Office for Mac Issues

How to Remove an Old Microsoft 365 Sign-In ID from a Mac

Steve K Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to remove a previous Microsoft 365 work or personal sign-in account that keeps appearing on their Mac.

How to Remove an Old Microsoft 365 Sign-In ID from a Mac

Product: Microsoft 365 for Mac
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Switching user accounts or removing a disabled work/school account in Microsoft Office applications.
Observed behavior: The old account remains visible and attempts to sign in automatically because identity tokens are stuck in macOS Keychain or application preferences.

Before you start

Ensure you have your new Microsoft 365 account credentials ready, and save any open documents before completely quitting all Office applications.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Microsoft Credentials from Keychain Access

The most common and effective fix is removing stored sign-in tokens directly from the macOS Keychain.

macOS securely stores your login tokens in the Keychain app. If you simply sign out within Word or Excel, these background tokens often remain, causing the old ID to reappear. Manually deleting them forces Office to ask for fresh credentials.

Quit Office Applications

Right-click the icons of any open Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) in your Dock and select 'Quit'.

Open Keychain Access

Open Finder, navigate to Applications > Utilities, and double-click 'Keychain Access'. Alternatively, press Command + Space to open Spotlight search, type 'Keychain Access', and press Return.

Search for Office Credentials

In the search bar at the top right of the Keychain Access window, type 'Microsoft'. Then, repeat this process by searching for 'Office' and 'ADAL'.

Delete Relevant Entries

Select all items in the list related to Microsoft Office credentials, identity caches, or ADAL. Right-click the selected items and choose 'Delete'. Provide your Mac administrator password if prompted.

Restart and Sign In

Restart your Mac. Open any Office application; you should now be prompted to enter a fresh sign-in ID. Log in with your new account.

Clear Microsoft Credentials from Keychain Access

Solution 2

Run the Official Microsoft License Removal Tool

If clearing the Keychain and running Terminal commands fails, use Microsoft's official tool to scrub all old licenses.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Mac Experience

Tired of dealing with persistent sign-in issues and complex account management? WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative for Mac users. Enjoy seamless editing without the headache of subscription identity conflicts.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the WPS Office website and download the macOS version.
2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder.
3. Open Your Files Directly: Launch WPS Office and immediately open your existing Microsoft Office files without dealing with mandatory sign-in prompts.

Completely free core features with no mandatory sign-in required for offline local editing.Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats, ensuring your DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX files open flawlessly.Lightweight installation that doesn't clutter your macOS Keychain with complex identity tokens.Clean, intuitive interface with built-in tabbed viewing, making it incredibly easy to manage multiple files.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my old work account keep appearing in Mac Word?

macOS caches sign-in tokens in the Keychain Access app and hidden application preference files. Until these are manually cleared, Office applications will continually try to authenticate using the old, stored credentials.

Will deleting Keychain entries delete my actual documents?

No. Removing Microsoft entries from Keychain Access only deletes saved passwords and authentication tokens. Your local and cloud documents remain perfectly safe and untouched.

What should I do if the Terminal 'defaults delete' command says 'Domain not found'?

This error means the specific preference file doesn't exist on your Mac, often because it was already deleted or the app was installed differently. You can safely skip this step and use the Microsoft License Removal Tool instead.

How do I switch accounts without uninstalling Office completely?

Usually, signing out from the application menu (e.g., Word > Sign Out), quitting the app, and clearing the Microsoft entries in the macOS Keychain Access utility is enough to let you sign in with a new account upon restart without needing to reinstall the software.

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