Office Settings & Configuration

How to Remove Old OneDrive Accounts from Office Save Locations

Nimra Malik Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to remove obsolete work, school, or personal OneDrive accounts from Microsoft Office save locations, set the default save location to the local desktop, and add alternative cloud storage options like Dropbox.

How to Remove Old OneDrive Accounts from Office Save Locations

Product: Microsoft Office 365
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Managing connected cloud storage accounts and modifying default file save directories within Microsoft Office applications.
Observed behavior: Disconnected or uninstalled OneDrive accounts continue to appear in the Office 'Save As' locations, and certain default cloud accounts like OneDrive Personal cannot be easily removed.

Before you start

Ensure you have saved and closed all active documents to your local drive before disconnecting any cloud accounts to prevent accidental data loss or sync conflicts.

Solution 1Recommended

Disconnect Work or School Accounts via Windows Settings

Remove persistent OneDrive connections by disconnecting the account directly from your Windows system settings and clearing it from the Office account page.

Often, simply signing out of Office is not enough because Windows retains the organizational account credentials at the system level.

Access Windows Account Settings

Open Windows Settings, navigate to 'Accounts', and select 'Access work or school' from the left-hand pane.

Disconnect the Account

Locate and click on the old work or school account you wish to remove, then choose 'Disconnect' and confirm the prompt.

Remove Account from Office

Open an Office application like Word, go to 'File', then select 'Account'. Under 'Connected Services', locate the unwanted OneDrive account and click 'Remove'.

Disconnect Work or School Accounts via Windows Settings

System Refresh: You may need to restart your computer for the removed locations to disappear completely from the Office Save As menu.

Solution 2

Set Local Computer as the Default Save Location

Bypass OneDrive entirely by forcing Microsoft Office to save files directly to your local computer by default.

Solution 3

Add Alternative Cloud Storage (Dropbox)

Depending on your Office version, you can add alternative third-party cloud storage solutions like Dropbox to your Save locations.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for Easier Storage Management

If Microsoft Office restricts you from removing unwanted OneDrive accounts or limits third-party cloud integration, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides full control over your default save locations without forcing mandatory cloud accounts.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download and install WPS Office Free on your device.
2. Set Default Local Directory: Open WPS Office, navigate to the global Settings, and specify your preferred local folder for saving all future documents.
3. Manage Cloud Seamlessly: Optionally link preferred cloud drives directly from the WPS workspace without permanently altering your system's account settings.

Easily set your local desktop or any preferred folder as the default save locationConnect only the cloud services you want without dealing with persistent system accountsFully compatible with Microsoft Office file formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx)Free and lightweight alternative with a familiar, easy-to-use interface

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I remove my OneDrive Personal account from Office?

Microsoft tightly integrates OneDrive Personal into Office 365. Depending on your version, Office may not provide an option to remove the primary connected storage location associated with your main Microsoft account.

How do I completely unlink OneDrive from my Windows computer?

Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in your system tray, select the Settings gear icon, go to the Account tab, and click 'Unlink this PC'. This stops background syncing entirely.

Why is Dropbox not showing up under 'Add a service' in Office?

The availability of third-party cloud integrations like Dropbox depends on your specific Microsoft 365 subscription, software version, and organizational policies. It may only appear as a beta feature or could be disabled by your IT administrator.

Will disconnecting my old work account delete my saved files?

No, disconnecting the account from Windows or Office only removes the local connection and syncing capability. Your files remain safely stored in the cloud on the organization's server.

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