Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIf File Explorer Home shows “Account Disconnected,” Windows is prompting you to reconnect an account associated with a connected experience. If the sign-in window keeps loading or asks for an old work or school account, first identify which account Windows is asking for; do not enter credentials for an account you no longer control. On a personal PC, you can review saved accounts in Settings and remove an obsolete one if you no longer use it. On a work-managed PC, check with your IT administrator before disconnecting an organization account.
What the message means
The message is not, by itself, proof that your Windows sign-in or local files are broken. It indicates that an account-linked feature in File Explorer is prompting for a sign-in. The sign-in dialog may keep loading, or it may request credentials for an account you no longer use. The account shown in the dialog is the key clue: it may be different from the account you use to sign in to Windows.
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Try these steps first
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Close the stalled prompt and restart File Explorer
Close the sign-in window. Close and reopen File Explorer, then check Home again. If the prompt returns and still will not load, restart the PC and try once more. This is a basic refresh, not a way to repair a removed or expired account.
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Check the account Windows has connected
Open Settings > Accounts > Email & accounts. Review the accounts listed under accounts used by email, calendar, and contacts, and accounts used by other apps. If the prompt names an old account, compare it with the accounts shown here. Do not remove an account simply because you do not recognize its purpose; it may be used by another app or service.
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Reconnect an account you still use
If the dialog names an account you still own and need, sign in with that account and complete any verification prompt. If the window hangs, close it and launch Settings again before retrying. Confirm the device is online. If the account is managed by an employer or school, use the credentials and sign-in method provided by that organization.
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Remove an obsolete account only on a personal PC
If the listed account is genuinely obsolete and you no longer need it for apps on this PC, select that account in Settings > Accounts > Email & accounts and choose Remove if Windows offers that option. Restart File Explorer and check whether the prompt is gone. Removing an account can affect apps and services that used it, so make sure you have an alternative sign-in where needed.
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If the prompt names a work or school account
On a personally owned device, an old organizational account may remain connected even after you stop using that organization. Review Settings > Accounts > Access work or school and identify whether the old organization is still connected. Disconnect it only if the device is not managed by that organization and you no longer need its access; then restart Windows and check File Explorer Home.
Do not disconnect a work or school account from an organization-managed PC without authorization. Doing so may affect access to company resources or device management. If you are unsure whether the PC is managed, ask your organization’s IT support to identify the account and the correct recovery process.
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If it still says “Account Disconnected”
- The sign-in dialog keeps loading: Close it, restart the PC, and retry while connected to the internet. If it continues, note the exact account and any error text rather than repeatedly submitting credentials.
- The dialog requests an account you no longer control: Do not guess passwords or use someone else’s credentials. On a personal PC, review the connected accounts as described above; on a managed PC, contact the administrator.
- You removed an old account but the prompt remains: Restart Windows and check the account lists in Settings again. If the account is absent but the same prompt returns, the exact account name and error message will help Microsoft support or your administrator diagnose which connected feature is requesting sign-in.
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