Login to open file goes straight to M365 Copilot

MrShark 0 Reputation points
2026-03-10T12:33:27.05+00:00

I have a document I made on my computer that has a link to an excel document made by a friend. On my Surface, I can open the link without any problem, but when I try to do the same action from my Android phone I get a message to login (which I already am) and when I enter my email address I go straight to M365 Copilot instead of the excel file.

And yes, I am logged in on both devices exactly the same.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Android
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  1. AI answer

    2026-03-10T12:33:38.76+00:00

    On Android, Excel links open through the Microsoft 365 experience and can be redirected to Copilot if the account or file context does not match what is expected.

    Use these checks and steps on the Android phone:

    1. Confirm the correct account in Excel
      • Open the Excel app on Android.
      • Go to File > Open and verify that the same Microsoft account used on the Surface is listed.
      • If it is not listed, tap Add a place and sign in with that account.
    2. Make sure you are signed in to Microsoft 365 correctly
      • Open the Microsoft 365 Copilot or Office app on Android.
      • On the Recent screen, tap Sign In (if shown).
      • Enter the same email address and password used on the Surface.
      • This ensures the mobile apps and the web experience are using the same identity.
    3. Check the file’s storage location
      • If the linked Excel file is stored in a third‑party storage location, Copilot and the web experience may show license or access issues and redirect incorrectly.
      • Ask the file owner (or on the Surface) to move or copy the workbook to OneDrive or SharePoint, update the link in the document to point to that location, and then try opening it again from Android.
    4. Open Excel first, then the link
      • On Android, open the Excel app and sign in as above.
      • Then return to the document and tap the link again so it opens into the already‑signed‑in Excel context instead of defaulting to Copilot.

    If the problem is related to Copilot license validation or account mismatch, moving the file to OneDrive/SharePoint and ensuring the correct account is used typically resolves the redirection to Copilot instead of the workbook.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Arlene D 36,225 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-03-10T13:12:25.2933333+00:00

    Hello,

    Office files open only when the signed in account and the app session match the file permission. On Android, check these steps. Sign out of the Microsoft account in the Excel app and sign in again with the same email used on your Surface. Clear the browser cache if the link opens in Chrome or Edge, then sign in again at office.com and open the link from there.

    Update the Excel and Microsoft 365 apps from the Play Store. Remove other Microsoft accounts from the Office app if more than one account exists. If the issue continues, ask your friend to resend the file using a OneDrive or SharePoint link with access set to your email. Also, mobile access to shared files requires the correct account session in the Office app and the sharing permission to match the signed in user.

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  3. MrShark 0 Reputation points
    2026-03-10T13:16:36.3333333+00:00
    1. Is correct
    2. Is correct
    3. It's through SharePoint. Even going straight into Excel and trying to access the link I get an error message after logging in with my account through the Microsoft login screen. And yes, it is an account to which the document has been shared. Request Id: b7e2309e-9854-44cf-8e29-23af9b84cc00 Correlation Id: a5793bd5-e8a7-9e44-8d01-ccebccc645e1 Timestamp: 2026-03-10T13:13:15Z Message: AADSTS50020: User account '******@xxx.com(privacy)' from identity provider 'live.com' does not exist in tenant 'Y11SM' and cannot access the application 'd3590ed6-52b3-4102-aeff-aad2292ab01c'(Microsoft Office) in that tenant. The account needs to be added as an external user in the tenant first. Sign out and sign in again with a different Azure Active Directory user account.
    4. Done, didn't work.

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  4. Arlene D 36,225 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-03-12T05:12:05.13+00:00

    I see the error. The code AADSTS50020 shows your Microsoft account does not exist in the SharePoint tenant. Did the file owner add your email as a guest user in their tenant?

    Well, this error appears when a user signs in with a personal Microsoft account which the tenant does not recognize. The tenant blocks the file even if the link was shared. The owner or admin needs to add your email as an external user in Microsoft Entra ID, then send a new SharePoint invitation. After you accept the invitation with the same account, access to the file should work.

    • Ask the owner to open SharePoint, select the file, choose Manage access, remove your email, then share again with your exact address.

    • Ask the admin to confirm your email exists under External users in Microsoft Entra ID.

    • Accept the SharePoint invitation email before opening the file link.

    • Sign out of Excel and Microsoft 365 apps on Android, then sign in again with the same account used to accept the invitation.

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