How to access 2 accounts from 1 computer

Question

I have Microsoft 365 for my personal work and Microsoft Premium for business account that was set up for me. How do I have them both put into my new computer and how do I work between them ie toggle ?

Answer 1

Hi @Mary Snyder,

Thank you for reaching out regarding setting up both your personal Microsoft 365 subscription and your Microsoft 365 Business Premium account on your new computer, as well as how to switch between them.

Below are the steps to help you get started:

1/ Install Microsoft 365 (Office apps) on your new computer

You only need to install Office once.

• Go to: https://m365.cloud.microsoft/apps and sign in
• You can sign in with either your personal or work/school account - whichever has a valid license
• Select Install apps > Microsoft 365 apps
• Run the OfficeSetup.exe file and follow the prompts

For detail steps: Download, install, or reinstall Microsoft 365 or Office 2024 on a PC or ...

 

 

2/ Add accounts in Outlook

Outlook allows you to use multiple email accounts:

• Click your profile picture > Add an account
• Or go to:
  • Classic Outlook: File > Add Account
  • New Outlook: File > Account Info > Add Account

Reference: Add an email account to Outlook for Windows - Microsoft Support.

 

3/ Use multiple OneDrive accounts

You can use both accounts side by side:

• One personal OneDrive account
• Multiple work/school OneDrive accounts
• Each account stays separate but syncs simultaneously on the same device

Reference: How do I merge my OneDrive for home with my OneDrive for work or school? - Microsoft Support.

 

4/ Sign in within Office apps (Word, Excel, etc.)

• Open any Office app (e.g., Word or Excel)
• Sign in when prompted (this activates your license)
• Then click your profile picture > Add an account to include the second account.

 

5/ Use multiple accounts in Microsoft Teams

• In Teams desktop, click your profile picture
• Select Add another account and sign in
• To switch accounts later, click your profile picture again and select the account you want to use

Reference: Manage accounts and organizations in Microsoft Teams.

 

I hope this information is helpful. Please try these steps and let me know how it goes. If you need further assistance, feel free to reach out anytime.

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Thank you for your kindness and for contributing to the forum.   

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Answer 2

On one computer, both a personal Microsoft 365 subscription and a business (work/school) account can be used side by side, but they remain separate accounts and cannot be merged.

Use them together in Office desktop apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

1. Install Office
   • Install Microsoft 365/Office normally on the new computer using either account. The installed apps can sign in to multiple accounts.
2. Add both accounts in an Office app
   • Open Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
   • Select the account profile picture/name in the top-right of the app.
   • Choose Add an account.
   • Sign in with the second account (for example, add the work account if already signed in with the personal account, or vice versa).
   • After both are added, use the same profile menu to switch which account is active for that app session.
3. How toggling works
   • Personal vs work files stay in their own OneDrive/SharePoint locations.
   • When switching accounts from the profile menu, the app uses that account’s OneDrive, email, and permissions.
   • File access to work content is always governed by the work account’s policies, even if Copilot or apps are enabled via a personal subscription.

Use both accounts in a browser

• For web apps (Outlook on the web, OneDrive, SharePoint, etc.), use:
  • Separate browser profiles in Microsoft Edge (one profile signed into personal, one into work), or
  • A normal window for one account and an InPrivate/Incognito window for the other.

Important limitations

• Accounts cannot be combined or merged; licenses, data, and storage remain separate.
• Microsoft 365 apps do not support being signed in with two different user accounts from the same Microsoft 365 organization at the same time, but a personal Microsoft account and a work/school account can be used side by side.

For admins and Copilot usage

• A Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Premium subscription can provide Copilot access on work files when both accounts are added in the apps. Enterprise identity, permissions, and compliance policies from the work account still apply, and admins can disable this via policy if required.

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References:

• Use Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Premium at work
• About accounts in Office
• Combining Microsoft accounts
• Sign in to SharePoint