How to Fix Office for Mac User Name and Initials Keep Resetting
Question details
The User Information in Office for Mac repeatedly resets to 'Microsoft Office User' and the initials 'MOU' when the applications are restarted.
- Product
- Microsoft Office for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Using Word, Excel, or PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 on a Mac and attempting to retain personalized user information or collaborate on SharePoint/OneDrive files.
- Observed behavior
- The configured user name and initials reset to default values upon restarting the Mac or the Office applications. In some cases, clicking the Share button returns an 'authentication null' error for SharePoint-hosted files.
Ensure your Mac is connected to a stable internet network and have your Microsoft 365 account credentials ready, as resolving this often requires re-authenticating your session.
Verify Microsoft 365 Account Sign-In and Update Office
Refreshing your account authentication and installing the latest Office updates is the most effective way to resolve identity sync errors.
Authentication glitches can cause Office for Mac to fail to retrieve your profile data, forcing it to fall back to the default 'Microsoft Office User' placeholder. Signing out and updating the software usually restores proper sync.
Open Microsoft Word on your Mac. Click on 'Word' in the top menu bar, select 'Sign Out', and confirm your action. Close the application completely.
Open Word again. Go to 'Help' in the top menu bar and select 'Check for Updates'. Install any pending updates for your Office applications.
Click 'Sign In' within the Office app and enter your correct Microsoft 365 email and password. Verify if your user information now displays correctly in Preferences.
Clear Corrupted Office Preferences
If re-authenticating doesn't work, clearing local configuration files can resolve persistent profile resetting.
Review IT Device Policies (For Administrators)
If this issue is affecting multiple users across a company, it may be caused by conflicting device management policies.
Try WPS Office for Mac for a Seamless, Bug-Free Experience
If Microsoft Office on your Mac continues to face authentication errors or profile resetting issues, WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative. It natively supports Microsoft document formats without the complex identity management overhead.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free macOS version.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open Your Office Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx files with full compatibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my initials keep changing to MOU in Word for Mac?
MOU stands for 'Microsoft Office User'. This is the default placeholder applied when Office fails to retrieve or retain your Microsoft 365 account profile data, often due to an authentication glitch or corrupted local preferences.
How do I manually change my user name in Office for Mac?
Open Word, go to the 'Word' menu at the top, select 'Preferences', and click on 'User Information'. Enter your desired name and initials. You can also check 'Always use this name regardless of how I'm signed in to Office' to help prevent automatic overrides.
Does this profile reset issue affect my OneDrive files?
It can. If the underlying cause is an authentication token failure, you may experience 'authentication null' errors when trying to use the Share button or save files directly to OneDrive and SharePoint. Signing out and signing back in usually resolves this.
Is it normal for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to display different user fields?
Yes. Word typically exposes more detailed contact information fields in the User Information menu, whereas Excel and PowerPoint primarily rely just on the user name and initials for track changes, comments, and authoring metadata.
