Microsoft changed our ability to hide the sign in screens in MS Office applications on macOS.
Overview
An unannounced change by Microsoft in March of 2026 means we can't completely hide sign in prompts on macOS, even when they are not needed. Here's how to access the applications without signing in.
Issue
An unannounced change was implemented in March of 2026, which made MS Office apps on macOS ignore our configuration to by-pass any sign in prompts. This meant that without signing in, the app would just quit. Office documents had to be opened with Google or native macOS apps.
Resolution
Open with Google apps or macOS apps
Compatibility is not 100%, but other apps can open Office documents:
- Google can open Excel, PowerPoint, and Word documents.
- Pages can open Word documents.
- Numbers can open Excel documents.
- Keynote can open PowerPoint documents.
With updated configuration, the sign in can be bypassed
Configuration that hides the sign in screen has been disabled on podium Macs in classrooms. Follow these steps per application that you wish to use:
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Launch the application or double-click the document
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The app's startup screen appears. Ignore the "sign in or create account" button and Select "Skip sign in" at the bottom right.
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The next windows says "You're all set." Select the "Start using . . ." button to start the application.
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This should only be necessary once per application, per computer.