Authentication

Bear Decisions offers two authentication methods:

Microsoft SSO: For users with school or work accounts
Email-based authentication: Using One-Time Passcodes for personal accounts

Both methods ensure secure access to all premium features.

Authentication Methods

When you first launch Bear Decisions, you'll see a login screen with authentication options:

Click to zoom

🔐 Microsoft SSO Authentication

If you're using Excel with a school or work Microsoft account, Bear Decisions can authenticate using Microsoft Single Sign-On (SSO). This provides seamless access using your existing Microsoft credentials.

✅ How Microsoft SSO Works

Automatic Detection: Bear Decisions uses the Microsoft account you're currently logged into Excel with
Seamless Authentication: No need to enter credentials - authentication happens automatically
Work/School Accounts: Ideal for enterprise users with organizational Microsoft accounts
Personal Account Fallback: If you're using a personal Microsoft account, it will use that email address and fall back to the email authentication approach if needed

For more information, see Technical Authentication Details.

Licensing Check

After successful authentication via Microsoft SSO, Bear Decisions will automatically check your licensing status. This determines whether you have an active subscription, are on a trial period, or need to purchase a license. For details about the different account types and licensing options, see the Account Types section.

Switching Microsoft Accounts

Important: If you change the user account in Excel, you may need to close and restart Excel for Bear Decisions to utilize the revised user account. This ensures that the correct Microsoft account is detected for authentication.

📧 Email Authentication (One-Time Passcode)

Email authentication enables you to use a One-Time Passcode (OTP) to authenticate. Bear Decisions uses Supabase's secure One-Time Passcode system, which provides a simple, secure way to access your account without needing to remember passwords.

✅ Benefits of Email Authentication

No Password Required: Secure login without remembering complex passwords
Any Email Address: Use your preferred email address for authentication
Secure & Encrypted: Industry-standard security protocols protect your access
Long-lasting Sessions: Stay logged in for up to 3 months

How to Authenticate

Enter your preferred email address in the login form
Click "Send Verification Code"
Check your email for a secure authentication code
Enter the code to complete authentication
Your session will remain active for up to 3 months

Session Duration

Long-lasting sessions: Once authenticated, you'll stay logged in for up to 3 months
Manual logout: If you explicitly log out, you'll need to re-authenticate
Device-specific: Each device/browser needs its own authentication
Automatic renewal: Active usage may extend your session automatically

💡 Email Authentication Tips

Check your spam/junk folder if you don't see the authentication email
The authentication code typically arrives within 1-2 minutes
You can use any email address - work, personal, or dedicated business email
Consider using your work email for business analyses for better organization

🔒 Security & Privacy

Your authentication and data security are important to us:

Secure Authentication: Uses industry-standard security protocols via Supabase
No Password Storage: We don't store passwords - authentication is handled securely
Local Data Processing: Your Excel data stays on your device during analysis
Encrypted Communications: All data transmission is encrypted
Data Collection: We collect your email address and tenant ID (if applicable) for authentication and licensing purposes

Troubleshooting Authentication

Common Issues

Email Not Received: Check spam folder and ensure email address is correct
Code Expired: Authentication codes expire after a few minutes - request a new one
Invalid Code: Double-check the code for typos and ensure it's the most recent one
Network Issues: Ensure you have a stable internet connection
Browser Issues: Try clearing your browser cache or using a different browser
Microsoft Account Not Detected: If you've changed your user account in Excel, close and restart Excel to allow Bear Decisions to detect the new account

Need Help?

If you encounter authentication issues, please contact our support team at mark@babybearanalytics.com with details about any error messages.

🚪 Logging Out

Need to switch accounts or log out completely? You can manage your authentication from within Bear Decisions.

How to Log Out

Open Bear Decisions in Excel
Navigate to the Settings screen within the Bear Decisions task pane
Look for the "Sign Out" button at the bottom of the screen
Click to log out of your current session
You'll be returned to the login screen to authenticate again

💡 When to Log Out

Switching Accounts: To use a different email address
Shared Devices: When using Bear Decisions on a shared computer
Troubleshooting: If you're experiencing authentication-related issues
Security: When you want to ensure no one else can access your Bear Decisions session

Note: Logging out will end your current session immediately. You'll need to re-authenticate using email verification to regain access to Bear Decisions.

Next Steps

Once you're successfully authenticated, Bear Decisions will check your licensing status. What happens next depends on your account type:

New Users on Trial

If you're a new user starting your 14-day free trial, you can jump straight into creating your first analysis.

Continue to Your First Analysis →

Understanding Account Types

Learn about the different subscription plans, licensing options, and how to manage your account.

Continue to Account Types →

Documentation