How to Add and Manage Multiple OneDrive Accounts in Windows 10

Both smartphones and computers are smart enough to run multiple accounts of the same app or service. OneDrive is Microsoft’s native cloud storage service, and it is embedded in the File Explorer of PC running the Windows 10 operating system. However, Windows is only able to sync a single OneDrive account/folder locally on your computer.

If you have multiple OneDrive accounts that you frequently use, syncing them locally on the same device should make them easy to manage. It saves times, and you can easily manage files on those accounts without having to visit your browser. So if you run multiple OneDrive cloud accounts (say personal & work account), check out how to effectively add and manage multiple accounts on your Windows 10 PC.

Adding the First Account

If you have no OneDrive account previously linked to your Windows PC, follow the steps below to do that. Otherwise, skip to the next section (Adding a Second OneDrive Account) below.

Step 1: Tap the Windows key on your keyboard, scroll through the list of apps, and tap OneDrive to launch it.

If you don’t have OneDrive installed on your device, you can install it from the Microsoft Store app, the Microsoft website, or the official OneDrive website.

Download the OneDrive Windows app

Step 2: Tap the Sign-in button.

Step 3: On the new window that pops up, tap a preferred Microsoft account already connected to your PC or enter the credentials for a new account.

Step 4: Tap Continue to proceed.

Step 5: Now that you’re logged in, the first OneDrive account is connected to your Windows computer, and you can access and manage its content from your PC’s File Explorer.

To add a second account, follow the steps below.

Adding a Second OneDrive Account

Step 1: Right-click the OneDrive icon in the notification area of your PC’s system tray, i.e., the bottom-right corner of the Taskbar.

Note:

Step 2: Next up, select Settings from the list of options on the OneDrive menu.

That opens up a new Microsoft OneDrive window where you can customize and make changes to the OneDrive account connected to your PC. That is also the window where you add new OneDrive accounts.

Step 3: Tap Accounts to navigate to the accounts section.

Step 4: Tap the ‘Add an account’ button.

That opens another window where you would be prompted to feed the account credentials of the second OneDrive account you want to link to your PC.

Step 5: Enter the email address of the second OneDrive account and tap the Sign in button.

Note:

If you try to sync another personal OneDrive account, you will get an error message that reads: “You’re already syncing a personal OneDrive on this computer. Unlink that account to add a new one.”

Step 6: Enter the password to the second account and tap the Sign in button.

That signs you into your second OneDrive account and syncs it to your PC. The signing in the process might take a couple of seconds (or minutes). Afterward, proceed to set up the newly-added OneDrive.

Step 7: Windows will show you the folder location of the new OneDrive account and other information. You can tap the Change location button if you want to modify the default folder of the new OneDrive account.

Otherwise, tap the Next button to proceed.

Step 8: And that’s it. You have successfully linked a second OneDrive account to your Windows PC, and syncing would commence instantly. You should also receive a notification (at the bottom-right corner of your screen) to that effect.

Managing Multiple OneDrive Accounts

Now that you have successfully linked two OneDrive accounts to your PC, you would notice some changes.

Multiple OneDrive Icons

The first and most obvious change is that your PC will now display multiple OneDrive icons in the notification area of the Taskbar; see the image below.

Notice that there are two different colored OneDrive icons. The grey-colored icon is your personal OneDrive account, while the Blue-colored icon represents the (paid) business account. That distinction would help you efficiently manage both accounts.

Multiple OneDrive Folders

In the navigation pane of your PC’s File Explorer, you would also notice that there are now two OneDrive folders. Interestingly, Windows labels both folders neatly so you can easily identify them.

The personal OneDrive folder is labeled Personal while the second (business) account is labeled using the email address connected to the account.

All-Round OneDrive Access

If you have multiple OneDrive accounts and you frequently use them for different purposes (say work, business, or school), the above steps allow you easy access to all the accounts. That saves you time and eliminates the stress of signing in with multiple browsers.

Next up: OneDrive is a useful cloud storage app & service by Microsoft. If you aren’t conversant with the service, check out the article linked below for some tips that can guide you to using OneDrive like a pro.