Uninstall & Reinstall Issues

How to Completely Remove Microsoft 365 and Saved Sign-In Credentials

Emma Brown Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to completely wipe Microsoft 365 and all saved sign-in data to resolve persistent login or multifactor authentication (MFA) loops without reinstalling Windows.

How to Completely Remove Microsoft 365 and Clear Sign-In Credentials

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Fixing persistent Microsoft 365 sign-in and MFA failures that survive a standard reinstallation.
Observed behavior: Microsoft 365 repeatedly reports an account or device problem, and sign-in fails continuously even after reinstalling the Office suite.

Before you start

Ensure you back up all important documents and consider backing up your Windows Registry before proceeding. While uninstallation does not delete personal files, taking precautions prevents accidental data loss during system changes.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Credential Manager and Uninstall Microsoft 365

This is the safest and most effective method to remove lingering account tokens causing sign-in loops before performing a fresh installation.

Windows stores your Office login tokens in the Credential Manager. When these tokens become corrupted, they cause MFA and sign-in loops that a standard Office uninstallation cannot fix. Removing these credentials manually resolves the issue.

Clear Windows Credentials

Click the Start menu, type 'Credential Manager', and press Enter. Select 'Windows Credentials', scroll down to the 'Generic Credentials' section, and remove every entry that contains 'MicrosoftAccount', 'MicrosoftOffice', or 'OneDrive'.

Uninstall Microsoft 365

Open Windows Settings, navigate to 'Apps' > 'Installed apps' (or 'Apps & features'), find Microsoft 365, and click 'Uninstall'. Alternatively, use the official Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) tool for a deeper wipe.

Unlink or Uninstall OneDrive

Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray, click the Settings gear icon, navigate to the 'Account' tab, and select 'Unlink this PC'. You may also choose to uninstall OneDrive entirely from the Apps menu.

Restart Your PC

Reboot your computer to ensure all cached data is cleared and the old credentials are fully flushed from the system.

Clear Credential Manager and Uninstall Microsoft 365

Sign-in Tokens Wiped: Removing credentials manually ensures that corrupted sign-in tokens are entirely wiped, fixing the vast majority of MFA loop and account error issues.

Solution 2

Reset Office Settings via Windows Registry

For highly persistent issues, renaming the Office registry key forces Windows to create a fresh Office profile the next time it runs.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Experience

Tired of dealing with persistent sign-in loops, MFA errors, and complicated Microsoft 365 installations? WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative. You can open, edit, and save Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files seamlessly on your local device without relying on mandatory cloud-based credentials.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Office formats including .docx, .xlsx, and .pptxFree and lightweight with no mandatory complex sign-in loops or cloud dependenciesFamiliar user interface allows for immediate productivity without a steep learning curveFast installation process that bypasses complex Windows registry issues

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Will completely removing Microsoft 365 delete my personal files?

No, uninstalling the software and clearing credentials only removes the application files and account tokens. Your local Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and other personal files remain completely untouched.

How do I fix the Microsoft 365 sign-in loop if removing credentials doesn't work?

If clearing the Credential Manager fails, you may need to switch Windows to a local account, or create a brand-new local Windows user profile (Settings > Accounts > Other users) to bypass corruption in your current Windows profile.

Can I reinstall Microsoft 365 after clearing the registry and credentials?

Yes. Once you have completely removed the lingering account data and restarted your PC, you can perform a clean, fresh installation of Office by downloading it directly from your Microsoft account dashboard.

Installation & Activation