Office for Mac Issues

How to Remove Old Organization Accounts and Files from Mac

Nimra Malik Oct 14, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to completely remove obsolete Microsoft 365 organization accounts and cached OneDrive files from Office on a Mac, especially after losing access to the accounts.

How to Remove Old Organization Accounts and Files from a Mac

Product: Microsoft 365 and OneDrive for Mac
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Cleaning up Office Recent files and OneDrive caches after leaving an organization or losing access to a work or school account.
Observed behavior: Old accounts and files stubbornly remain in the OneDrive cache and Office applications even after standard sign-out, credential removal, and app reinstallation.

Before you start

Before proceeding, ensure you have securely backed up any personal or important local files to a separate folder, as clearing application cache folders and Keychain credentials cannot be undone.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Cached Credentials from Mac Keychain Access

Use this method to manually delete the hidden authentication tokens that keep the old accounts forcibly linked to your Office applications.

macOS stores Microsoft Office and OneDrive login credentials in the Keychain Access app. When an account is disabled by an organization, standard sign-out procedures often fail. Manually removing these saved passwords and tokens forces the applications to forget the old organization account.

Sign out of Office applications

Open any Microsoft Office app like Word or Excel. Click on your profile picture or initials in the top left corner and select 'Sign Out' for all visible accounts, then close the apps completely.

Open Keychain Access

Open Finder, go to 'Applications', then 'Utilities', and double-click 'Keychain Access'. Alternatively, press Command + Space to open Spotlight Search and type 'Keychain Access'.

Search and delete Microsoft credentials

In the Keychain Access search bar, type 'Microsoft'. Select all entries related to Microsoft Office, Microsoft 365, and OneDrive. Right-click the selected items and choose 'Delete'. Repeat this process by searching for 'OneDrive' and deleting associated tokens.

Restart your Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select 'Restart'. Upon rebooting, launch Office to verify the old accounts are gone.

Clear Cached Credentials from Mac Keychain Access

Administrator Privileges: You will need to enter your Mac's administrator password to delete entries from Keychain Access.

Solution 2

Manually Clear Office and OneDrive Application Caches

If removing credentials doesn't work, completely wiping the Office and OneDrive container folders will erase stubborn 'Recent Files' history and cached profiles.

Solution 3

Contact the Former Organization's Administrator

Use this solution if your Mac is managed by a Mobile Device Management (MDM) profile from your former school or employer.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Clean, Account-Free Experience on Mac

Tired of stubborn cached accounts and complex credential management in Microsoft 365? WPS Office offers a lightweight, hassle-free alternative for Mac users. Enjoy full compatibility with Microsoft formats without the mandatory login headaches.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac version of the software.
2. Install the application: Open the downloaded package and drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder.
3. Open and edit files directly: Launch WPS Office and open your .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx files instantly, without being forced to log into a cloud organization account.

Free and lightweight office suite optimized for Mac performanceFully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formatsNo mandatory cloud accounts required to open and edit local filesClean user interface without persistent organization profiles

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do old organization files still show up in my Recent Files on Mac?

Microsoft Office caches recent file paths locally on your Mac's hard drive to help you open documents faster. Even if the cloud account is disconnected, the local file paths remain in the cache until the application container data is manually cleared.

Can I unlink a OneDrive account if I can no longer log into it?

Standard unlinking usually requires logging into the app first. If you have lost access to the account, you must bypass the app and manually delete the OneDrive authentication tokens from your Mac's Keychain Access, then remove the local OneDrive container folder.

Will clearing my Mac Keychain delete my personal documents?

No. Keychain Access only stores passwords, security certificates, and authentication tokens. Your local Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and other personal files will remain completely safe on your hard drive.

What should I do if a deleted account keeps coming back after I restart my Mac?

This usually indicates your Mac is still enrolled in your former organization's device management system. You will need to check System Settings for an MDM Profile, or contact the former organization's IT department to have them unregister your Mac from their server.

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