How to Forcefully Disconnect a Microsoft 365 Account in Windows 10

Operating Systems
1

How to Forcefully Disconnect a Microsoft 365 Account in Windows 10

If you’ve encountered a scenario where you cannot disconnect a Microsoft 365 account from Windows 10 through the standard method in Settings, you’re not alone. This issue can be frustrating, especially when the “Disconnect” button simply doesn’t work as expected. Fortunately, there is a manual solution to resolve this problem. Here’s how you can forcefully disconnect a Microsoft 365 account in Windows 10.

The Problem

In some cases, attempting to disconnect a Microsoft 365 account via Settings > Accounts > Email & accounts results in no action. This can happen due to underlying issues with Windows system files or app dependencies tied to the account.

The Solution

The workaround involves signing in with a different account and manually removing a specific directory associated with the problematic Microsoft 365 account. Follow these steps carefully:

Steps to Forcefully Disconnect the Account

  1. Sign Out and Log In with a Different Account

    • Go to Start > Settings > Accounts.
    • Select your Microsoft 365 account, click Sign out, and confirm.
    • Log in with a different account (it can be a local or another Microsoft account).

  2. Navigate to the User Profile Folder

    • Open File Explorer and go to the drive where Windows is installed, typically C:\.
    • Navigate to the following directory:
      C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Packages.

    Note: Replace <YourUsername> with the username of the account you’re trying to disconnect.

  3. Locate and Remove the Microsoft Ad Broker Plugin

    • In the Packages directory, look for the folder named:
      Microsoft.AAD.BrokerPlugin_<SomeIdentifier>.
    • Delete this folder.

  4. Restart Your Computer

    • Once the folder is deleted, restart your computer.
    • Log in and check if the Microsoft 365 account is removed from Settings > Accounts > Email & accounts.

Why This Works

The folder Microsoft.AAD.BrokerPlugin is responsible for managing certain account authentication tasks in Windows 10. By removing this folder, you essentially break the link between your Microsoft 365 account and Windows, allowing you to disconnect the account successfully.

Caution

  • Ensure you back up important data before deleting files in the AppData directory.
  • Only remove the Microsoft.AAD.BrokerPlugin folder associated with the problematic account to avoid disrupting other accounts or system functionality.

Final Thoughts

This manual workaround is a lifesaver if Windows 10 doesn’t allow you to disconnect a Microsoft 365 account via traditional methods. While it’s not an ideal solution, it’s effective and gets the job done. Hopefully, future Windows updates will address this issue and make the account disconnection process smoother.

Feel free to share your experience or any alternate methods in the comments section!