Fix Two OneDrive Icons on Mac and Missing Shared Folders in Word
Question details
The user is seeing two OneDrive applications or icons on their Mac, and a shared business folder that appears in Finder is missing from Microsoft Word's save locations.
- Product
- OneDrive, Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Trying to identify and remove a duplicate OneDrive instance and save documents directly to a shared business folder in Word.
- Observed behavior
- Two OneDrive entries are visible on the MacBook. A shared business folder is accessible via Finder but is missing from the Save dialog in Word.
Make sure you know your exact Microsoft account credentials for both personal and business accounts, and verify your Mac has a stable internet connection to check synchronization statuses.
Identify and Unlink Duplicate Accounts
Determine if the two icons represent separate Personal and Business accounts, which is the most common reason for duplicate entries.
Often, users will see two OneDrive icons in the macOS menu bar if they are signed into both a personal account (usually a white icon) and a business/school account (usually a blue icon).
Look at the top-right menu bar on your Mac. Identify the colors of the two OneDrive cloud icons to distinguish between Personal and Business.
Click on one of the OneDrive icons, select the 'Help & Settings' gear icon, and click 'Preferences'.
Navigate to the 'Account' tab to see which email address is associated with that specific instance of OneDrive.
If you determine that one of the accounts is unneeded, click 'Unlink this Mac' to remove the account connection and clear the duplicate icon.
Add Connected Services to Word
Fix the issue where Finder displays the shared folder but Word does not offer it as a save location.
Avoid Sync Conflicts on Mac with WPS Office
If Microsoft Word and OneDrive account conflicts are interrupting your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides an intuitive, lightweight experience on macOS with excellent compatibility and flexible cloud saving options.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for Mac from the official website and install it in seconds.
- 2. Connect Your Cloud Drive: Open WPS Office, go to the Cloud settings, and sign into your preferred cloud storage service.
- 3. Save Without Conflicts: Easily save your documents directly to the cloud without juggling multiple complex account profiles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I see both a blue and white OneDrive icon on my Mac?
Microsoft uses different colors to indicate account types. A blue cloud icon represents a OneDrive for Business or School account, while a white cloud icon indicates a OneDrive Personal account.
Will I lose my files if I unlink a OneDrive account?
No, unlinking an account simply stops syncing files to your Mac. Your files remain safe and accessible in the cloud when you log into OneDrive via a web browser.
How do I force Word to refresh my connected cloud locations?
You can refresh your locations by signing out of your Microsoft account within Word (click your profile picture > Sign Out), restarting the application, and signing back in to re-sync your connected services.
