'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Change Microsoft 365 Account and Domain on Mac
Question details
The user needs to switch their Microsoft 365 account from one domain to another on a Mac, but existing credentials and license files are preventing the new account from logging in.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Switching enterprise domains or Microsoft accounts within Office applications on a Mac device.
- Observed behavior
- Existing Office credentials and cached license files block the new domain account from being authenticated and used.
Make sure you have saved all ongoing work and completely quit all open Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, before modifying system credentials.
Remove Office Credentials and License Files
By deleting cached Keychain credentials and clearing old licensing files, you can force Microsoft Office to prompt for your new domain account upon the next launch.
macOS tightly integrates Microsoft Office credentials into the system Keychain. Simply signing out within the application is often not enough when switching to an entirely different domain account. A clean removal of these backend files is required.
Ensure no Office apps are running in the background. Right-click their icons in the Mac Dock and select 'Quit', or use the Activity Monitor to force quit if necessary.
Open Finder, navigate to Applications > Utilities, and double-click the 'Keychain Access' app to launch it.
In the Keychain Access search bar, type 'Microsoft Office'. Select any matching password or credential entries, right-click them, and choose 'Delete'.
Download and run the official Microsoft License Removal Tool for Mac, or manually navigate to the system Library folder to delete the Microsoft licensing helper files.
Restart your Mac to ensure all changes take effect. Open any Office application (like Word) and sign in using your new Microsoft 365 domain account.
Switch to WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Mac Experience
Avoid complicated license management, system keychain conflicts, and domain login issues. WPS Office provides a streamlined, highly compatible alternative for Mac users who want to focus on their work rather than troubleshooting.
- 1. Download for Mac: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the macOS installation package.
- 2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder to complete the installation.
- 3. Open and Edit: Launch WPS Office and instantly open your existing Microsoft Office documents without worrying about account conflicts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will removing the Microsoft license files delete my saved documents?
No. Removing license files only resets the activation status of the software. Your personal documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and other files remain safely on your Mac.
Why can't I just sign out of my current account in the Office app?
On a Mac, Office caches credentials and licensing tokens deeply within the macOS Keychain and system Library. Simply clicking 'Sign Out' often fails to clear these system-level tokens, causing the app to automatically revert to the old domain account.
Do I need to uninstall and reinstall Microsoft 365 completely?
In most cases, a full reinstallation is unnecessary. Clearing the Keychain credentials and removing the underlying license files is usually enough to prompt a fresh login screen for your new domain account.
What should I do if the new account still won't activate?
Ensure that your Mac is connected to the internet and verify with your IT administrator that your new domain account has a valid, active Microsoft 365 license assigned to it.
