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

Office apps may suddenly show the message, “Another account from your organization is already signed in on this device,” even when you don’t see any other account signed in. This happens because an old work or school account is still saved in the background on your computer, which causes a conflict when you try to sign in.

The main reason for this issue is saved sign-in details and leftover data stored in folders like %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneAuth and IdentityCache. Other possible reasons include problems with Azure AD device registration or saved login information in the keychain on Mac computers.

In this article, we will discuss different ways to solve this error.

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

Applications use stored cache to load data faster, and Microsoft’s apps save cached credentials for quicker sign-ins. When multiple accounts from the same organization are active, the app can get confused about which credentials to use. Signing out of all accounts and then signing back in with just the right account clears these cached credentials and resolves conflicts.

1. Open any Microsoft 365 app, such as Word or Excel.
2. Click your profile picture or account initials in the top right corner.
3. Select Sign Out and confirm when prompted.
   
4. Repeat this for all accounts signed into the app.
5. Close all Office apps and restart your computer.
6. Reopen the same app you used before (like Word or Excel).
7. Click Sign In at the top right corner.
8. Enter the details for the account you want to use. Make sure you’re only signing in with this account, especially if it’s your work or school account.
9. After signing in, click File at the top left and go to Account.
   
10. Check that only the signed-in account appears under Connected Services or User Information.
    
11. Finally, see if the problem is resolved.

You can also use the Credential Manager to remove any stored credentials for Microsoft 365 applications:

1. Open Credential Manager by searching for it in the Windows search bar.
   
2. Click Windows Credentials among the sections provided.
   
3. Look for any entries related to Office or Microsoft accounts.
4. Click each entry and select Remove.
   
5. Restart your computer and check if the issue is fixed.

2. Disconnect Work or School Accounts

Sometimes, having more than one work or school account linked to Windows or Office can cause confusion about which account should be used, leading to sign-in issues. Removing accounts you don’t need helps make sure only the correct one is active.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Accounts.
   
3. Click Access work or school on the left.
   
4. Look at the list of accounts and identify any work or school account that might be causing a conflict.
5. Select the account you want to remove and choose Disconnect. Confirm if asked.
6. Restart your computer and check if the problem is gone.

3. Clear Office License Activation Data

Sometimes, Office license activation files become outdated or corrupted, which can cause errors or sign-in problems. Deleting these files forces Office to refresh your activation data and fix any licensing issues.

1. Close all Office apps (Word, Excel, etc.).
2. Press Windows + R, then type the path below into the Run box:

   %localappdata%\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Licensing

   Note: Replace 16.0 with your Office version if needed.
   

3. In the Licensing folder, select all files and delete them.
4. Restart your computer.
5. Open any Office app after restarting.
6. Sign in with your account details so Office can retrieve new activation data for your account.
7. Check if the error message still appears.

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

The Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) is a free tool from Microsoft that can quickly help identify and solve common Office issues, including account and activation problems. SaRA guides you step-by-step and can automatically resolve issues that may be hard to troubleshoot manually.

1. Go to the official SaRA download page in your browser.
2. Click Download and save the installer to your computer.
   
3. Open the downloaded file and run SaraSetup.exe to start installing. Follow the setup instructions.
   
4. Once installed, open the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant from your Start menu or desktop shortcut.
5. When SaRA opens, select Office & Office Apps (or choose the Microsoft service you’re having trouble with, like Teams or OneDrive), then click Next.
   
6. Select I am unable to sign in to activate or use Office apps and click Next to start the diagnostic scan.
   
7. In the next window, click Yes and then Next.
   
8. SaRA will run different checks. If it finds a problem, it will either guide you through the fix or repair the issue automatically.
9. After it’s done, check if you can now sign in without errors.