Account switching for Microsoft 365 apps

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Before we explain the account switching functionality, let's first speak about why Microsoft implemented it.

Due to Covid-19's complete transformation of the workplace atmosphere, hybrid work is now more prevalent than ever. As the lines between work and personal life are blurring, users were becoming increasingly perplexed when they needed to utilize more than one work account to complete a job. User is unable to keep up with the speed at which he must operate with several accounts as tasks get more and larger. Users may create several accounts, both personal and professional, to accomplish a variety of tasks, such as setting up a business meeting, working with a third party, or even scheduling a family trip. Today, users of Microsoft 365 web apps can only work with a single account, and to use another account, they must sign out, open a private browser window, or use a different browser or device entirely. This causes a lot of friction and confusion, and occasionally leads to the mistake of sending the wrong emails using different accounts.

Here are two such circumstances when we think switching accounts will help users do more with less effort.

• Megan works for many companies, including two that are affiliated with each other: Orchard House, where she works as a consultant, and Auli, where she uses two different work accounts to assist. She used to have to work and coordinate between the two organizations in both a conventional browser and an InPrivate window. Megan may now quickly move between her Orchard home and Auli accounts in the same browser thanks to account switching.

• Avi is using his personal account to organize a family vacation, but he also has to send emails from his professional account. Before, Avi had to log out of one account before entering the other. He may now effortlessly move between his personal and professional accounts to complete his responsibilities thanks to account switching.

How to switch between accounts in Microsoft Edge

Step 1: Open Outlook.Office.com or any other Microsoft 365 web programme, and then click the account management link in the upper right corner.

Step 2: In the browser, you may create a new account or change to an already signed-in account. The page will reload with material from the new account in the same browser tab after a successful add or switch.

One account can be added to a Microsoft 365 online app numerous times, but only one account can be used in that app at once. Users will receive a notification to refresh the tabs with inactive accounts if they end up having two or more browser app tabs with distinct accounts.

Please be aware that switching accounts does not mean transferring account or email information from one account to another; rather, it just makes it simpler for users to work with multiple accounts in the Microsoft 365 web apps by eliminating the need to remember multiple passwords or to sign out and sign back in. Microsoft and its customers place a high value on security and privacy, and this functionality upholds data integrity and privacy across various account and organizational boundaries. In other words, each account will continue to only be able to access the information to which they have been granted access.

Does this functionality mitigate an organization's data loss?

With the aid of this functionality, Microsoft is assisting customers in navigating the Microsoft 365 web apps when attempting to interact with multiple accounts. Microsoft and its customers place a high value on security and privacy, and this functionality upholds data integrity and privacy across various account and organisational boundaries. In other words, each account will continue to only be able to access the information to which they have been granted access. If a DLP policy is in effect, the user might not be able to copy material since all DLP policies are still limited.

Which Microsoft apps are eligible for the service rollout?

The global environments of Office.com, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook on the web, OneDrive for the web, SharePoint, and Microsoft 365 admin center will all get access to this feature.

As an administrator, you should be aware that switching between any of the signed-in MSA and Azure AD accounts in a user's browser will be possible in Microsoft 365 web apps.

Note: This capability is additive, thus existing Account Manager user actions like "Sign out" will continue to function in the same way.