extracting the direct directory path from SharePoint Online and adding it to Word for Mac.

Microsoft Word for Mac sometimes struggles to resolve generic external sharing links, which causes the authentication window to hang. Using the direct physical path of the folder skips this problematic routing step.

Open the folder in your browser

Navigate to SharePoint Online in your web browser and access the shared folder using the original invitation link provided to you.

Access the Details pane

Single-click the target file or folder to select it without opening it. Then, click the 'Details' icon (usually represented by an 'i' inside a circle) in the upper-right corner of the interface.

Copy the direct path

Scroll down the Details pane until you find the 'Path' section. Click the copy icon next to the direct folder link to save it to your clipboard.

Add the location in Word for Mac

Open Word for Mac, go to the 'Manage Storage Accounts' or 'Add a Place' menu, choose SharePoint, and paste the direct path you just copied instead of the generic sharing link.

Use the Direct SharePoint Path Instead of the Sharing Link

Authentication Successful: Word for Mac should now prompt you for your credentials normally without freezing, granting you direct access to edit the shared files.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Word for Mac sign-in window freeze with SharePoint links?

This commonly occurs because Word for Mac struggles to parse and route generic sharing links generated by external organizations. The authentication server hangs while trying to resolve the permissions. Using a direct directory path bypasses this routing issue.

Can I edit SharePoint files directly in Word for Mac if I'm an external user?

Yes. Once you successfully add the SharePoint location to Word for Mac using the direct path method, you can open, edit, and save files directly back to the external SharePoint server, provided the folder owner granted you edit permissions.

What if I don't see the 'Details' pane in SharePoint Online?

Ensure you have only single-clicked the file or folder to highlight it. If you double-click, the file will open and the Details pane won't be available. Look for the circle icon with an 'i' in the upper right corner of the main SharePoint directory view.

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