How to remove "Quick Access" items from the 'File Open" or "Save as" operations in Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint...

Ian Gunn 20 Reputation points
2026-10-20T03:58:56.25+00:00

I used to be connected with a corporation that assigned me an email addresses in Outlook. They had set up a number of directories in One Drive and when I go to open a file in any of the Microsoft suite of products, the "quick access" section is still populated with the corporate drive names. I no longer have an email address with that organization and no longer have access to those drives. But when I go to the step of opening or saving a file the directories continue to appear in "Quick Access". I have tried to see if there is an easy way to "delete" them but so far no luck. Any suggestions?

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows
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2026-10-20T03:59:35.5333333+00:00

Remove the former organization under File > Account > Connected Services in an Office application, then unlink that organization’s OneDrive account if it remains connected to Windows.

1. Remove the corporate service from Office

In Word, Excel, or PowerPoint:

  1. Select File > Account.
  2. Under Connected Services, find the former organization’s OneDrive or SharePoint service.
  3. Select Remove beside that service.
  4. If the former corporate account appears under User Information, sign out of that account only.
  5. Close all Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook windows, then reopen an application.

Office documents the File > Account > Connected Services > Remove path for removing accounts that should no longer be connected.^1^

Check File > Open and File > Save As again. The obsolete organization should no longer be offered as a connected storage location.

If the locations remain, check whether the old organization is still registered in the OneDrive sync client:

  1. Select the OneDrive cloud icon in the Windows notification area. It may be under the Show hidden icons (^) arrow.
  2. Select Help & Settings > Settings > Account.
  3. Locate OneDrive – FormerOrganization.
  4. Select Unlink this PC, then Unlink account.^2^
  5. Restart the Office applications.

Unlinking does not delete cloud data. Files previously marked Available on this device can remain in the local OneDrive folder, while online-only files cease to be accessible from that folder.^2^

Do not delete the old local OneDrive folder until any personal files needed from it have been copied elsewhere.

3. Disconnect the old account from Windows

If Office and OneDrive no longer list the account but the corporate locations still return:

  1. Open Windows Settings.
  2. Go to Accounts > Access work or school.
  3. Expand the former organization’s account.
  4. Select Disconnect, then confirm with Yes.
  5. Restart Windows.

Disconnecting removes that organization’s sign-in information and data from this device; it does not delete the underlying organizational account.^3^

If the entries also appear in File Explorer

Office’s Open/Save locations and File Explorer’s Quick access are related but separate lists. If the stale folders also appear in File Explorer, first right-click each one and select Unpin from Quick access.

If unpinning is unavailable or has already failed, a case matching an inaccessible former-company OneDrive recommends resetting the Quick Access cache:

  1. Press Windows+R.
  2. Enter: %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations
  3. Delete f01b4d95cf55d32a.automaticDestinations-ms.
  4. In Task Manager, right-click Windows Explorer and select Restart.

This resets the Quick Access list, so other pinned or recent entries may also disappear.^4^

Registry deletion and broad Office credential removal should not be necessary unless the obsolete account still appears after the Office, OneDrive, and Windows connections have all been removed.

References

  1. "UPLOAD BLOCKED" error when you save OneDrive-synced files in Microsoft 365 apps
  2. How to remove an account in OneDrive | Microsoft Support
  3. Manage User Accounts in Windows | Microsoft Support
  4. How to remove obsolete link from Win11 Quick Access for a OneDrive Account I do not have credentials for - Microsoft Q&A
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