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AlphaSense for PowerPoint and Excel - End User Guide: Individual Setup (Mac)

Kristin Mize
Updated

This guide walks you through installing AlphaSense for PowerPoint and Excel on your Mac using the native side-load method

After setup, you will have:

  • AlphaSense in PowerPoint: AI-powered slide creation, editing, research, and content generation directly in your presentations — running natively on macOS.
  • AlphaSense in Excel: AI-assisted modeling, data analysis, and visualization in your spreadsheets. The Excel add-in is not yet generally available; check back for updates.
  • AlphaSense App Manager: A small companion app that runs in your menu bar and provides the local AI services that power the add-in.

What You Need

  • macOS (latest version recommended)
  • Microsoft 365 desktop apps (PowerPoint for Mac)
  • An internet connection
  • An AlphaSense account

Installation

Step 1: Download the Installer

Step 2: Open AlphaSense App Manager

Open AlphaSense App Manager from your Applications folder.

First launch note: macOS may show a security prompt saying the app is from an unidentified developer. If so:

  • Open System Settings → Privacy & Security
  • Scroll down to the Security section and click Open Anyway next to AlphaSense App Manager
  • Confirm by clicking Open in the dialog that appears

App Manager will appear in your menu bar (the icons at the top right of your screen).

Step 3: Side-Load the Add-in

Once App Manager is running, it will automatically register the AlphaSense add-in with PowerPoint for Mac using the side-load method.

  • In App Manager, navigate to the Guides page
  • Click Install / Set Up PowerPoint Add-in
  • App Manager will load the manifest and register AlphaSense with Office

What is side-loading? Side-loading lets individual users install an Office add-in without IT needing to deploy it centrally via Microsoft 365 Admin Center. App Manager handles this automatically on Mac.

First-Time Activation

Step 4: Keep App Manager Running

After installation, AlphaSense App Manager appears in your menu bar at the top of your screen. App Manager must be running whenever you use AlphaSense in Office — it provides the local AI services that power the add-in.

Tip: Closing the App Manager window keeps it running in the menu bar. To fully quit, click the menu bar icon and choose Quit.

Step 5: Open PowerPoint

Close all PowerPoint windows completely first. This ensures Office picks up the new add-in registration.

Then choose one of two ways to open PowerPoint:

Option A: From App Manager (recommended for first time)

In App Manager, click Open PowerPoint Add-in. This opens a special PowerPoint file with AlphaSense pre-loaded, so the add-in is immediately available. You should see an AlphaSense tab in the ribbon.

Option B: Opening PowerPoint normally

If you open PowerPoint on your own, the AlphaSense ribbon tab may not appear automatically the first time. To activate it:

  • Go to Home → Add-ins in the ribbon
  • Find AlphaSense for PowerPoint in the list and click it
  • The AlphaSense tab will appear in the ribbon

After activating the add-in once, it will appear automatically in future PowerPoint sessions.

Step 6: Sign In

Click the AlphaSense Chat button in the AlphaSense ribbon tab to open the taskpane. The first time, you will be prompted to sign in with your AlphaSense account. After signing in, you are ready to go.

Verify Your Setup

Open the App Manager window and go to the Diagnostics page. You should see:

  • Service Status with a green dot next to Helper showing a process ID and port
  • Frontend showing "Ready" with the serving URL
  • Add-in Registration showing a green "Installed" chip

If the Helper shows "Needs attention," click Restart Helpers. If Add-in Registration shows "Not installed," go to the Guides page and click Install / Repair (Recovery).

Uploading Files

The Mac version of AlphaSense for PowerPoint supports file uploads directly from the taskpane. Click the upload icon in the chat to attach files (PDFs, Word docs, Excel files) for use in your research and slide generation.

Troubleshooting

AlphaSense tab does not appear in the ribbon

  • Make sure App Manager is running (check your menu bar)
  • Close all PowerPoint windows completely and reopen
  • Try using Open PowerPoint Add-in from App Manager instead of opening PowerPoint directly
  • If the tab still does not appear, go to Home → Add-ins and activate AlphaSense manually
  • Open App Manager → Diagnostics and check that Add-in Registration shows "Installed." If it shows "Not installed," go to Guides and click Install / Repair (Recovery)

macOS blocked the app from opening

If you see "AlphaSense App Manager cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified":

  • Open System Settings → Privacy & Security
  • Scroll to the Security section and click Open Anyway
  • Confirm by clicking Open

The taskpane is blank or shows an error

  • Right-click inside the taskpane and choose Reload, or close and reopen it from the ribbon
  • Open App Manager → Diagnostics and check that the Helper shows a green dot. If not, click Restart Helpers
  • If the issue persists, close PowerPoint completely, click Restart Helpers in App Manager, wait for the green status, then reopen PowerPoint

Upload button not working

Make sure you are on the latest version of App Manager — Mac upload button support was added in a recent release. Open App Manager and check for updates.

Updating AlphaSense

App Manager checks for updates automatically. When an update is available:

  • An "Update AlphaSense" banner appears in the App Manager window
  • Click it to see update details — App Manager will begin downloading automatically
  • Once the download completes, click Restart and Install

You can keep working in PowerPoint while the update downloads. Only App Manager needs to restart, not PowerPoint.

Uninstalling

To remove AlphaSense:

  • Quit AlphaSense App Manager (click the menu bar icon → Quit)
  • Open Finder → Applications
  • Drag AlphaSense App Manager to the Trash
  • Empty the Trash

The add-in registration will be removed automatically when App Manager is uninstalled.

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