need work and personal account separated.

Southminster Presbyterian 0 Reputation points
2026-03-31T23:40:22.93+00:00

One drove on my phone keeps syncing to my work drive. Can't remove. New personal one drive created that I do not want. Secure folder linking to laptop and desktop creating havoc.

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For business | Android
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  1. AI answer

    2026-03-31T23:40:37.2566667+00:00

    On Android, OneDrive can have only one personal account but multiple work or school accounts. To separate work and personal and stop the wrong account syncing, adjust the accounts in the OneDrive app and on the device.

    Follow these steps on the Android phone:

    1. Check which accounts are signed in to OneDrive
      1. Open the OneDrive app.
      2. Tap the profile picture or icon in the top corner.
      3. In the list of accounts, note which are:
        • Personal OneDrive (only one is allowed), and
        • Work or school accounts (can be multiple, but not multiple from the same organization).
    2. Remove the unwanted account from OneDrive
      • To stop the phone syncing to the work drive:
        1. In the OneDrive app, tap the profile picture or icon.
        2. Tap Sign out on the work or school account that should not sync from the phone.
      • If the new personal OneDrive account is not wanted on the phone:
        1. Tap the profile picture or icon.
        2. Tap Sign out on that personal account.
      • After signing out, only add back the account that should sync from the phone (work or personal) using Add account.
    3. Re‑add only the correct account(s)
      1. Open OneDrive.
      2. Tap the profile picture or icon.
      3. Tap Add account.
      4. Sign in with the account that should be used on the phone:
        • If the phone is for personal use, add only the personal OneDrive.
        • If work files are needed, add the work or school account as an additional account.
    4. Control which account uses camera backup
      • Only one account can use camera backup.
      • In the OneDrive app, ensure camera backup is enabled only on the account that should receive photos (personal or work) and disabled on the other.
    5. Secure folder and PC link considerations
      • If a secure folder or other apps are saving into the wrong OneDrive, change their save location to local storage or to the correct OneDrive account.
      • On Windows PCs, OneDrive can also have multiple accounts but only one personal account. Use OneDrive settings on each PC to ensure the correct work and personal accounts are configured and that backup/sync is enabled only where desired.

    If sign‑in problems occur or the wrong account keeps appearing, use the “If you can’t sign in to your account” and “If you have two accounts with the same email address” guidance in the references below to clean up overlapping personal vs work identities.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Anonymous
    2026-04-01T01:16:06.38+00:00

    Hi Southminster Presbyterian

    Based on my research and understanding, the "Secure Folder" havoc you are seeing on your laptop and desktop may cause by a device-level gallery integration linking to a personal Microsoft account. When this integration is active, it creates specific folders in your personal OneDrive that automatically sync down to any Windows PC linked to that account. Additionally, when the Android OneDrive app gets stuck trying to sync both work and personal credentials, it can prevent you from removing the accounts normally.

    Here are some recommended steps according to my testing on my Android device and I hope it helpful:

    Revoke "Secure Folder" / Gallery Access from your Microsoft Account:

    To stop the device from forcing Secure Folder and personal files into your OneDrive and pushing them to your PC, you need to sever the connection from your Microsoft Account settings.

    • Go to your Microsoft Account privacy page: https://account.microsoft.com/privacy
    • Sign in with the unwanted personal Microsoft account.
    • Scroll to Apps and services that can access your data (or click Apps and services).

    Unlink the Unwanted Personal OneDrive from your PC to stop that unwanted personal account from creating havoc on your desktop/laptop.

    • On your Windows taskbar (bottom right), click the OneDrive cloud icon. (Look for the white/grey icon, which is personal; blue is your work account).
    • Click the Gear icon (Help & Settings) > Settings > Go to the Account tab and click Unlink this PC.
    • Once unlinked, the syncing will stop. You can then safely delete the unwanted personal OneDrive folder from your computer's File Explorer. Official Documentation: Unlink and re-link OneDrive - Microsoft Support

    Reset the OneDrive App on Android

    Since the Android app isn't letting you remove the accounts manually, we need to reset the app. This is the Microsoft-supported way to clear out stuck cached credentials. (Note: This will not delete your files in the cloud).

    • Go to your Android Settings > Apps > App management > User
    • Tap Storage > Clear Data (and Clear Cache).
    • (If you prefer, you can also completely uninstall and reinstall the OneDrive app from the Google Play Store).

    Sign in with Work Only

    Now that the integrations are severed and the app is clean, open the OneDrive app on your phone and sign in only with your OneDrive for Business (Work) account. If it prompts you to turn on Camera Upload, decline it, so personal photos stay off your work drive.

    I hope this information helps and please let me know if this successfully separates your accounts or if you need further assistance!

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

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