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How to Fix Repeated OneDrive Keychain Password Prompts on Mac
Question details
The user needs to stop macOS from repeatedly prompting for login keychain permissions when using Microsoft OneDrive and Office applications.
- Product
- Microsoft OneDrive and Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- Mac / macOS
- Scenario
- Attempting to sync files or open Microsoft Office applications on a Mac without being continuously interrupted by keychain authentication pop-ups.
- Observed behavior
- macOS repeatedly displays messages stating that OneDrive or Office apps want to use confidential information stored in the login keychain.
Ensure you have your Mac administrator password and your Microsoft account login credentials available before making changes to your keychain settings.
Reset Permissions by Locking the Login Keychain
Locking the login keychain forces macOS to prompt for your administrator password again upon opening Office apps, which restores proper authentication tokens and stops the loop.
This method addresses the underlying authentication problem where macOS fails to retain the correct permission token for Microsoft 365 applications.
Completely quit OneDrive and all Microsoft 365 applications running on your Mac.
Navigate to Applications > Utilities and launch the Keychain Access app.
Select the 'login' keychain from the left sidebar. Go to the top menu bar and choose File > Lock Keychain 'login'.
Open any Office application (like Word or Excel). When prompted by macOS, enter your Mac administrator password and sign in to your Microsoft account.
Close and reopen the Office application, then launch OneDrive again. The repeated prompts should now be resolved.
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If persistent Microsoft 365 keychain authentication bugs disrupt your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, hassle-free experience on Mac without complex keychain dependencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does OneDrive keep asking for keychain access on my Mac?
This usually happens when macOS loses the authenticated token for Microsoft 365 apps, or if there is a permission conflict in the Keychain Access app preventing OneDrive from securely saving its login state.
Will resetting my keychain delete my files on OneDrive?
No. Modifying or locking your login keychain only resets the local authentication permissions for macOS apps. Your files remain safely stored in the cloud and on your local drive.
What should I do if locking the keychain doesn't fix the OneDrive prompts?
If the issue continues, you can open Keychain Access, search for 'Microsoft', and delete the entries related to 'Microsoft Office Identities'. Restart your Mac and sign into OneDrive again to create a fresh authentication token.
