Fix Unsupported Authentication Protocol Error When Opening Word in Teams
Question details
The user needs to fix an error preventing a Word document from opening via the 'Open in App' feature in Microsoft Teams.
- Product
- Microsoft Word, Microsoft Teams
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Opening a Word document from Microsoft Teams using the desktop application.
- Observed behavior
- Word launches but displays an error stating that the server uses an authentication protocol unsupported by the installed Office version.
Verify that your Microsoft Teams application and Microsoft Word application are signed in using the exact same organization credentials.
Verify Accounts and Update Microsoft Office
Ensure you are using the correct account and that your Office suite is up to date to support modern authentication protocols.
Open Microsoft Word, navigate to 'File', select 'Account', and verify that the user information matches the account you use for Microsoft Teams.
On the 'Account' page in Word, click 'Update Options' next to Office Updates and select 'Update Now' to ensure you have the latest protocol support.
Contact Microsoft 365 Administrator
If updating Office does not work, the issue may be related to your organization's tenant authentication configuration, requiring administrator intervention.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What causes the unsupported authentication protocol error in Word?
This error occurs when the server hosting the document (like SharePoint or Teams) requires a modern authentication method that your current, potentially outdated, local Office installation does not support.
Will downloading the file locally fix the issue?
Yes. If you cannot open the document directly through the 'Open in App' feature in Teams, downloading the file to your local computer and opening it from your hard drive usually bypasses the server authentication error.
Why does my colleague not experience this same Word authentication error?
Your colleague might be using a newer version of the Microsoft 365 apps, or their local machine might be configured with different cached credentials and updates that successfully support the tenant's authentication protocols.
