Sign-in & Login Problems

How to Remove an Old Work Account from Office and Teams on Mac

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to completely remove traces of a disabled work account that keeps appearing as a sign-in option in Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, and Office on macOS.

Product: Microsoft Office, Teams, OneDrive
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Trying to clear out disabled or old work credentials from a Mac after leaving a company or changing organizations.
Observed behavior: The disabled work account still shows up as a sign-in option even after signing out, removing the license, and restarting the Mac.

Before you start

Before proceeding, ensure you know the login credentials for your personal or current active accounts, as resetting your keychain will require you to sign back into these services.

Solution 1Recommended

Reset Default Keychains to Clear Old Credentials

Resetting the macOS keychain is the most effective way to remove lingering Microsoft account traces from your Mac.

When you sign out of Microsoft apps on a Mac, the system keychain sometimes retains the credential tokens. Resetting the default keychains will permanently wipe these saved credentials, forcing the apps to start fresh.

Launch Keychain Access

Open the Finder, go to 'Applications' > 'Utilities', and double-click on 'Keychain Access' to open the application.

Access Preferences

Click on 'Keychain Access' in the top Apple menu bar and select 'Settings' (or 'Preferences' on older macOS versions).

Reset the Keychain

Click the 'Reset Default Keychains' button. If prompted, confirm your action by entering your Mac login password.

Restart and Re-authenticate

Restart your Mac. Open Teams, OneDrive, or Office, and sign in using your current, active account credentials.

Re-authentication Required: This process removes saved passwords for other services too, so you will need to log back into various apps that previously remembered your credentials.

Solution 2

Submit Feedback via the OneDrive App

If the account still appears after clearing the keychain, you can submit a diagnostic report directly to Microsoft.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Mac Experience

Tired of dealing with lingering account issues and complicated credential managers? Try WPS Office. It's a lightweight, easy-to-use alternative that works seamlessly on Mac without the heavy account management overhead.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the installer for macOS.
2. Install on Mac: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
3. Start Creating: Launch the app and open your existing Microsoft Office files instantly with no complex sign-in required.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Lightweight installation that keeps your Mac running fast without cluttering the keychain.All-in-one interface to manage documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.Free to use with a familiar UI that makes migration seamless.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my old work account keep showing up on my Mac after signing out?

macOS stores authentication tokens in the Keychain Access app. Even if you sign out of Office or Teams and remove the software license, the saved token in the keychain can cause the account to reappear until it is manually deleted.

Will resetting my default keychain delete my local files or documents?

No, resetting the default keychain only removes saved passwords, certificates, and authentication tokens. Your local files, documents, and installed applications will remain untouched.

Can I selectively delete just the Microsoft credentials instead of resetting the whole keychain?

Yes. Instead of resetting the entire keychain, you can open Keychain Access, search for keywords like 'Microsoft', 'Office', 'Teams', or 'Exchange', and manually right-click to delete the specific entries associated with your old work account.

Login & Account Issues