How to Clear Microsoft Office Passwords from Keychain on Mac
Question details
The user needs to clear Microsoft Office authentication credentials stored within the macOS Keychain to resolve persistent sign-in problems.
- Product
- Microsoft Office for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Experiencing recurring sign-in loops, authentication errors, or identity synchronization failures when trying to use Office applications.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Office applications fail to authenticate properly due to corrupted, outdated, or conflicting cached credentials stored in the system Keychain.
Make sure to completely close all Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) before you modify your Keychain entries to prevent file conflicts.
Remove Office Credentials via Keychain Access
Use the built-in macOS Keychain Access utility to locate and securely delete the cached Microsoft Office identity files, forcing the app to prompt for a fresh login.
Clearing these specific ADAL (Active Directory Authentication Library) and identity cache entries will not delete your documents or uninstall the software. It merely resets the authentication state for Microsoft Office.
Click the Spotlight search icon (magnifying glass) in the menu bar, or press Command + Space, then type 'Keychain Access' and press Enter to launch the utility.
In the search bar located at the top-right corner of the Keychain Access window, type 'adal'.
Select all entries named 'MicrosoftOffice15_2_Data:ADAL:<GUID>'. Right-click on them and choose 'Delete' to remove them.
Clear the search bar and type 'office' to find the remaining identity cache files.
Locate and delete the entries named 'Microsoft Office Identities Cache 2' and 'Microsoft Office Identities Settings 2' (or their version 3 equivalents).
Quit the Keychain Access application. Restart your Mac, then open any Microsoft Office app and sign in with your account credentials again.
Try WPS Office for Mac to Avoid Sign-in Hassles
If Microsoft Office continues to experience authentication loops or activation errors on your Mac, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, free alternative without the complex account synchronization dependencies that cause Keychain issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft Office keep asking for my password on Mac?
This recurring issue typically happens when the authentication token stored in your macOS Keychain becomes corrupted or expires. Clearing the cached identities forces the Office application to generate a fresh, working token.
Will deleting Keychain items uninstall my Office applications?
No. Deleting the ADAL and Identity Cache entries only removes your saved sign-in data. Your Office applications, preferences, and documents will remain perfectly intact.
What if I cannot find the specific 'Microsoft Office Identities' entries in my Keychain?
If those exact entries are missing, your Office installation might not have cached your credentials yet, or you might be using a newer version of Office that uses different token names (such as 'Microsoft Office Credentials'). You can safely search for and remove any entries starting with 'Microsoft Office' that are labeled as application passwords.
Do I need to restart my Mac after clearing the Keychain entries?
While not always strictly necessary, restarting your Mac is highly recommended. A reboot ensures all background Microsoft services fully clear their cache before you attempt to sign in again.
