How to activate Microsoft Office 365 when stuck on “Loading”

Updated April 20th, 2020.

Microsoft Office 365 can get stuck when you try to activate it. The installation goes perfectly, you see a screen asking you to sign in, you put in your email address (or possibly your phone number or Skype address), and click Next.

Signing in to Office 365. So far, so good!
Signing in to Office 365. So far, so good!

You’re probably expecting the next box to show something asking for your password. Instead, you get this:

Signing in to Office 365. Loading...
Signing in to Office 365. Loading…

It doesn’t matter how long you wait– you’ll still be “loading.”

So, what should you do? Should you try reinstalling? No. Should you wait a little longer? No. What you should do is type your password anyway, even though there’s no place to type it, and then hit Return. Do that, and you’ll soon see this:

Microsoft Office 365 activating...
Microsoft Office 365 activating…

In a minute or two you’ll see this, signifying successful sign-in:

Office 365 Mac All Set!
Office 365 Mac All Set!

How cool is that?

Note: this problem only seems to occur with older versions of the macOS, from El Capitan (10.11) on back. It could be that the version of Office 365 that runs on 10.11 and 10.10 has this issue and that the “regular” version does not. Regardless, now you know the fix!

macOS 10.11.6 (El Capitan) About this Mac image.
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Christian Boyce

Christian Boyce is a Mac and iPhone expert with over 30 years' experience in the field. His specialty is teaching people how to get more out of their Macs and iPhones using the software and apps already installed. He is the author of several books, a guest speaker for Mac and iPhone user groups worldwide, and a former rocket scientist. He splits time between homes in Santa Monica, California and Round Rock, Texas.

18 thoughts on “How to activate Microsoft Office 365 when stuck on “Loading”

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  1. I have tried this even before reading your advice – but it does not work in my case – I juts hear loud noise as if I type in a wrong place

  2. Absolutely brilliant! Worked perfectly. Not surprised that the solution was easier to find OUTside of the Microsoft website.

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