School versus personal account

Disconnect the school account from Windows, then sign back into Office with the personal Microsoft account that owns your Microsoft 365 Personal subscription.

1. Protect any school data first

If files exist only in the school OneDrive, copy anything you need into your personal OneDrive or another personal folder before disconnecting. Microsoft’s migration guidance recommends copying school OneDrive content into the personal OneDrive folder through File Explorer.^1^

2. Disconnect the school account from Windows

On Windows 10 or 11:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Accounts.
3. Select Access work or school.
4. Expand the school account and select Disconnect.
5. Select Yes, then restart Windows.

Disconnecting removes that organization’s sign-in information and data from this device; it does not delete the school account itself.^2^

If you still need the school account in one application, add it only inside that application and choose No, this app only when offered. That prevents the identity from being added to Windows or registering the device with the school.^3^

3. Reactivate Office with the personal subscription

1. Open Word or Excel.
2. Go to File > Account.
3. Sign out of the school account.
4. Close all Microsoft 365 applications.
5. Reopen an application and select Sign in.
6. Enter the personal Microsoft account used to purchase Microsoft 365 Personal.

Office must be activated with the account associated with the subscription.^4^

Check File > Account afterward. The product information should show the personal subscription rather than the school license.

If both accounts use the same email address

Personal and school accounts are separate identities and cannot be merged. If Microsoft asks “Which account do you want to use?”, rename the sign-in address for the personal account:

1. Sign in to the personal Microsoft account.
2. Open Manage how you sign in.
3. Add a personal alias, such as an Outlook.com address, or select an existing alias.
4. Select Make primary.
5. Use that new primary alias when signing into Microsoft 365 Personal.

The alias changes the personal account’s sign-in name while retaining its inbox, contacts, settings, and password.^5^

If Office still automatically selects the school identity after the restart, remove school-related Microsoft 365 or Office entries from Control Panel > User Accounts > Credential Manager > Windows Credentials, restart again, and sign into Office with the personal account.^6^

References

1. Migrate from Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise to Microsoft 365 Personal for Windows 10 | Microsoft Support
2. Manage User Accounts in Windows | Microsoft Support
3. Add Your Work or School Account to a Windows Device | Microsoft Support
4. Activate Office for Windows | Microsoft Support
5. Which account do you want to use? | Microsoft Support
6. Disconnect microsoft word from school account - Microsoft Q&A