Hkey_current_user\software\microsoft\office\16.0\common\identity [updated] Official

This key manages how Office recognizes, remembers, and applies permissions for cloud-connected features like OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams integration, and roaming settings.

Remove-Item -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Identity" -Recurse -Force Write-Host "Identity key removed. Restart Office and sign in again."

At its core, the Identity key represents Microsoft’s shift from the old Device Registration model to the modern Azure AD (Entra ID) join paradigm. It replaces the reliance on ADAL (Active Directory Authentication Library) with the more robust WAM (Web Account Manager), although legacy keys often persist here like digital fossils. This key manages how Office recognizes, remembers, and

Instead of manual edits, push registry changes via GPO to HKEY_CURRENT_USER for consistent authentication settings.

Before proceeding, . Incorrect changes can cause system instability. Method 1: Resetting the Identity Key (Recommended) It replaces the reliance on ADAL (Active Directory

This is a brutal but effective solution. It forces the client to wipe the slate clean and re-negotiate the token handshake from scratch. While effective, it is a heavy-handed approach that highlights a lack of granular self-repair tools within the Office suite itself.

Without a properly functioning Identity key, users may experience: Incorrect changes can cause system instability

The Identity key does not work in isolation. It interacts with: