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How to Change the Office Account Belongs To Information on Mac
Question details
The user needs to remove a former employer's Office account and subscription information from their Mac so they can sign in with a newly issued business account.
- Product
- Microsoft Office for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Transitioning from a previous employer's Office account to a new business account on the same device.
- Observed behavior
- Office applications continue to display the old account and subscription under the 'Belongs To' section even after receiving a new account and attempting to sign out.
Ensure you have the login credentials for your new business account ready and save all open work, as you will need to quit all Office apps and restart your Mac during this process.
Use the License Removal Tool and Clear Keychain Access
This method safely removes hidden license files and cached account credentials that cause the old account to persistently appear in Office.
Simply signing out of Office is often not enough to clear the 'Belongs To' information on a Mac. Microsoft caches your license details and identity tokens deep within system files and Keychain Access, requiring a complete manual removal before a new account can take over.
Open any Office application such as Word or Excel, sign out of your current account, and quit all running Office applications entirely.
Download Microsoft's official license removal tool for Mac from their support page. Open the downloaded .pkg file and follow the on-screen prompts to strip the old license from your device.
Open 'Keychain Access' from your Mac's Utilities folder. Search for and delete any entries related to 'Microsoft Office Identities Cache', 'Microsoft Office Identities Settings', and 'ADAL'.
Restart your Mac to ensure all background identity processes are refreshed. Open Word or Excel, and you will now be prompted to cleanly sign in with your new business account credentials.
Switch to WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Experience on Mac
Tired of dealing with complex license removals and persistent account conflicts? Try WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, free alternative to Microsoft Office that does not tie you down with complicated activation caches.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the macOS installer for free.
- 2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded installer file and simply drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Start Creating: Launch WPS Office and instantly start working on your documents, spreadsheets, and presentations without worrying about license caches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my old account still show up after I click sign out?
Microsoft Office caches your license details and identity tokens deep within the Mac system files and Keychain Access. Simply clicking 'Sign Out' in the app interface does not delete these hidden activation files.
Will running the license removal tool delete my documents?
No, the license removal tool only deletes the activation and subscription files for Microsoft Office. Your Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and other personal files remain completely safe on your drive.
How do I find Keychain Access on my Mac?
You can quickly find it by pressing Command + Space to open Spotlight Search, typing 'Keychain Access', and pressing Return. Alternatively, navigate via Finder to Applications > Utilities > Keychain Access.
What should I do if the new account still won't activate?
If activation fails after following the removal steps, ensure your new business account actually has a valid Microsoft 365 desktop license assigned to it by your IT administrator, then try restarting your Mac once more.
