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How to Separate Personal and Work OneDrive Accounts on Multiple PCs
Question details
The user needs to prevent personal and work OneDrive accounts from merging files and folders across two different devices.
- Product
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Device & OS
- Windows 10 and Windows 11
- Scenario
- Synchronizing different OneDrive accounts across a desktop PC and a laptop without merging their data.
- Observed behavior
- Two distinct OneDrive accounts are synchronizing within the same Windows profiles on both devices, causing desktops, folders, and files to appear merged.
Before making changes to your OneDrive configuration, ensure that all currently syncing files are fully uploaded to the cloud to avoid any accidental local data loss when unlinking accounts.
Unlink the Unwanted Account and Use Web Access
Stop files from merging by unlinking the secondary OneDrive account from Windows and accessing it exclusively via the web browser.
Multiple Microsoft 365 license types cannot be used as separate Windows identities within a single Windows administrator profile. To keep your work and personal environments completely separate, each device should only sync locally with one dedicated account.
Click the OneDrive cloud icon located in the Windows taskbar, click the Gear icon (Help & Settings), and select Settings from the menu.
Navigate to the Account tab and click on 'Unlink this PC' for the OneDrive account you do not want to synchronize locally on that specific device.
Log into your second Windows device and repeat the unlinking process, ensuring that only the intended account remains actively synced on that machine.
Whenever you need to access files from the unlinked account, log in to OneDrive via your web browser instead of using the local Windows synchronization.
Disable Folder Backup Settings
Prevent personal and work desktops from mirroring each other by turning off the PC folder backup feature in OneDrive.
Manage Your Documents Seamlessly with WPS Office
If managing multiple Microsoft accounts and OneDrive sync issues is becoming a hassle, try WPS Office. It offers a lightweight, highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office, featuring flexible local saving and its own independent WPS Cloud to prevent unwanted cross-device merging.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your Windows PC or laptop.
- 2. Install and Launch: Run the setup file to install the suite, then open WPS Office to access Writer, Spreadsheets, and Presentation.
- 3. Save and Manage Files: Create your documents and choose to save them locally to your hard drive or securely back them up using WPS Cloud without forcing a desktop sync.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run two separate personal OneDrive accounts on the same Windows PC?
No, Windows currently only allows one Personal OneDrive account to be synchronized per Windows user profile. However, you can link one Personal account and multiple Work or School accounts simultaneously.
Why are my desktop icons appearing on my laptop from my PC?
This happens because the OneDrive 'PC Folder Backup' feature is enabled for your Desktop on both devices using the same Microsoft account. Disabling this backup setting on one or both devices will stop the desktops from mirroring.
Will unlinking a OneDrive account delete my files?
No, unlinking your PC simply severs the connection for local synchronization. Your files remain safely stored in the OneDrive cloud and can still be accessed, viewed, and downloaded via a web browser.
