How to change OneDrive account in Windows 8.1?

[2Charlie]

I have a personal account as well as a university account. In Windows 8.1, how do I switch from my personal account to my university account so that all my OneDrive for Business data is showing in Windows 8.1 instead of my personal OneDrive for consumer?

Thank you!

 

[Brink]

Hello Charlie, and welcome to Eight Forums.

If you needed to switch between the accounts often, then you might consider creating a new Microsoft account using your university address in Windows. This way you can easily switch between the user accounts in Windows as needed.

 

[2Charlie]

I do not need to change often. I just need to change from my personal OneDrive to my University OneDrive account. I can do this easily in the OneDrive desktop version but Windows 8.1 do not have this option.

 

[Brink]

Since OneDrive is directly tied to your Microsoft account, it would be easier to access the other OneDrive online via your browser as needed instead of switching your Microsoft account in Windows each time you want to switch OneDrive accounts.

It depends on your needs though, so please let me know what would work best for you, and I'll be happy to help.

 

[2Charlie]

Actually, this is a Surface Pro 3 that is joined to a University's domain. I logged with the university's credential. So, I don't get how it's a Microsoft account. To be honest, I don't remember I got it linked to my personal OneDrive at the beginning. The email I used to login to this computer is always a university email address.

 

[Brink]

In that case, it would definitely be easier to sign in to OneDrive online to use either.

 

[2Charlie]

I don't think you understand my question. I already know how to sign to either account online. Since Windows 8.1 already have OneDrive integrated and I can't install the desktop version, which I preferred but can't. I need to have the University OneDrive synced in my computer so that I can work offline and automatically syncs back to OneDrive when my tablet is back online again. Sign to online account is not a option.

 

[Brink]

I see. In that case, you could create a new Microsoft account using the university email address on the tablet. This way you will be able to have both accounts on the tablet to easily switch between the user accounts in Windows, and set them to make whatever files you want from OneDrive to be available offline.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5536-user-account-add-new-user-windows-8-a.html

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/28148-onedrive-available-offline-online-windows-8-1-a.html

 

[2Charlie]

Again, I already have two accounts. The university account is able to log in to office.com web site and use everything there. Let me try to make this as clear as possible. It seems you still misunderstood about my question. Forget about accessing two accounts.

I logged in to the tablet using University account. Here's what I want:

1. Un-link **REMOVED** OneDrive for Consumer in the tablet from the university account **REMOVED**
2. Link my **REMOVED** account in the tablet so I can start syncing the OneDrive for Business with my folders

Okay, making it even shorter and clearer. How to unlink and re-link OneDrive account in Windows 8.1?

 

[adamf]

For your 2 steps above you could un-link your current MS account by converting to local account. Then connect to the new one by converting to MS account and giving the new e-mail.

1. http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4842-local-account-switch-windows-8-a.html
2. http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4840-microsoft-account-switch-windows-8-a.html

If that is what you are after

Edit: when you are in the interim local account phase you may want to move the contents of your current OneDrive folder (C:\Users\your name\Onedrive) to another directory so your personal onedrive stuff already on your local disk doesn't get synched to your university account.

 

[rhysofnewbury]

I'm a complete novice, so forgive me if I've misunderstood your question, 2Charlie, but I battled with a similar challenge (switching between my work OneDrive and my personal OneDrive) and thought I'd share my solution:

If your employer uses "Office 365 for Business", then your work OneDrive will actually be "OneDrive for Business". Your personal account will be just "OneDrive". Whilst they sound the same, in reality, the two products are as separate as, say, Dropbox and Box.

On your laptop/desktop, this actually has an advantage: You can install two separate Apps from the Windows Store; "OneDrive" (and log in with your personal account details) and "OneDrive for Business" (and log in with your work account details).

The result in Windows Explorer is that both accounts are shown and you can even drag and drop files between accounts. See screenshot attached.

Regarding the mobile/tablet OneDrive app, I think I'm right in saying that you can either install two separate apps (as with the laptop/desktop approach), or, just install the "OneDrive" (personal) app, which now allows you to add a "OneDrive for Business" account.