OneDrive for Business Windows startup troubleshooting for shared devices: uses the wrong account

On a shared Windows device, OneDrive for Business may start automatically and sign in with an account that is not yours. This happens when the previous user’s OneDrive session remains cached in the system’s credential manager or startup configuration. The result is that you see the wrong files, sync errors, or access denied messages. This article explains why the wrong account appears and provides clear steps to force OneDrive to use the correct account at startup.

Why OneDrive Starts With the Wrong Account on Shared Windows Devices

OneDrive for Business stores your sign-in credentials in Windows Credential Manager under the Windows Credentials section. When a user signs in on a shared device, OneDrive saves an access token and a refresh token. On the next startup, OneDrive reads these stored credentials and automatically signs in without prompting. If the previous user did not sign out or unlink their account, their tokens remain valid. The new user sees the previous user’s account and files.

The startup process for OneDrive is controlled by a registry entry and a shortcut in the Startup folder. The OneDrive executable runs with the stored credentials. There is no built-in per-user account selection dialog at startup. The only way to change the account is to clear the cached credentials and then sign in with the correct account.

Shared devices that use fast user switching or remote desktop sessions are more prone to this issue. Windows does not isolate OneDrive credential caches between user profiles when the same local Windows account is used by multiple people. Each person must unlink their account before the next user signs in.

Steps to Force OneDrive to Use the Correct Account at Startup

Follow these steps in order. If you skip the credential removal, OneDrive will reuse the old tokens.

1. Close OneDrive completely
   Right-click the OneDrive cloud icon in the system tray notification area. Select Pause syncing and then Exit. Confirm that no OneDrive process remains by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager. Look for Microsoft OneDrive in the Processes list and end the task if present.
2. Open Windows Credential Manager
   Press the Windows key, type Credential Manager, and select the result. Click Windows Credentials in the top bar.
3. Remove all OneDrive-related credentials
   Scroll to the Generic Credentials section. Look for entries that start with MicrosoftOneDrive or OneDrive Cached Credential. Click the arrow to expand each entry, then click Remove. Confirm the removal. Also remove any entry that contains your Microsoft 365 tenant name, such as MicrosoftOffice16_Data:ADAL:<tenant>. Do not remove credentials for other services unless you are sure they are unrelated.
4. Unlink OneDrive from the current Windows account
   Open OneDrive by pressing the Windows key and typing OneDrive. Click the OneDrive icon in the system tray. If OneDrive does not appear, run %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\OneDrive.exe from the Start menu or File Explorer. In the OneDrive Settings window, go to the Account tab and click Unlink this PC. Confirm the unlink when prompted.
5. Restart the OneDrive setup process
   After unlinking, OneDrive will open the setup wizard automatically. If it does not, run the OneDrive executable again. On the first screen, enter the correct work or school account for the shared device. Complete the setup by selecting the folders you want to sync. Do not check the box that says Start OneDrive automatically when I sign in to Windows if you want to control startup manually for shared use.
6. Verify the startup behavior
   Restart Windows. After the restart, OneDrive should start with the correct account. If it still shows the wrong account, repeat steps 1 through 4 and ensure that no other user profile on the device has cached the old credentials. Check each Windows user account that has been used on the device.

If OneDrive Still Starts With the Wrong Account After the Main Fix

OneDrive startup entry is pointing to the old user profile

The OneDrive startup shortcut in the Startup folder may be configured for a different user. Open File Explorer and go to %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. Look for a OneDrive shortcut. Right-click it, select Properties, and check the Target field. The target should be %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\OneDrive.exe. If the path points to another user’s folder, delete the shortcut. Then go to %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\ and run OneDrive.exe manually to recreate the startup entry for the current user.

Windows Credential Manager contains stale ADAL tokens

OneDrive uses Azure Active Directory tokens. These tokens may not appear as OneDrive entries. Open Credential Manager again and look for entries starting with MicrosoftOffice16_Data:ADAL:. Remove any that contain the old user’s UPN or tenant ID. Also remove entries under Windows Live ID or MicrosoftAccount if they match the old account. After removal, repeat the OneDrive unlinking and setup process.

Group Policy or registry settings enforce a specific account

In managed environments, IT administrators can set the SilentlySignIn registry key or deploy a Group Policy that forces a particular account. Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\OneDrive\Accounts\Business1. Look for a value named UserEmail. If it contains the wrong address, delete the entire Business1 key. This forces OneDrive to prompt for credentials on next startup. If the key reappears, check local Group Policy at Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > OneDrive for settings that specify a tenant or user.

Item	Remove Credentials from Credential Manager	Unlink OneDrive from Account Tab
Effect on tokens	Deletes all stored access and refresh tokens	Removes the local association but may leave tokens
Requires re-setup	Yes, OneDrive will prompt for sign-in at next launch	Yes, setup wizard opens immediately
Works for shared devices	Yes, removes all cached accounts	Only for the current Windows user
Risk of losing offline files	No, files remain on the device	No, files remain but sync state resets

Use the credential removal method for a clean reset on shared devices. Use the unlink method when you only need to switch accounts on a single-user machine.

You can now force OneDrive to start with the correct account on any shared Windows device. After completing the steps, test the startup by signing out and signing back in. For devices used by many people, consider disabling OneDrive automatic startup via Task Manager and having each user launch OneDrive manually. This prevents the cached credential issue entirely.