Sign-in & Login Problems

How to Remove Active Directory Sign-In Prompts in Word or Excel

Steve K Oct 10, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to stop Word or Excel from repeatedly prompting them to sign in to an old organizational or Active Directory account.

How to Remove Active Directory Sign-In Prompts in Word or Excel

Product: Microsoft Word / Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening and viewing Office documents.
Observed behavior: Word or Excel repeatedly displays an Active Directory sign-in prompt for an old work or organizational account (such as gas.mcd.com) when trying to open files.

Before you start

Ensure you have saved all your ongoing work and closed any active documents, as you will need to restart your Office applications to apply these account changes.

Solution 1Recommended

Sign Out of the Old Account from Office Settings

Manually signing out of the old organizational account from within the Office application settings will disconnect the profile and remove the persistent Active Directory prompt.

This solution works by clearing the stored credentials and active sessions for the outdated organizational account directly from your Microsoft Office user profile.

Access Account Settings

Open Microsoft Word or Excel. Click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner of the screen, and then select 'Account' from the menu on the left side.

Sign Out of the Old Account

Under the 'User Information' section, look for the old work or organizational account (e.g., gas.mcd.com). Click the 'Sign out' link located below or next to the account name.

Restart the Office Application

Close all open Microsoft Office applications completely. Reopen Word or Excel to verify that the Active Directory sign-in prompt no longer appears.

Sign Out of the Old Account from Office Settings

Account successfully disconnected: Once signed out, Office will stop trying to authenticate with the old organizational server, allowing you to open your documents uninterrupted.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office to Avoid Account Sign-In Hassles

Tired of dealing with persistent Active Directory sign-in prompts and mandatory account logins in Microsoft Office? Try WPS Office. It is a free, lightweight, and user-friendly alternative that lets you edit your files without forcing organizational account connections.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download the free installation package and follow the on-screen instructions to install it on your device.
2. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Word or Excel files directly without worrying about outdated account prompts.
3. Edit and Save Seamlessly: Enjoy full editing capabilities and save your work in standard Microsoft Office formats to ensure compatibility with other users.

No mandatory Active Directory or organizational sign-ins required to edit local filesFully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx)Lightweight application that opens documents instantly without laggingFamiliar user interface for a seamless migration with zero learning curve

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word or Excel keep asking me to sign into an old school or work account?

This happens because the old Active Directory or organizational account is still connected to your Microsoft Office profile or Windows settings. Office continuously attempts to authenticate the account in the background to verify licenses or cloud access permissions.

Will signing out of the old organizational account delete my local files?

No, signing out only removes the connection to that specific account's cloud services and stops the authentication prompts. Any files saved locally on your computer's hard drive will remain completely unaffected.

What if the Active Directory prompt still appears after signing out of Office?

If the prompt persists, the account might still be linked at the operating system level. On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Access work or school, select the old organizational account, and click 'Disconnect'.

Login & Account Issues