Office for Mac Issues

How to Stop Microsoft SharePoint from Asking for Mac Keychain Password

Natalie Taylor Oct 12, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to understand why Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft 365 continuously trigger a keychain password pop-up on their Mac and how to stop these repetitive alerts.

How to Stop Microsoft SharePoint from Asking for Mac Keychain Password

Product: Microsoft SharePoint / Microsoft 365
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Using Microsoft 365 applications or SharePoint services on a MacBook Pro.
Observed behavior: The macOS system continuously displays a pop-up requesting access to the Mac Keychain password in order to verify identity for Microsoft SharePoint or Microsoft 365.

Before you start

Before modifying your keychain settings, make sure you have your Microsoft 365 account email and password ready, as you will need to sign back in after clearing the cached credentials.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Microsoft Entries in Keychain Access

Deleting corrupted or outdated keychain entries forces Microsoft applications to authenticate fresh, which typically resolves the repetitive password prompts.

macOS uses the Keychain to securely store passwords. When the authentication token for Microsoft SharePoint or OneDrive becomes expired or corrupted, the system gets stuck in a loop trying to access it.

By manually removing these specific entries, you allow the applications to generate a clean, error-free token upon your next login.

Open Keychain Access

Press Command (⌘) + Space on your keyboard to open Spotlight Search, type 'Keychain Access', and press Return to open the application.

Search for Microsoft Entries

In the search bar located at the top right of the Keychain Access window, type 'SharePoint', 'OneDrive', or 'Microsoft'.

Delete Relevant Credentials

Select the cached credential entries related to your Office or SharePoint account. Right-click the selected entries and choose 'Delete' to remove them.

Restart Your Mac

Restart your MacBook and launch a Microsoft application to sign in fresh and generate new keychain entries.

Clear Microsoft Entries in Keychain Access

Safe Deletion: Deleting these entries is perfectly safe. It will not delete your files; it only resets the saved login state for those specific applications.

Solution 2

Uninstall Unused OneDrive or SharePoint Applications

If you do not actively use SharePoint or OneDrive for Mac, completely removing the applications will permanently stop them from pinging the Keychain for access.

Solution 3

Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

If you are experiencing these keychain prompts while using SharePoint Online through a web browser rather than a desktop app, clearing your browser's data may resolve the loop.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Distraction-Free Experience on Mac

If you are tired of dealing with constant login prompts and complex account management in Microsoft 365, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, unified office suite that runs flawlessly on macOS without intrusive keychain authentication requests.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free macOS version.
2. Install on Mac: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
3. Open Microsoft Formats: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files with zero compatibility issues.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).No intrusive background syncing or constant Mac keychain authentication prompts.Lightweight installation that saves storage space and system resources on your MacBook.An intuitive, all-in-one tabbed interface to manage your documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Mac Keychain ask for passwords for Microsoft apps?

macOS uses the Keychain feature to securely store passwords and authentication tokens. Microsoft applications like SharePoint, OneDrive, and Word request access to these saved credentials so you don't have to manually type your password every time. If the saved token expires or becomes corrupted, the app will repeatedly prompt you.

Is it safe to delete Microsoft entries in Keychain Access?

Yes, it is entirely safe. Deleting Microsoft entries in Keychain Access only removes the cached login tokens. It will not delete any of your documents or files. The next time you open a Microsoft application, you will simply be prompted to sign in again, generating a fresh, working token.

Can I completely disable Keychain integration for Microsoft Office?

You cannot completely disable Keychain integration for Microsoft Office on a Mac. The applications rely on macOS Keychain for secure authentication and synchronization. However, clearing corrupted entries as described above usually stops the annoying repetitive prompts.

What if Keychain Access keeps asking for my 'login' keychain password?

If your Mac repeatedly asks for the 'login' keychain password specifically, your Mac user account password might be out of sync with your keychain password (which often happens if you reset your Mac login password). You can fix this by going to the Edit menu in Keychain Access and selecting 'Change Password for Keychain login' to make it match your current Mac password.

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