Sign-in & Login Problems

How to Remove a Former Guest Account from Office, Teams, and OneDrive

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 873 views

Question details

The user needs to permanently remove a deleted or former B2B guest account that continues to trigger verification prompts across Microsoft 365 applications.

Product: Microsoft Office, Teams, OneDrive
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Attempting to use Microsoft desktop applications after a guest organizational account has been deleted or is no longer needed.
Observed behavior: Office, Teams, Word, and Excel repeatedly request verification for the wrong organization because the former guest account continues to appear on the device.

Before you start

Ensure you have saved all open documents and verify that you have local administrator rights on your Windows device before modifying account settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Disconnect the Account in Windows Settings and Clear Credentials

This is the recommended method to clear cached organizational connections and stop Microsoft apps from prompting for the old account's credentials.

Microsoft 365 applications often rely on Windows to manage work or school account identities. Even if a B2B guest account is deleted on the server, the local cache will continue prompting for verification until the account is manually disconnected from the system settings.

Sign out of Microsoft 365 apps

Open any Office application such as Word or Excel, click on your profile picture or name at the top right corner, and select 'Sign out'. Repeat this process for Microsoft Teams and OneDrive.

Disconnect in Windows Settings

Click the Windows Start button and go to Settings > Accounts > Access work or school. Locate the former guest organization or B2B account in the list, click on it, and select 'Disconnect'.

Clear Windows Credential Manager

Open the Windows Start menu, search for 'Credential Manager', and open it. Click on 'Windows Credentials' and remove any cached credentials related to Microsoft Office, Teams, or OneDrive by expanding them and clicking 'Remove'.

Restart and Sign In

Reboot your Windows device to fully clear the cached account connections. Open your Office applications and sign in again using your primary corporate account.

Administrator Rights Required: You may need local administrator privileges to successfully disconnect the account from the Windows 'Access work or school' settings menu.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Experience

If you are tired of complex account management, persistent credential caching, and verification errors in Microsoft Office, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative that lets you focus on your work without the enterprise account hassles.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for Windows.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded setup file and follow the straightforward on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
3. Start Creating: Open WPS Office and instantly start working on your Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files without dealing with complex organizational sign-in requirements.

Avoid complex B2B guest account and credential caching issues entirely.Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats including DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX.Lightweight software that installs quickly and runs smoothly on any Windows device.Free to use with a familiar, all-in-one tabbed interface for easy document management.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my deleted guest account still appear in Office?

Windows caches organizational credentials and account connections locally to speed up the sign-in process. Even if the account is deleted from the Azure or Microsoft 365 server, the local cache forces Office apps to attempt verification until the connection is manually removed from your device.

How do I remove the account if the 'Disconnect' button is missing or greyed out?

If the disconnect option is unavailable in Settings > Accounts > Access work or school, you likely do not have local administrator privileges, or the device is managed by a strict mobile device management (MDM) policy. You will need to contact your IT administrator to release the device or grant you the necessary permissions.

Will clearing Windows Credentials delete my personal files?

No. Clearing entries in the Windows Credential Manager only removes saved passwords and authentication tokens. Your personal files, documents, and data stored in OneDrive or locally on your hard drive remain completely safe and unaffected.

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