Sign-in & Login Problems

How to Sign In to OneDrive with a New Account on Mac

Adam Davis Sep 29, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to sign in to the OneDrive Mac application with a new account but is prevented by a sign-in loop repeatedly requesting an outdated password.

How to Sign In to OneDrive with a New Account on Mac

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Switching from an old university or work account to a new OneDrive account on a Mac device.
Observed behavior: OneDrive repeatedly requests the password for an old account during sign-in and refuses to accept new account credentials due to cached data.

Before you start

Ensure you completely quit the OneDrive application from the macOS menu bar before clearing any credentials, and verify that all important local files have been safely backed up to prevent accidental data loss.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Old OneDrive Credentials from Keychain Access

Use this method to remove outdated account information from your Mac's secure storage, breaking the sign-in loop.

macOS saves your application passwords in Keychain Access. When switching accounts, OneDrive may continuously attempt to pull the old password from this vault, causing a persistent login error.

Quit the OneDrive app

Click the OneDrive cloud icon in your Mac's top menu bar, select the Help & Settings gear icon, and choose 'Quit OneDrive'.

Open Keychain Access

Press Command + Space to open Spotlight Search, type 'Keychain Access', and press Return to open the application.

Search for cached credentials

In the Keychain Access search bar at the top right, type 'OneDrive' to filter the list of saved passwords and certificates.

Delete old account entries

Select the entries associated with your old university or work account, right-click (or Control-click) them, and select 'Delete'.

Sign in with the new account

Relaunch the OneDrive application from your Applications folder and proceed to sign in with your new account credentials.

Clear Old OneDrive Credentials from Keychain Access

Data Safety: Deleting Keychain credentials only resets your login state and will not delete any files stored in your OneDrive folder.

Solution 2

Reset the OneDrive Application via Package Contents

If clearing the Keychain does not resolve the issue, resetting the OneDrive application files will force it back to a clean installation state.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Cloud File Management

If you frequently encounter syncing and login issues with Microsoft applications on your Mac, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a powerful, lightweight alternative that supports built-in cloud drive integration, allowing you to access and edit your OneDrive files without relying on the desktop sync client.

1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free version of WPS Office for Mac from the official website.
2. Connect Cloud Storage: Open WPS Office, navigate to the 'Open' tab on the left sidebar, and click on 'Add Cloud Storage'.
3. Log in to OneDrive: Select OneDrive from the list, log in with your new account credentials, and begin editing your cloud files directly.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx)Free and lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office that consumes fewer Mac system resourcesBuilt-in support for linking directly to OneDrive, Google Drive, and DropboxFamiliar tabbed user interface requires no learning curve for new users

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does OneDrive keep asking for my old password on Mac?

macOS stores your login credentials in a secure app called Keychain Access. If your old OneDrive password is still saved there, the application might automatically try to authenticate using the outdated credentials, causing a persistent sign-in loop.

Will resetting the OneDrive Mac app delete my cloud files?

No, resetting the app using the command script only clears local application preferences and sync settings on your Mac. Your files remain safely stored in your cloud account and will be accessible once you sign back in.

How do I unlink my current account from OneDrive on Mac?

To unlink an account, click the OneDrive icon in the menu bar, select the Help & Settings gear icon, and choose 'Preferences'. Go to the 'Account' tab and click 'Unlink this Mac'. This will disconnect the account without deleting your local files.

Login & Account Issues