Microsoft is rolling out a new experience starting in June 2025 that will merge personal and business OneDrive accounts into a unified view. While this may seem convenient, it poses serious risks to data privacy and integrity—especially when institutional and personal content mix unintentionally.

To protect our users and our digital ecosystem, KAUST IT is proactively implementing safeguards across the IT environment.

What’s Changing (KAUST-Managed Devices)

Starting soon, personal OneDrive accounts (e.g., @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, @live.com, @gmail.com) will no longer be allowed to sync on KAUST-managed laptops and desktops.

This change will prevent any merging or accidental exposure of KAUST files into personal storage accounts.

What’s Not Changing

• Syncing of KAUST OneDrive (business) accounts continues uninterrupted
• SharePoint library syncing remains fully supported
• Academic, research, and operational workflows using OneDrive are not affected

If You Use Both Personal and KAUST OneDrive on Your Own Device

For KAUST students, faculty, and staff using personal or BYOD machines, extra caution is required.

You may see a Microsoft prompt asking if you want to merge your business and personal OneDrive accounts.

Do not accept the merge prompt.
Merging your accounts may cause data loss, syncing errors, or unintentional exposure of KAUST data to personal accounts.

Note: KAUST IT cannot block or suppress this message on personal devices. You are responsible for keeping your accounts separate.

What KAUST IT Is Doing Now

• On KAUST-managed machines, KAUST IT is currently blocking the OneDrive merge prompt to prevent user confusion and protect institutional data.

What’s Coming Next

• In the coming weeks, KAUST IT will fully block personal OneDrive account sync on all KAUST-managed devices.

This means you will no longer be able to connect or sync personal OneDrive storage on a university-issued laptop or desktop.

Action Required (for KAUST-Managed Device Users with Personal OneDrive)

1. Stop the sync now
2. Remove your personal account from the OneDrive app

Once the sync is blocked, your personal files will stop uploading to the cloud and will become local-only copies on your machine.

Need Help?

For further information or assistance, please contact the IT Service Desk on 910 or 012-8080-910, or visit our walk-in-support desk during business hours. You can also log a ticket using our chatbot VITA at it.kaust.edu.sa (or vita.kaust.edu.sa if you are off campus).