Office Apps Freezing

How to Fix OneNote Freezing During Sign-In on macOS Ventura

Adam Davis Oct 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user experiences a spinning beach ball and application freezing when attempting to sign in and synchronize notebooks in OneNote.

How to Fix OneNote Freezing During Sign-In on macOS Ventura

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: macOS Ventura
Scenario: Signing in to the application and attempting to synchronize notebooks on a Mac.
Observed behavior: The application becomes completely unresponsive, displaying a spinning beach ball cursor during the sign-in prompt, even after basic reinstallation and system restarts.

Before you start

Before proceeding, ensure you have backed up any locally saved, unsynced OneNote sections by copying the text to a separate application like TextEdit, as clearing cache files may result in the loss of unsynced data.

Solution 1Recommended

Perform a Clean Reinstall of OneNote

Uninstall the app completely to remove lingering corrupt sign-in data, then install a stable version directly from Microsoft's update servers.

A standard drag-to-trash uninstallation often leaves behind corrupted library files and cached sign-in credentials. Removing these hidden container files ensures the app forgets any partial sign-in states.

Downloading the application from the official Office update history page rather than the Mac App Store guarantees you are installing a verified, stable release.

Force Quit the Application

Press Option + Command + Esc, select Microsoft OneNote from the list of active applications, and click Force Quit to close the frozen app.

Remove the App and Library Files

Open Finder, go to the Applications folder, and drag Microsoft OneNote to the Trash. Next, press Cmd + Shift + G, type '~/Library/Containers', locate the folder named 'Microsoft OneNote', and move it to the Trash.

Download from Update History

Navigate to the official 'Office for Mac update history' webpage in your browser. Locate the latest stable release for OneNote and download the installer package.

Reinstall and Sign In

Run the downloaded installer package. Once the installation is complete, launch OneNote and attempt to sign in with your Microsoft account.

Clear Keychain Access: If the issue persists, open the Keychain Access app from your Utilities folder, search for 'Microsoft Office', and delete any cached credential entries before reinstalling.

Solution 2

Test in a New macOS User Account

Determine if the freezing issue is system-wide or isolated to your current macOS user profile's preferences and background processes.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Avoid Freezing Issues with WPS Office for Mac

Tired of spinning beach balls and unresponsive applications? WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly stable alternative to Microsoft Office. With excellent format compatibility, you can open, edit, and save your documents seamlessly without dealing with persistent sign-in freezes.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office installer optimized for macOS.
2. Install the App: Open the downloaded package and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
3. Start Working: Launch WPS Office and instantly open your existing documents without complex sign-in requirements.

100% compatible with Microsoft Office formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Lightweight app footprint designed for fast, crash-free performance on macOS.Familiar, easy-to-use interface with no steep learning curve required.Free built-in tools for PDF editing, document creation, and local saving.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is OneNote stuck on a spinning beach ball when I sign in on Mac?

This typically occurs on macOS Ventura due to corrupted keychain credentials, damaged hidden library container files, or compatibility bugs with the specific build of OneNote interacting with Apple's background sign-in components.

How do I completely clear cached sign-in data for Office apps on Mac?

You can clear cached data by opening the Keychain Access app from your Utilities folder, searching for 'Microsoft Office' or 'ADAL', and deleting those credential entries. You must also remove the specific app container folder located in '~/Library/Containers'.

Will I lose my notes if I uninstall OneNote to fix the freezing issue?

Notes that have been successfully synced to OneDrive will not be lost and will reappear when you sign back in. However, any local changes or notebooks that failed to sync before the freezing issue started will be permanently lost during a clean installation.

Does creating a new macOS user fix application freezing?

Creating a new macOS user profile does not fix the original account, but it acts as a diagnostic tool. If the app works flawlessly in the new account, the freezing is caused by corrupted preferences or software conflicts isolated to your main user profile.

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