Signing out of Microsoft Teams on one device does not end your session on other devices. This distinction is often overlooked, but it changes how you should approach signing out depending on whether you’re using a shared computer, a personal mobile device, or a web browser. Comparing the methods available on each platform shows what each action protects—and what it leaves exposed.
Signing out of Teams and session persistence: what each method covers
Signing out locally removes your account information from the Teams app on the device in question. Other Microsoft apps installed on that same device retain access to your account. Your Teams session remains active on other devices.
This means the level of protection varies depending on the method you choose. The table below summarizes the differences.
| Method | Platform | Ends the local Teams session | Signs you out of other Microsoft apps | Ends remote Teams sessions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sign out via your profile | Windows, macOS, browser, mobile | Yes | No | No |
| Remove the account from the device | Windows, macOS | Yes | Possible (depending on OS) | No |
| Sign out of the browser | Web (all OS) | Yes | Yes (same browser profile) | No |
| Revoke sessions (admin) | Microsoft Entra (admin portal) | Not immediately | Partially | Yes (with a delay) |
One key takeaway from this comparison is that no user-level method ends all sessions remotely. Only an administrator can revoke refresh tokens on other devices through Microsoft Entra—and even then, some access tokens that have already been issued remain usable until they expire.
To sign out of Teams effectively on any platform, go to your profile picture at the top of the app, then select the sign-out button.
Signing out of Teams on a shared device: the persistent account trap
On a shared computer (such as in a meeting room or public-access workstation), clicking “Sign out” in Teams may not be enough. Your account may still appear on the sign-in screen, and in some cases, another user may be able to access it without a password.
This issue, documented by administrators on Microsoft forums, stems from the way Windows caches credentials. Teams relies on tokens stored by the operating system. Signing out of the app removes Teams data, but the Windows token may remain in Credential Manager.
Additional steps for a shared Windows computer
- Remove the account from Windows settings (Accounts > Email & app accounts) to remove the system token
- Clear the Teams cache by deleting the dedicated folder in AppData, forcing a full sign-in the next time the app launches
- Uncheck the option to remember your account the first time you sign in on a computer that isn’t yours—the only reliable preventive measure
On macOS, remove the account through System Settings. The principle is the same: remove the account from the operating system, not just from Teams.
Signing out of Teams on iOS and Android: an isolated session
On a smartphone, you can also sign out using your profile picture. The mobile app manages its own tokens, independently of the browser and other Microsoft apps installed on the phone.
The difference from desktop comes down to isolation. On mobile, signing out of Teams doesn’t affect Outlook, OneDrive, or any other Microsoft app. Conversely, removing your Microsoft account from the phone (through the iOS or Android settings) may affect all linked apps.
If your phone is lost or stolen, you can’t sign out locally. An administrator must revoke your sessions through Microsoft Entra. This revocation invalidates refresh tokens, but not access tokens that have already been issued, which expire according to their configured lifetime.
Revoking Teams sessions through Microsoft Entra: scope and limitations
When signing out locally isn’t enough (for example, if a device is stolen, an employee leaves, or a compromise is suspected), an administrator can revoke all of a user’s sessions from the Microsoft Entra portal.
This action targets refresh tokens and session cookies. It doesn’t instantly close every open Teams window. Access tokens that have already been issued remain valid until they expire.
What session revocation doesn’t cover
- Apps that maintain their own local sessions (some mobile apps and email clients configured with IMAP/SMTP)
- Access tokens currently in use, which may remain active for several minutes after revocation
- Sign-in logs, which don’t provide a reliable list of all sessions that are still open when revocation occurs
When an employee leaves permanently, revoking sessions is one step in a broader access-removal process (disabling the account, removing licenses, and deleting registered devices).
Web browser: signing out of Teams and browser profiles
In a browser, signing out of Teams also signs you out of all Microsoft 365 apps associated with the same browser profile. It’s the only user-level method that signs you out of multiple Microsoft services in one step.
Using a dedicated browser profile or a private browsing window before signing in to Teams on a shared computer prevents session cookies from being stored. Private browsing is the most reliable option on a computer that isn’t yours.
Signing out of Teams isn’t as simple as using one button that works everywhere. Each platform handles tokens differently, and the scope of each action varies. On a personal computer, signing out normally is enough. On a shared device, you need to remove the account from the system. If a device is lost, only an administrator acting through Microsoft Entra can limit exposure, and even then, there’s no guarantee that sessions will end immediately.
