Why can't I use my Microsoft account on two devices?

Question

Why can't I use my Microsoft account on two devices?

Hartz 0

I purchased a Microsoft account for personal use, I have two laptops. One is much older and I allow my kids to use it for school projects and such. Recently ALL of my documents and even my desktop has been syncing with the older computer. I don't want to have my kids able to open my documents and to sync with my desktop. I also need to have word on both computers. I though a personal account allowed me to have up to 5 devices? Do I have to have them sync'd? Can they just store documents on that computer instead of it saving to one drive? Why does EVERYTHING save to one drive? And today we got a pop-up that said the 2nd older computer will only have Word for a few more weeks and then the license would expire even though my account just updated in September for a full year. Help!

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3 answers

Answer 1

Stefan Blom 347.8K MVP Volunteer Moderator

If the subscription is Microsoft 365 Family, you can share it with another e-mail address (family member) and then let your children use it. That way, you make sure to keep files separate. See https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/share-your-microsoft-365-family-or-premium-subscription-b389b9ce-3ae3-4a82-9017-39d79972fcba . Note that this won't work if you have a 365 Personal subscription.

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Answer 2

Kate Broadhurst 0

i have the microsoft office family installed on my PC and I have 2 other computers I want to share with and I dont 't know to install it on Ipad mini or surface

Stefan Blom 347.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-07-31T00:23:45.5066667+00:00

i have the microsoft office family installed on my PC and I have 2 other computers I want to share with and I dont 't know to install it on Ipad mini or surface

@Kate Broadhurst

No sharing is required if you want to install on additional devices for yourself. To install Office on PCs and/or Macs for yourself, just go ahead and install via your account at https://account.microsoft.com/services . For more, see https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/lifecycle/officeinstall/download-install-or-reinstall-microsoft-365-or-office-2024-on-a-pc-or-mac .

For more on installing on mobile devices, see https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/foundations-experiences/officeinstall/set-up-office-apps-and-email-on-a-mobile-device .

You do need to share Microsoft 365 Family if you want some other family member to install Office on their devices. Have a look at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accounts-billing/subscriptions/share-your-microsoft-365-subscription .

If you have further questions, please start separate threads in the forum. Use the Ask a question option. Good luck.

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Answer 3

Hi, I'm Rodrigo and I will help you.
You have the OneDrive backup enabled on both devices, disable it to avoid the folder sync.
Right-click the OneDrive icon on the right side of the taskbar > Settings > Sync and Backup > Manage Backup > Turn off all options.

You can do it only on the device you don't want to sync, or both devices.
When you turn off the backup option, your files on the Desktop and others backed up folders will "disappear" but they are on the OneDrive folder, you can move the files from the OneDrive folder to the user folders.

About the Microsoft 365 subscription, you can use it in up to 5 devices, make sure the account is logged into the application.