Office for Mac Issues

How to Fix "Please Try Again Later" Error in Excel and Office for Mac

Ayan Masood Oct 9, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user encounters an error stating "Please try again later" when attempting to create new files in Office applications on a Mac.

How to Fix "Please Try Again Later" Error in Excel and Office for Mac

Product: Microsoft 365 for Mac
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Creating a new workbook or document in Microsoft Excel, Word, or PowerPoint desktop applications.
Observed behavior: The application fails to create the new file, displays a "Please Try Again Later" error message, and suggests creating the workbook from OneDrive instead.

Before you start

Ensure you have a stable internet connection and back up any unsaved work or local Outlook data before performing a complete reinstallation or deleting Office containers.

Solution 1Recommended

Sign Out, Update Office, and Verify OneDrive

Resolve account authentication bugs or outdated software issues that may be causing the error.

This error is often linked to synchronization issues between your local desktop app and Microsoft's servers.

Verify Office and macOS versions

Right-click the Microsoft Excel.app in your Applications folder, select "Get Info," and check your version number. Ensure your macOS is also fully updated via System Settings.

Sign out and sign back in

Open Excel, click on the Excel menu at the top, sign out of your Microsoft 365 account, completely quit the application, and then reopen it to sign back in.

Test creating a file in OneDrive

Log into your OneDrive account through a web browser and try to create a new Excel file. If this works, the issue is strictly isolated to your local Mac application.

Sign Out, Update Office, and Verify OneDrive

Solution 2

Perform a Clean Reinstallation of Office for Mac

Use this method if basic troubleshooting fails to fix corrupted application files or container errors.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Mac as a Reliable Alternative

If Microsoft 365 continues to experience connection or authentication errors on your Mac, WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative. You can create, edit, and save Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files locally without mandatory cloud dependencies.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installer for macOS.
2. Install the application: Open the downloaded package and follow the on-screen instructions to install WPS Office on your Mac.
3. Create files seamlessly: Launch WPS Office and instantly create Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files without encountering cloud sync errors.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Free to use with a lightweight installation package for macOS.No forced cloud sign-ins required to create or save local documents.Familiar user interface for a seamless and quick transition.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel for Mac say "Please try again later" when creating a file?

This error typically occurs due to synchronization issues with your Microsoft 365 account, an outdated version of Office or macOS, or corrupted cache files in the Mac's Library folder.

Will reinstalling Microsoft Office on my Mac delete my files?

Reinstalling the Office applications will not delete your Word documents or Excel workbooks. However, clearing the Group Containers folder can delete local Outlook data, so you must back it up first.

Can I use Excel on Mac without signing in to OneDrive?

While you can save files locally on your Mac, Microsoft 365 requires an active subscription and periodic sign-ins to verify your license, which can trigger errors if the authentication servers cannot be reached.

Office App Problems