macOS Idle Session Timeout in Microsoft 365 Web Apps

ITS has received reports from Mac users about being logged out from Microsoft 365 web apps after a relatively short period of time. This automatic “timeout” is due to a security setting intended for personal “unmanaged” devices.

How to resolve a short session timeout

Users can stay signed into Microsoft 365 web apps by using Microsoft Edge and signing in with UConn credentials to create a profile. Using an authenticated and trusted browser with your UConn credentials will maintain the session and ensure proper caching.

You can also used the dedicated desktop applications rather than the web apps.

Signing in to Microsoft Edge

1. Open Microsoft Edge.

2. Click the profile icon in the upper-right hand corner of the window.

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3. If you are signed in, click Other profiles and then Set up a new work or school profile.

4. Sign in with your UConn email address and NetID password.

Why does a session timeout exist?

To comply with an audit finding, ITS enabled a security feature in Microsoft 365 that automatically logs out unmanaged devices from Microsoft 365 after one hour of inactivity. The reason for this change is to better prevent unauthorized access to institutional data. More information…

Why does this only happen on a Mac?

Microsoft defines all computers as managed or unmanaged. Any Windows computer issued by UConn for work purposes are enrolled in a system called Microsoft Intune. This system classifies them as managed, which exempts them from this inactivity policy. Macs are not enrolled in Intune, but rather in a 3rd-party system called Jamf Pro. Currently, Macs managed by Jamf Pro are not considered “managed” by Microsoft. ITS is actively working to exempt macOS devices that are enrolled in Jamf Connect from this classification.