Every time I try to upgrade I get a screen that says I have to quit SyncServices Agent

Anonymous
2011-01-18T06:01:10+00:00

Every time I try to upgrade I get a screen that says I have to quit SyncServices Agent but there is no way to open or close that application. And there's no way to stop the annoying screen from flashing in front of everything else I try to do after I abandon the upgrade. What is sync Services agent and can I just put it in the trash so I can upgrade or is there a way to bypass it and/or at least quit it?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | For home | Other

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2011-06-28T16:56:02+00:00

Many of the provided answers do not address the fact that SyncServicesAgent starts itself right up again after quitting it in the Activity Monitor.

I've no clue how to use terminal... and seriously don't want to restart the computer for this.

Here's the very-low-techie solution I found:

(1) Open Finder/Applications/Microsoft Office 2011/Office

(2) Drag SyncServicesAgent.app to the desktop (this keeps it from restarting!)

(3) THEN open Finder/Applications/Utilities/Activity Monitor.app

(4) Find SyncServicesAgent in the list and quit it.

(5) Click the Continue button on the installer pop-up.

(6) When the application finishes installing, drag SyncServicesAgent.app back to Finder/Applications/Microsoft Office 2011/Office

Was this answer helpful?

3 people found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2013-09-19T22:00:30+00:00

Install Basics

Not only should Safari be quit but all browsers and hidden Microsoft processes like the Microsoft Database daemon and SyncServicesAgent.

Use the Microsoft Autoupdater (MAU) to update Office 2011

  • Open any Office application and select "Check for Updates" under Help in the Menu bar. Once MAU is launched, select "Keep in Dock". You can remove after completing upgrades.
  • Log out/in as described below.
  • Select the MAU in the Dock and download the updater.
  • After it downloads, quit the MAU then install. Leave in Dock until there are no more updaters.
  • RESTART
  • Repeat until there are no more updaters.
  • Log out under the Apple in the Menu bar
  • Log in and hold down the Shift key (this disables all startup items including the hidden ones like Sync Services)

Note for the MAU and MERP updaters you do NOT have to restart after updating. These are found in the root Library:

 /Library/Application Support/Microsoft/

Why Restart?

The Restart after updater will force a file that stores the version info to update. This should happen automatically but sometimes it doesn't. The next updater will fail and you will have to re-install Office. The restart is a quick step that will save time in the long term.

Was this answer helpful?

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2011-12-05T13:44:37+00:00

Hello All,

PLEASE READ THIS ANSWER.  Here is the PROPER way to do this:

  1. Begin the update for Microsoft Office 2011
  2. Open "Activity Monitor" (Go --> Utilities, or search in Spotlight)
  3. Find "SyncServicesAgent" and highlight, and "Quit Process" with the stop-sign.
  4. Quickly press "Continue" or "Retry" on the updater / installer before the process begins itself again.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2482074

This does not require one to open terminal, or mess up any other configuration of your computer.

Thank you for your time.

-- Morris

Was this answer helpful?

0 comments

60 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2015-03-03T01:15:49+00:00

    Please People, turning off the Sync Services and Microsoft Daemon In activity Monitor does no good. As fast as you turn it off. They regenerate at the blink of an eye. 

    The only sure fire, guaranteed, 100% positive way is to Restart in safe mode once signed in, OSX only Apple Control panel/Preferences to run. Everything is shut down except what is necessary for system and computer to function. (And possibly applications you have chosen to start at login. Then and only then can you Install without Sync Service or Microsoft Daemon interfering. IT has been this way since 2011 and even 2008. I can't remember for sure but 2004 may have had same issue. I've tried every method under the sun and moon to Install updates. Up until I tried opening MicroSoft AutoDate directly and Restarting in Safe Mode.  Was I finally able to successfully install Office updates.

    I did notice the updater for 14.4.8 read a little different it said quit applications and install.  Perhaps MS has finally Figured to kill these two elements before installing.  Oh I am not some crackpot I've used Office applications since Excel. 5.0 and Word 6.0. That was 1994/95. (Hmmmm 2015? 1995? 20 Years?).

    Oh I suppose Dianne is correct about making things sound complicated. But I suppose I am bit of a nerd and have a Perfectionist complex.  I try not to miss a step so I don't have add to answers because I leave steps out.

    _________

    Disclaimer:

    The opinions, replies & answers are solely mine and mine alone, and do not reflect upon my position as a Community Moderator.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Jim G 134.1K Reputation points MVP
    2015-03-02T15:00:17+00:00

    Hi Barbara,

    You don't drag anything from Activity Monitor. You select SyncServiceAgent in the monitor then use the QUIT command in Activity Monitor (right-click or control click on the selection or use a menu).

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments