How to Fix Outlook Keeps Signing Into Wrong Account

When Outlook keeps signing into wrong account, the cause depends on where you are using it. On the web, it usually means the browser is reusing a saved session or cookie from another Microsoft account. On desktop Outlook, it is usually a default profile or cached credential pointing to the wrong account. The fixes below cover both.

Method 1: Clear Cache and Cookies for Outlook

Saved cookies are the most common reason Outlook redirects to the wrong account. Clearing them forces the browser to ask for fresh credentials instead of reusing a stored session.

Press Ctrl + Shift + Delete to open the clear browsing data window.
Select Cookies and other site data, or narrow it down to outlook.com only if the browser allows site-specific clearing.
Clear the data and reload Outlook, then sign in again.

Method 2: Sign Out of All Microsoft Accounts

If clearing cookies does not fix it, sign out of every Microsoft account tied to the browser instead of just the one causing trouble.

Go to login.live.com/logout.srf and let it sign you out.
Close all open browser windows completely.
Reopen the browser and sign in to the correct Outlook account only.

Method 3: Switch Accounts From the Account Menu on Outlook.com

If Outlook.com keeps opening with an account you did not choose, switch it manually from the account menu instead of relying on the sign-in redirect.

On outlook.com, click your profile picture or initials in the top-right corner.
Select Sign in with a different account, or choose the correct account if it is already listed under saved accounts.
Enter the credentials for the account you want and confirm the sign-in.

Method 4: Keep Each Account in Its Own Browser Session

If you sign into multiple Microsoft accounts regularly, keeping them isolated from each other stops the browser from mixing up cookies.

For occasional use, open a new InPrivate window in Edge or Incognito window in Chrome, then go to outlook.com and sign in with the account you want. Private windows do not carry over saved cookies from your regular session.
For accounts you switch between often, use a separate browser for each one instead, such as your primary account in Edge and a second account in Chrome or Firefox.
Avoid mixing accounts within the same regular browser session.

If none of the browser fixes above work and you are using desktop Outlook instead of the web version, the methods below address that separately.

Method 5: Modify Outlook Profile Settings

If the issue occurs in desktop Outlook, another profile might be set as the default and loading automatically instead of prompting you to choose.

Open Control Panel, search mail, and click Mail (Microsoft Outlook).
Click Show Profiles.
Select Prompt for a profile to be used so Outlook asks which profile to load every time, or select Always use this profile and choose the correct one from the dropdown to set it as default.
Click Apply, then OK.

Method 6: Remove Cached Credentials from Credential Manager

Desktop Outlook can also hold on to an old cached credential that keeps pointing it to the wrong account even after you sign out.

Close Microsoft Outlook completely.
Open Credential Manager and select Windows Credentials.
Expand any entries starting with MicrosoftOffice16_Data and click Remove on each.
Close Credential Manager and restart your PC.
Launch Outlook and sign in again with the correct account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Outlook keep signing into wrong account?

Outlook reuses browser cookies from a previously signed-in Microsoft account, which redirects you to that account instead of the one you are trying to use. On desktop, a default profile or cached credential can cause the same issue.

How do I sign into Outlook with a different account?

On the web, use the account switcher on outlook.com and enter the credentials for the account you want. In desktop Outlook, go to File > Info > Add Account to add another account, or File > Account Settings to switch the default one.

Does clearing cookies delete my saved Outlook emails?

No. Clearing cookies only removes saved login sessions in the browser. Your emails remain stored on Microsoft’s servers.

Can using two Microsoft accounts in one browser be avoided entirely?

Yes. Using separate browsers or private browsing windows for each account prevents the browser from mixing up sessions.