Repeatedly Requesting Keychain Access

Issue/Question

Whenever an Microsoft 365 for Mac app is open, it prompts for Keychain Access:

Microsoft [Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word] wants to use your confidential information stored in "Microsoft Identity [random characters]" in your keychain.

Do you want to allow access to this item?

Environment

• macOS
  • Microsoft 365

Cause

This most often occurs when the permissions for the Microsoft 365 suite have corrupted, making it unable to access the information stored in the keychain.

Resolution

1. Select Always Allow when prompted. Message can appear up to three times for each effected app.
2. If prompt persists after three attempts, or returns when reopening the app, keychain permissions will need to be reset for the Microsoft 365 suite:
   1. Quit all Microsoft 365 apps by clicking their name in the menu bar at the top of the screen and selecting Quit.
   2. Click (Spotlight) on right side of top menu bar.
   3. Search for and open Keychain Access.
   4. Click to select login keychain group in top left pane.
   5. Click File and select Lock Keychain "login".
   6. Launch one of the affected Microsoft 365 apps.
   7. You will be prompted to grant keychain access again. Enter your Mac's account credentials and click OK.
   8. You may be prompted to sign in to your Microsoft 365 account.
   9. Once signed in, you can quit and reopen the app to verify no more prompts appear.
3. If prompt returns after resetting keychain permissions, Microsoft 365 will need to be reset.