How to Switch Microsoft 365 Excel to a Different License Account
Question details
The user needs to switch the Microsoft 365 license in Excel to a different account because the standard Change License option is not working.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 Excel
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to change the active Microsoft Office license to a new or different user account.
- Observed behavior
- Excel remains associated with the old account, and the default Switch License option fails to update the active subscription credentials.
Ensure you have the email address and password for the new Microsoft 365 account ready, and save any open Excel spreadsheets to prevent data loss.
Sign Out and Clear Office Credentials
Force Excel to recognize the new license by completely signing out of the old account and removing its saved credentials from Windows.
When the standard license switch fails, cached credentials in Windows often prevent Office applications from authenticating the new account. Clearing these credentials provides a clean slate for the new license.
Open Excel, go to File > Account, and select Sign out under the User Information section to remove the current account.
Open Windows Settings > Accounts > Email & accounts. If the old account is listed under 'Accounts used by other apps', select it and click Remove.
Search for and open Credential Manager from the Windows Start menu. Go to Windows Credentials and remove any entries related to Office or Microsoft 365.
Restart Excel, navigate to File > Account, and click Sign in. Enter the credentials for the new account, then select Change License under Product Information to verify the switch.
Reinstall Microsoft 365
If clearing credentials does not work, uninstalling and reinstalling Office from the correct account portal will reset the license configuration.
Try WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Spreadsheet Experience
If Microsoft 365 licensing issues are slowing you down, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Excel without complex subscription hurdles.
- 1. Download and install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and complete the quick installation.
- 2. Open the Spreadsheets tool: Launch WPS Office and click on 'Spreadsheets' to access the robust Excel alternative.
- 3. Edit your existing files: Drag and drop your .xlsx files directly into WPS Office to continue working without formatting loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Change License button missing in Excel?
The Change License button might be missing if your version of Office does not support license switching, or if your organization's IT policies restrict account changes. Ensuring your Office apps are fully updated usually resolves this.
Can I use two different Microsoft 365 accounts in Excel at the same time?
While you can add multiple accounts as connected services to open files from different OneDrive storages, only one primary Microsoft 365 account license can be active for the desktop application at a time.
Will I lose my files if I switch my Microsoft 365 license?
No, your locally saved files will not be affected. However, files saved to the previous account's OneDrive will remain there, and you will need to sign in to that specific OneDrive account to access them.
