Sign-in & Login Problems

How to Remove an Old Microsoft Account When Signing In Through Chrome

John Wilson Sep 28, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to stop Google Chrome and Windows from automatically selecting and signing into an old university or college Microsoft account.

How to Remove an Old Microsoft Account When Signing In Through Chrome

Product: Microsoft Teams / Google Chrome
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Signing into Microsoft Teams or other Microsoft web services via Google Chrome.
Observed behavior: The browser automatically authenticates using an old, previously saved college or university account instead of prompting for the user's current Microsoft account credentials.

Before you start

Ensure you have the email address and password for your correct, current Microsoft account handy, as you will need to sign in manually after clearing your saved data.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Chrome Browsing Data and Saved Credentials

Removing cached credentials and cookies from Chrome prevents Microsoft services from bypassing the login screen and automatically selecting the old account.

Google Chrome often saves session cookies and passwords for Microsoft services. Clearing these forces the browser to ask for your login details again.

Open Chrome Settings

Click the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of Google Chrome and select "Settings" from the dropdown menu.

Clear Browsing Data

Navigate to "Privacy and security" on the left sidebar, then click on "Clear browsing data".

Select Cookies and Cache

In the pop-up window, check the boxes for "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files". Click the "Clear data" button.

Remove Saved Passwords

Go to "Autofill and passwords" > "Google Password Manager", search for "Microsoft", and delete any saved passwords associated with the old university account.

Clear Chrome Browsing Data and Saved Credentials

Re-authentication Required: Clearing your cookies will sign you out of most websites, so you will need to log back into your other frequently visited sites.

Solution 2

Remove the Account from Windows System Settings

Windows may be storing your old university account at the system level, forcing it to sync with browsers and Microsoft Teams.

Solution 3

Use Incognito Mode or an Alternative Browser

A quick workaround if you need immediate access to your new account without clearing your main browser's data or changing system settings.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft Teams keep logging into my old account?

Microsoft Teams often relies on Single Sign-On (SSO) tokens cached in your browser or stored in the Windows Credential Manager. If an old account's token is still active, Teams will automatically use it instead of prompting you for new credentials.

Will deleting my old university account from Windows Settings delete my personal files?

No, removing the account from Windows settings only removes the login credentials and stops automatic syncing. It will not delete your local computer files, though you will lose access to cloud files stored on that specific university OneDrive.

How do I access my Teams account without clearing all my Chrome cookies?

If you prefer not to clear your browsing data, you can use Chrome's Incognito mode, create a new Chrome User Profile for your work/school accounts, or use a completely different web browser like Edge or Firefox.

Login & Account Issues