Sign-in & Login Problems

How to Remove Former School Account Sign-In Prompts from OneNote

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to stop desktop OneNote from continuously prompting for sign-in credentials to a former school or university account they no longer have access to.

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Transitioning from an educational Microsoft account to a personal Microsoft 365 account on a desktop device.
Observed behavior: OneNote repeatedly requests login for the old education account. Even after deleting credentials, the Outlook AutoDiscover configuration keeps recreating them when Office runs.

Before you start

Ensure you back up any unsynced OneNote notebooks locally and save your OneDrive data before modifying system profiles or deleting credentials.

Solution 1Recommended

Create and Migrate to a New Windows Administrator Profile

Since the old Windows profile keeps recreating the school account credential via AutoDiscover, migrating to a fresh local administrator account permanently resolves the conflict.

In cases where the autodiscover service stubbornly recreates Windows credentials every time Microsoft Office runs, attempting to delete the credentials manually will not be a permanent fix. Switching to a new user profile completely circumvents the corrupted configuration.

Open Windows Account Settings

Press the Windows key, click on the Settings gear icon, navigate to 'Accounts', and select 'Family & other users'.

Create a New Local User

Click 'Add someone else to this PC'. Choose 'I don't have this person's sign-in information', then click 'Add a user without a Microsoft account' to create a clean local profile.

Set as Administrator

Once the account is created, select it from the list, click 'Change account type', and set it to 'Administrator' so you have full control over your PC.

Migrate Your Files

Sign out of your current profile, log into the new administrator profile, and manually copy your personal files from the old user folder (C:\Users\[OldUsername]) to the new one.

Sign into OneNote

Launch OneNote and sign in using your new personal Microsoft 365 account. The old school account prompts will no longer appear.

Profile Migration Complete: The old profile can be safely ignored or deleted once you confirm all your files are transferred. Using a local account will not affect your application usage.

Solution 2

Remove Old Credentials from Windows Credential Manager

Clear cached Microsoft Office credentials to prevent OneNote from attempting to authenticate the old school account.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Document Experience

Tired of dealing with complex Microsoft account syncing issues and persistent sign-in prompts? WPS Office offers a seamless, offline-friendly, and lightweight alternative that doesn't force continuous account authentication.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your operating system.
2. Install the Software: Run the setup file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the lightweight installation process.
3. Open Your Files Offline: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Office files directly from your hard drive—no forced sign-ins required.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats.No mandatory cloud sign-ins required to view, edit, or save your local documents.Lightweight and fast, consuming far fewer system resources.Built-in tabbed interface to manage multiple documents in one window without account conflicts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OneNote keep asking for my old school account?

OneNote relies on Windows Credentials and Microsoft Office's AutoDiscover settings. If your system still has background traces of your educational account, it will repeatedly try to sync, even if you are logged into a personal account.

Can I just delete the school account credential instead of making a new profile?

You can try deleting it from the Windows Credential Manager first. However, in many cases involving institutional accounts, the Office AutoDiscover feature automatically recreates the credential upon launch, making a new user profile the most reliable fix.

Will I lose my notes if I switch to a new Windows profile?

Not if they are synced to your personal Microsoft account or backed up locally. Always verify your notebooks are fully synced or exported before switching profiles to ensure no data loss.

How do I back up my OneNote notebooks before making changes?

In desktop OneNote, go to File > Options > Save & Backup, and click 'Back Up All Notebooks Now'. Ensure the backup folder is accessible from your new Windows profile.

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