Microsoft Account Errors

How to Fix Old Microsoft Account Name and Profile Picture Still Appearing in Office

Ayan Masood Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user's updated Microsoft account name and profile picture are not syncing correctly across Office applications and Microsoft Edge.

Product: Microsoft Office
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Updating user profile information on a Microsoft account.
Observed behavior: The old account name and profile picture persist in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Edge, even after attempting to sign out and sign back in, and sometimes revert after an Office update.

Before you start

Ensure you are connected to a stable internet connection, as Microsoft server synchronizations require active internet access and can take up to 24 hours to fully propagate globally.

Solution 1Recommended

Force Synchronize Account Changes and Clear Cache

Use this solution to clear outdated cached data and force Office applications to fetch your new account profile details.

Often, Microsoft Edge and Office desktop applications rely on locally cached data to load your profile quickly. If the cache is not cleared, the applications may continue displaying your old profile picture and name even after a successful update online.

Verify Changes Online

Open a web browser and navigate to Office.com. Sign in with your Microsoft account to confirm that your new name and profile picture are correctly applied on the server side.

Clear Microsoft Edge Cache

In Microsoft Edge, click the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner, select 'Settings', navigate to 'Privacy, search, and services', and click 'Choose what to clear' under Clear browsing data. Select 'Cookies and other site data' and 'Cached images and files', then click 'Clear now'.

Sign Out Everywhere

Open any Office application (like Word). Go to 'File' > 'Account' and click 'Sign out'. Repeat this process for all Office applications on every device you own to ensure no device is holding onto the old token.

Restart and Sign In

Restart your computer completely. Open Word or Excel again, navigate to 'File' > 'Account', and sign back in using your Microsoft credentials.

Force Synchronize Account Changes and Clear Cache

Synchronization Delay: Please allow up to 24 hours for the new account details to fully propagate across all Microsoft servers and services.

Solution 2

Address Profile Reversions After Office Updates

Use this solution if your profile updated successfully but reverted to the old information following a recent Microsoft Office software update.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Experience

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1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation file.
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3. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx files with full compatibility.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my old Microsoft account picture still show up after I changed it?

This usually happens due to local caching in Office applications and Microsoft Edge, or because the Microsoft servers have not yet fully synchronized your new data globally. It can take up to 24 hours for changes to propagate.

Can I force Office to update my profile picture immediately?

You can expedite the process by signing out of all Office applications, clearing your Edge browser cache, restarting your computer, and signing back in. However, if the Microsoft servers are still syncing, you may still need to wait up to 24 hours.

Will reinstalling Microsoft Office fix the profile picture issue?

Reinstalling Office may clear the local application cache and resolve the issue, but it is generally unnecessary. Signing out, clearing cache, and waiting for the 24-hour server synchronization period is usually sufficient and less time-consuming.

Login & Account Issues