Fix: Another account from your organization is already signed in on this device

Encountering the error message “Another account from your organization is already signed in on this device. Try again with a different account.” usually occurs when you’re attempting to sign into Microsoft 365 applications on a device that already has another account active from the same organization.

The most common causes of this error are residual credentials from previous logins, multiple accounts associated with the same device, or conflicts arising from shared or public computers. The easiest way to fix this error is to sign out of all Microsoft 365 apps, clear stored credentials, and ensure that only the intended account is used for signing in.

1. Sign Out of All Office Applications and Sign In Again

Stored cache is used by applications to speed up access to data for faster loading times. Similarly, Microsoft’s applications also use stored cached credentials for quicker authentication. So, if multiple accounts from the same organization are active, the system may not know which one to use. By signing out of all accounts and then signing back in with only the intended account, you clear any cached credentials and resolve potential conflicts.

1. Open any Microsoft 365 application, such as Word, Excel, etc.
2. Click on your profile picture or account initials in the top right corner.
3. Select the option to Sign Out and confirm the prompt.
   
4. Repeat this process for all accounts signed into the application.
5. Once done, close all Office apps and restart your computer.
6. Now, open the same application you initially used (i.e., Word, Excel, etc.).
7. Click on the Sign In option at the top right corner.
8. Enter the credentials of the account you want to use. Make sure this is the only account you sign in with, especially if it’s a work or school account.
9. After signing in, click on File at the top left corner and go to Account.
   
10. Ensure that only the newly signed-in account is listed under Connected Services or User Information.
    
11. Lastly, check if the issue has been resolved.

You can also use the Credential Manager to remove all stored credentials for Microsoft 365 applications.

1. Open Credential Manager by searching for it through the Windows search bar.
   
2. Click on Windows Credentials from the two given sections.
   
3. Locate any entries related to Office or Microsoft accounts.
4. Remove them by clicking on them and selecting Remove.
   
5. Lastly, restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

2. Disconnect Work or School Accounts

Disconnecting work or school accounts can help by removing conflicting organizational account data that Windows or Office might use for authentication. When more than one account is linked, the system may struggle to determine which credential to prioritize, hence causing issues. So, by disconnecting unused or problematic accounts, you ensure that only the required account is in use.

1. Open Settings by pressing the Windows + I keys.
2. Go to Accounts.
   
3. Click on Access work or school from the left pane.
   
4. Look through the list of accounts and identify the work or school account that might be causing the conflict.
5. Select the problematic account and choose Disconnect. Confirm the action if prompted.
6. Lastly, restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

3. Clear Office License Activation Data

Office license activation data can become corrupted or outdated if it’s not cleared, which can lead to errors or conflicts with linked accounts or licensing servers. By clearing or deleting these files, you force Office to refresh its activation state, retrieve updated license information, and resolve any inconsistencies.

1. Close all Office apps, such as Word, Excel, etc.
2. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type in the following path:

   %localappdata%\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Licensing

   Note: Replace 16.0 with your Office version.
   

3. In the Licensing folder, you’ll see several files related to Office activation and licensing. Select all the files and delete them.
4. Restart your computer.
5. Once restarted, launch any Office app.
6. Sign in with your credentials, and Office will retrieve fresh activation data tied to your account.
7. Check if the issue has been resolved.

4. Use the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA)

Microsoft’s Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) is a diagnostic tool provided by Microsoft to identify and resolve common issues with Office and other MS services. This tool is specifically designed to handle a wide range of account, activation, and service-related issues for Microsoft products. It automates complex troubleshooting, ensuring even hidden or unknown problems are fixed effectively.

1. Open your browser and visit the official SaRA download page.
2. Click on Download and save the installer to your computer.
   
3. Double-click on the downloaded folder and select SaraSetup.exe to launch the installer. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
   
4. Once installed, open the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant from the Start menu or desktop shortcut.
5. When the tool starts, select Office & Office Apps (or the specific Microsoft service you’re experiencing issues with, e.g., Teams or OneDrive) and click Next to proceed.
   
6. Choose I am unable to sign in to activate or use Office apps and click on Next to begin the diagnostic process.
   
7. In the next window, select Yes and click Next.
   
8. SaRA will now perform several diagnostic checks. If a problem is detected, it’ll provide a guided fix or automatically resolve the issue.
9. Once the process is done, check if the issue has been resolved.