Forum Discussion
Allow removal of "Connected to Windows" accounts from Edge profiles
- Jul 24, 2020
Thanks for the feedback, we've heard this from other users too. Re: the connected to windows accounts, we are working to remove this but since it is cross group collaboration, it may take a while. We eventually would like to just sign you in with the profile account.
Re: Adding an account only to the app, if you select the "This app only" option in the sign in flow where you are asked to manage the device, the account won't be added to the computer and nor will your device get managed.
tboggs Thanks for that feedback!
Since I'm not as familiar with the intricacies of profile connections between MSFT Edge and Windows, I'm looping in our Profile area owner, Avi Vaid, to review this as well.
Fawkes (they/them)
Program Manager & Community Manager - Microsoft Edge
Thanks for the feedback, we've heard this from other users too. Re: the connected to windows accounts, we are working to remove this but since it is cross group collaboration, it may take a while. We eventually would like to just sign you in with the profile account.
Re: Adding an account only to the app, if you select the "This app only" option in the sign in flow where you are asked to manage the device, the account won't be added to the computer and nor will your device get managed.
- CHaller-F-4665Jun 05, 2023Copper ContributorI too am affected by this issue. I recently added my school (university) account in Edge within a new profile on my work computer and found out that either I get logged in automatically (on some pages) with the wrong account or I have to choose my school account on for each app again. This is really disturbing.
A possibility to unlink accounts from Edge or correctly respect the account used for the profile should really be implemented.
This morning, I logged in within Edge on a Windows Server 2022 while I was trying to setup a backup software. Because that login wasn't kept after clicking on a link with the software, I decided to choose the synchronization option. Now, the account remains linked to the administrator account of that server. I tried every hint I found in this context but failed to remove the connection.
Eventually, I found this discussion. Hopefully, the issue will be corrected soon, although I have little hope considering the request is almost three years old. - DanielNiccoliApr 06, 2023Iron Contributor
Avi Vaid mentioned almost three years ago that this is being worked on and that it may take a while.
A while has passed and Avi was inactive since 2020. Could someone from the Edge team give an update on that topic, please? Maybe Eric_E or Eric_VanAelstyn ?
- ComputerGuy77Aug 21, 2023Copper Contributor
Any update on this issue? I am stuck in profile hell right now! I am trying to login to my admin profile instead of my standard profile, but browser keeps signing me into the wrong account the "Connected to windows" account. I have tried Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. They all suffer from this issue to varying degrees. I can't believe it takes years for Microsoft to address this. Does Microsoft not see a defect in this process?
- michaelommAug 22, 2023Copper Contributor
We are the fringe. Chrome and firefox do not suffer from this issue as they wont automatically log in with the windows user as long as you havnt imported settings from Edge. I have surrendered to the fact that Edge behaves as it does as it suits the majority of user experiences. Work around the issue.
- nicolesimonApr 06, 2023Brass ContributorI have not played around with profiles in edge, but from experience in Chrome: There will always be one profile profile = where one would be happy to be logged in, but the others are to work faster. They may or may not include a profile login for efficiency reasons.
I have one profile which is my main profile where I am logged into the right things - like f.e. a 365 account, a work account. the other profiles are for different needs and are disconnected from any profile (google) accounts as this is neither needed not wanted.
- one with an empty setup, few bookmarks in the bookmar bar for recording educational videos
- one where specific extensions are loaded. While I am usually logged into chatgpt there is one extension which is useful (Aiprm) but has an obnoxious logo. I have one profile just for that when I quickly want to access that. I have another for extensions I use for research which make the browser slow, so I only start that profile when I need them.
- 2-3 others all signed in for different account types into social networks (I have separate ones for projects, also f.e in german / english) with different settings. Starting these I know I am signed into these accounts and I can work on the project without having to log in or out in these networks.
- one for a publishing workflow - bookmarks and textexpander settings are made for that workflow
- another profile setup for gaming - the bookmarks and bookmark bar are chockfull of all the links I need for that game
The normal user may never use more than one profile. But the people who do usually use it for something similar like I do. - ConnorMcGSep 19, 2022Copper ContributorIs there any update to this issue after two years?
I have a daily user account with limited administrative access that I have signed into the computer, and when I go to use Edge for admin work within O365/Azure/EAC, I am constantly having to switch profiles due to Edge being "smart" and noticing that I'm navigating to a Microsoft login page, and "helpfully" signing me in with my Connected to Windows account. This has led to countless redirect loops when attempting to access the Exchange Admin Center, specifically, due to the lack of permissions on my standard, non-admin level account. The loop order is as follows:
1. Bookmark link: https://admin.exchange.microsoft.com/
2. Edge loads page and signs in with non-admin account that is "Connected to Windows"
3. Redirected to https://outlook.office365.com/ecp/ as the EAC portal must notice that the account does not have permissions to sign in
4. Immediate redirected to https://admin.exchange.microsoft.com/?landingpage=homepage&form=ecp_toggle_redirect
5. Redirected back to https://admin.exchange.microsoft.com/
6. Repeat every 2-3 seconds
I don't want to remove the account from the OS via Settings > Accounts > Access Work or School, as this is my company account on my assigned company device. I would prefer to use Edge for this case due to mental compartmentalization and personal work flow, but if this can't be addressed I will simply use Firefox, Brave, or another browser with more granular control.
The profile signed into Edge is the Admin level account, and I've attempted to remove the associated passwords to the portals in question multiple times. From what I can tell, this is caused by Microsoft's Sign In Assistant, and it's all or nothing with no way to opt out of Edge specifically.
Hopefully, Microsoft has been working on and plans to implement a feature of removing, or at least not defaulting & overriding the user-specified default account, the 'Connected To Windows' Microsoft account from the list of sign in options displayed when using Edge browser to navigate to Microsoft Cloud sign in pages, such as the Azure Portal and the Exchange Admin Center. Having it available as a secondary option is nice, but not necessary.
Thank you for your time.- JMoreau80Dec 20, 2022Copper ContributorThis is now happening in Chrome as well all of a sudden. I used to just use Edge as my 365 account, and any of my clients that I need to access, I would login through Chrome. Now, it's doing it for both browsers. Very annoying!
- Erock2011Mar 18, 2022Copper ContributorRight on the 2nd bit - but if you accidentally leave the check box - then there is no way out!
I have about 12 different accounts to manage and all it takes is one time to miss that check box - and boom! Now how do I get this account NOT connected to windows! Or how do I change the account? I do have an account I would prefer - but when I tried to leave that manage checkbox on purpose for that account - it gave an error - could not do it! (so presume cannot switch/change either). This is really ugly. There is some way - I managed to do this one time before - same issue - and after enough searching - there is a way to get it out of there - but it's not easy or obvious!
arghhh - Ah__put_it_this_wayFeb 07, 2022Copper Contributor
Hi Avi Vaid. Is there a way that you know of that we can track progress on this issue?
- michaelommOct 18, 2021Copper Contributor
This is really admin unfriendly, it makes me irrationally upset everytime i try and use my admin profile for admin tasks but Edge decides to use my Windows login details as the default. I get that this is nice for the majority of end users who are interested in syncing browser data with Microsoft but haven't we Administrators suffered enough? (its been a long day)
- Nov 04, 2021This is exactly my use case. I also need this fixed.