Permission & Access Issues

Fix Microsoft 365 Multiple Account Permission Errors in Excel and SharePoint

Rana Garcia Oct 16, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve permission errors when accessing Excel files on SharePoint, caused by authentication conflicts from being signed into multiple Microsoft 365 accounts.

Fix Microsoft 365 Multiple Account Permission Errors in Excel and SharePoint

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Attempting to open SharePoint Excel files through the desktop application or Outlook while authenticated with multiple Microsoft 365 accounts from different organizations.
Observed behavior: Office authentication tokens select the incorrect cached account, resulting in SharePoint permission denied errors that prevent the Excel file from opening.

Before you start

Before troubleshooting, ensure you know exactly which Microsoft 365 account holds the necessary permissions to access the specific SharePoint Excel file you are trying to open.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Cached Office Credentials in Windows

Remove outdated or conflicting Microsoft authentication tokens from Windows Credential Manager to force Office to prompt for the correct account login.

When multiple Microsoft 365 accounts are used on the same device, Windows may cache the credentials of one account and attempt to use it for all Office sessions. Clearing these saved credentials ensures that Excel and SharePoint authenticate using the correct user token.

Close Office Applications

Ensure all Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Outlook, and Word, are completely closed.

Open Credential Manager

Click the Windows Start button, type "Credential Manager" into the search bar, and select the application from the results.

Locate Office Credentials

Click on "Windows Credentials" and scroll down to the "Generic Credentials" section.

Remove Conflicting Tokens

Locate any entries that begin with "MicrosoftOffice", click the drop-down arrow next to them, and select "Remove".

Sign In Again

Restart Microsoft Excel and sign back in using the specific account that holds permissions for the desired SharePoint file.

Clear Cached Office Credentials in Windows

Successfully Cleared: Once the cached credentials are removed, Office will generate a fresh authentication token the next time you sign in, eliminating the multi-account conflict.

Solution 2

Use Separate Browser Profiles for Different Organizations

Isolate your Microsoft 365 sessions by setting up dedicated web browser profiles, preventing cross-account token conflicts.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Avoid Cloud Account Conflicts with WPS Office

Tired of dealing with Microsoft 365 authentication tokens and account conflicts? Switch to WPS Office, a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative that makes managing your local and cloud files straightforward and hassle-free.

1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office from the official website and install it on your computer.
2. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your locally downloaded Excel files without triggering cloud authentication prompts.
3. Edit and Save: Edit your data and save it directly in the .xlsx format, ensuring full compatibility if you need to share the file back to your organization.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) and other Office formats.Manage local files without complicated multi-organization account conflicts.Lightweight application that runs smoothly on almost any device.Free to use with a familiar tabbed user interface for seamless migration.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does SharePoint say I don't have access to an Excel file when I know I do?

This usually happens when Microsoft Office caches the authentication token of a different account you are logged into. Office inadvertently sends the wrong credentials to SharePoint, resulting in an access denied error.

Can I use multiple Microsoft 365 work accounts in the same Office session?

It is generally not recommended to mix Microsoft 365 accounts from different organizations in the same desktop application session, as it frequently leads to authentication conflicts and permission errors.

How do I open a SharePoint Excel file with a specific account to avoid errors?

The most reliable method is to create a dedicated browser profile for that specific Microsoft 365 account, navigate to SharePoint online via that isolated browser session, and open the file directly.

What is Windows Credential Manager and how does it affect Office permissions?

Windows Credential Manager is a system utility that stores saved passwords and authentication tokens. If outdated or conflicting Microsoft Office tokens are stored there, the application may automatically try to use them, causing sign-in loops or permission errors.

Document & File Issues