How to Add and Manage Multiple OneDrive Accounts in Windows 10

Smartphones and computers are smart enough to run multiple accounts from the same app or service. OneDrive is Microsoft's native cloud storage service, and it's integrated into the file explorer of the PC running the Windows 10 operating system. However, Windows can only synchronize a single account / OneDrive folder locally on your computer.

If you have multiple OneDrive accounts that you use frequently, syncing them locally on the same device should make them easy to manage. This saves time and you can easily manage the files for these accounts without having to visit your browser. So if you are running multiple OneDrive cloud accounts (e.g. personal and work account), find out how to efficiently add and manage multiple accounts on your Windows 10 PC.

Adding the first account

If you don't have a OneDrive account previously linked to your Windows PC, follow the steps below to do so. Otherwise, go to the next section (Adding a second OneDrive account) below.

Step 1: Press the Windows key on your keyboard, scroll through the list of applications and press OneDrive to launch it.

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

Download the Windows OneDrive app

2nd step: Press the Connect button.

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

Step 4: Tap Continue to continue.

Step 5: Now that you're signed 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 ​​the system tray of your PC, that is, in the lower right corner of the taskbar.

Note: If you can't find the OneDrive icon in the notification area, tap the up arrow button "Show hidden icons". The OneDrive icon should be there.

2nd step: Then select Settings from the list of options in the OneDrive menu.

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

Step 3: Tap Accounts to access the accounts section.

Step 4: Press the "Add an account" button.

This opens another window in which you will be asked to provide the credentials of the second OneDrive account that you want to link to your PC.

Step 5: Enter the email address of the second OneDrive account and press the Sign In button.

Note: You cannot add two personal OneDrive accounts to the same Windows device. Microsoft only allows users to synchronize a personal account and a work account (for a fee).

If you try to sync another personal OneDrive account, an error message appears: "You are already syncing a personal OneDrive on this computer. Unlink this account to add a new one."

Step 6: Enter the password for the second account and press the Connect button.

This connects you to your second OneDrive account and synchronizes it with your PC. Signing in the process can take a few seconds (or minutes). Next, 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 change the default folder for the new OneDrive account.

Otherwise, press the Next button to continue.

Step 8: And that's it. You have successfully linked a second OneDrive account to your Windows PC and synchronization would start instantly. You should also receive a notification (in the lower right corner of your screen) to this effect.

Managing multiple OneDrive accounts

Now that you've successfully linked two OneDrive accounts to your PC, you'll 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 picture below.

Note that there are two OneDrive icons in different colors. The gray icon is your personal OneDrive account, while the blue icon represents the corporate account (for a fee). This distinction would help you manage the two accounts efficiently.

Multiple OneDrive folders

In the navigation pane of your PC's file explorer, you will also notice that there are now two OneDrive folders. Interestingly, Windows properly labels both folders so that you can easily identify them.

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

Full OneDrive access

If you have multiple OneDrive accounts and you use them frequently for different purposes (for example, work, business, or school), the steps above allow you to easily access all accounts. This saves you time and eliminates the stress of connecting with multiple browsers.

Then: OneDrive is a useful cloud storage app and service from Microsoft. If you are not familiar with the service, check out the linked article below for some tips that can guide you to use OneDrive like a pro.