How to Close All Sessions in Office 365

If you are an Office 365 user, you may have noticed that sometimes you are logged in to multiple sessions at the same time. This can be a security risk, especially if you are using a shared computer or accessing your account from a public place. In such cases, it is important to close all sessions to ensure that your account is secure and prevent unauthorized access.

To close all sessions in Office 365, you can follow these simple steps. First, open your web browser and navigate to the Office 365 login page. Enter your username and password to log in to your account. Once you are logged in, go to the “Account” or “Settings” section, depending on the version of Office 365 you are using. Look for the option to manage your sessions or active devices.

Once you have found the session management page, you will see a list of all the devices and sessions that are currently logged in to your account. Take a moment to review this list and make sure you recognize all the devices and sessions. If you see any suspicious activity or devices that you do not recognize, it is recommended to change your password immediately and report the issue to your IT department or Office 365 support.

To close all sessions, simply click on the option to log out or sign out from all devices. This will terminate all active sessions and log you out from all devices. It is important to note that closing all sessions will also sign you out from any Office 365 applications that you may be using on your mobile devices or desktop clients. You will need to log in again to access these applications.

By following these steps, you can ensure that all sessions in Office 365 are closed and your account is secure. It is a good practice to periodically review your session history and close any inactive or suspicious sessions to protect your data and maintain the privacy of your Office 365 account.

Step 1: Sign in to your Office 365 account

In order to close all sessions in Office 365, you will need to sign in to your account. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Open the Office 365 login page

Launch your preferred web browser and navigate to the Office 365 login page.

2. Enter your username and password

Once you are on the login page, enter your Office 365 account username and password in the provided fields.

3. Click “Sign in”

After entering your credentials, click the “Sign in” button to access your Office 365 account.

By signing in to your Office 365 account, you will gain access to the necessary settings and options to close all sessions that are currently active.

Step 2: Access the Security & Privacy settings

After signing in to your Office 365 account, you will need to navigate to the Security & Privacy settings in order to close all active sessions.

To access these settings, follow the steps below:

1.	Click on the “Settings” icon located at the top-right corner of the Office 365 portal.
2.	From the drop-down menu, select “Security & Privacy” to proceed.
3.	You will then be redirected to the Security & Privacy settings page.

Once you have successfully accessed the Security & Privacy settings, you are ready to proceed to the next step to close all active sessions in Office 365.

Step 3: Navigate to the ‘Active sessions’ section

After logging into your Office 365 account, you will be redirected to the main dashboard. Look for the navigation menu on the left-hand side of the page and click on the ‘Settings’ option. A drop-down menu will appear.

From the drop-down menu, select the ‘Security & privacy’ option. This will take you to the Security & privacy settings page.

On the Security & privacy settings page, scroll down until you find the ‘Active sessions’ section. This section will display all the active sessions currently open in your Office 365 account.

To close all sessions, click on the ‘Sign out of all other sessions’ button located in the ‘Active sessions’ section. This will immediately terminate all sessions and log you out of your Office 365 account on all devices and browsers.

It is important to regularly check and close all sessions in your Office 365 account to ensure the security and privacy of your data and to prevent unauthorized access.

Step 4: Review your active sessions

Before you proceed to close all sessions in Office 365, it is important to review your active sessions. This will help you identify any sessions that you want to keep active or any suspicious activity that you may need to verify.

To review your active sessions in Office 365, follow these steps:

Open a web browser and go to the Office 365 sign-in page.
Enter your username and password to sign in to your Office 365 account.
Once you are signed in, click on your profile picture or initials at the top-right corner of the page.
In the dropdown menu, click on “My account” to access your account settings.

On the “My account” page, scroll down until you find the “Security & Privacy” section. Under this section, you will see an option to view your account activity. Click on the “View account activity” link.

A new page will open showing a list of all your active sessions. Each session will have information such as the device, browser, and location associated with it. Take the time to review each session and determine if it is legitimate or if it needs to be closed.

If you see any suspicious activity or sessions that you want to close, click on the “End activity” button next to the session details.

Remember, closing all sessions in Office 365 will log you out of all devices and applications that are currently using your account. Make sure you have saved any unsaved work before proceeding.

Step 5: Close individual sessions

In addition to closing all sessions at once, you also have the option to close individual sessions in Office 365. This can be helpful if you want to log out of specific devices or browsers that you no longer have access to or want to be logged out of.

Here’s how you can close individual sessions:

1. Sign in to your Office 365 account.

Note: Make sure you have administrative privileges to perform this action.

2. Go to the Account Security page.

On the left navigation pane, click on “Security & privacy”, then select “Manage security & privacy” from the dropdown menu.

3. Click on the “View” button next to “Devices & activity”.

This will display a list of devices and browsers that are currently logged in to your Office 365 account.

4. Identify the session you want to close.

Scroll through the list and locate the session that you want to close. You can usually identify the session based on the device or browser name.

5. Click on the “Sign out” button next to the session.

Once you’ve identified the session you want to close, simply click on the “Sign out” button next to it. This will immediately log the session out and prevent further access.

6. Repeat steps 4-5 for any additional sessions you want to close.

If you have multiple sessions that you want to close, simply repeat steps 4 and 5 for each session until all desired sessions are closed.

By following these steps, you can selectively close individual sessions in Office 365, providing you with greater control over your account’s security.

Step 6: Close all sessions at once

To close all sessions at once in Office 365, follow these steps:

Open the Office 365 Admin Center.
Click on the “Users” option in the left-hand navigation menu.
Select the user for whom you want to close all sessions.
On the user details page, click on the “Session Control” tab.
Under the “Close Sessions” section, click on the “Close All Sessions” button.

By following these steps, you will be able to close all sessions for the selected user in Office 365. This can be useful in situations where you suspect unauthorized access to the user’s account or want to ensure that all active sessions are closed.

Step 7: Confirm the session closure

After following the previous steps to close all sessions in Office 365, it is important to confirm that the closure has been successful. This final step ensures that all sessions have been terminated, providing a secure environment for your Office 365 account.

To confirm the session closure, proceed as follows:

1. Sign in to your Office 365 account

Open a web browser and navigate to the Office 365 sign-in page. Enter your username and password to log in to your account.

2. Check for active sessions

Once you are logged in, go to your account settings or profile page. Look for an option or tab that allows you to view your active sessions or signed-in devices.

If you see any active sessions or signed-in devices that you did not authorize or recognize, it may be a sign that the session closure was not successful.

In such cases, it is recommended to change your password immediately and consider enabling additional security measures, such as multi-factor authentication.

Closing all sessions in Office 365 is an essential step in maintaining the security of your account. By following these steps and confirming the closure, you can have peace of mind knowing that your Office 365 account is protected from unauthorized access.

Step 8: Sign out of all devices remotely

Once you have identified and closed all active sessions in Office 365, the next step is to sign out of all devices remotely. This ensures that any unauthorized access to your account is immediately terminated.

To sign out of all devices remotely in Office 365, follow these steps:

1. Open your web browser and go to the Office 365 sign-in page.

If you are not already signed in, enter your username and password to log in to your Office 365 account.

2. Access the account settings menu.

On the top-right corner of the page, click on your profile picture or initials. A drop-down menu will appear.

Note: If you do not see your profile picture or initials, click on the navigation menu icon (three horizontal lines) and then click on your name or email address.

3. Select “Sign out of all devices” from the menu.

A dialog box will appear asking you to confirm your action. Click on “Sign out” to proceed.

Note: This action will sign you out of all devices that you have previously used to access your Office 365 account, including computers, smartphones, and tablets.

4. Verify successful sign out.

After signing out of all devices remotely, close your web browser and reopen it. Try accessing your Office 365 account again and verify that you are prompted to sign in. If you have been successfully signed out, you will need to enter your username and password to log in.

By signing out of all devices remotely in Office 365, you can ensure the security of your account and prevent unauthorized access.

Step 9: Enable multi-factor authentication

All sessions in Office 365 can be protected by enabling multi-factor authentication. This adds an extra layer of security to your account and helps prevent unauthorized access.

Multi-factor authentication requires users to provide two or more forms of identification to verify their identity. This can include a password, a fingerprint scan, a text message code, or a phone call.

To enable multi-factor authentication in Office 365, follow these steps:

Open the Office 365 admin center.
Navigate to the “Users” tab.
Select the user you want to enable multi-factor authentication for.
Click on “Enable” next to “Multi-factor authentication” in the user properties pane.
Follow the instructions to set up multi-factor authentication for the user.

Once multi-factor authentication is enabled, users will be prompted to provide additional verification when accessing their Office 365 account. This added security measure can help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data and protect your organization’s information.

Step 10: Change your password

In order to ensure the security of your account and effectively close all sessions in Office 365, it is important to change your password. Changing your password will force all active sessions to log out, preventing unauthorized access to your account.

To change your password in Office 365, follow these steps:

Login to your Office 365 account using your current username and password.
Click on your profile picture or initials in the top right corner of the screen, and select “My Account” from the dropdown menu.
In the left-hand menu, click on “Security & Privacy”.
Under the “Password security” section, click on “Change password”.
Enter your current password, followed by your desired new password. Make sure to choose a strong and unique password that is not easily guessable.
Confirm your new password by entering it again.
Click on “Submit” to save the changes.

Once you have changed your password, all previously logged-in sessions will be closed, and you will need to sign in again with your new password.

It is recommended to periodically change your password to ensure the security of your Office 365 account.

Step 11: Set up session expiration policies

In Office 365, you have the ability to set up session expiration policies to ensure the security of your sessions. These policies help to automatically end user sessions after a specified period of inactivity.

To set up session expiration policies in Office 365, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Security & Compliance Center

To begin, navigate to the Security & Compliance Center in Office 365. You can access this by logging in to your Office 365 account and selecting the Security & Compliance option from the app launcher.

2. Access the session expiration policies

Once you are in the Security & Compliance Center, go to the Security Policies section and select “Session expiration policies” under the Data loss prevention category.

3. Configure session expiration settings

Here, you can configure the session expiration settings according to your organization’s requirements. You can specify the session idle time duration after which sessions will be automatically ended.

You can also choose whether to notify users when their sessions are about to expire and allow them to extend the session if needed. Additionally, you can define exceptions for certain users or groups who should not be subject to session expiration policies.

By setting up session expiration policies, you can ensure that inactive sessions are automatically closed, reducing the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data and improving overall security in your Office 365 environment.

Step 12: Monitor and manage active sessions regularly

After closing all sessions in Office 365, it is important to regularly monitor and manage active sessions to ensure the security and efficiency of your Office 365 environment. By monitoring active sessions, you can identify any unauthorized or suspicious activities and take appropriate actions.

To monitor and manage active sessions:

1. Sign in to the Office 365 admin center

Visit the Office 365 admin center and sign in using your admin credentials.

2. Navigate to the Active sessions page

In the admin center, navigate to the Active sessions page. This page provides an overview of all the active sessions across your Office 365 organization.

3. Review active sessions

Review the list of active sessions to identify any suspicious or unauthorized activities. Pay attention to the session details, such as the user, device, and location.

4. Take appropriate actions

If you identify any suspicious or unauthorized sessions, take appropriate actions to close these sessions and secure your Office 365 environment. You can force sign out the user from a particular session or sign out all sessions associated with a specific user.

Note: It is recommended to enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for additional security. MFA adds an extra layer of protection by requiring users to provide two or more pieces of evidence to verify their identity.

Suggested Action	Description
Force sign out	If you suspect a compromised account, force sign out the user from the active session to immediately terminate their access.
Change user password	If you suspect unauthorized access, change the user’s password to prevent further unauthorized activities.
Enable MFA	Enable multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to user accounts.

By regularly monitoring and managing active sessions in Office 365, you can promptly address any security concerns and ensure the integrity of your organization’s data and resources.

Step 13: Report any suspicious activity

As part of the process to close all sessions in Office 365, it’s crucial to monitor your account for any suspicious activity. Taking this extra step helps ensure the security and integrity of your Office 365 account. If you notice any unusual or suspicious logins, it’s important to report them immediately.

To report any suspicious activity, follow these steps:

Step 1: Visit the Office 365 portal and sign in to your account.
Step 2: Navigate to the Security & Compliance Center.
Step 3: Select the Reports tab.
Step 4: Choose the Suspicious activity report.
Step 5: Review the report for any suspicious logins or activity.
Step 6: If you identify any suspicious activity, click on the activity to access more details.
Step 7: Take note of the details of the suspicious activity, including dates, times, and any additional information available.
Step 8: Follow your organization’s procedures for reporting security incidents, which may involve contacting your IT department or security team.
Step 9: Provide all relevant information regarding the suspicious activity, including the details you noted from the report.
Step 10: Cooperate with any further investigation or actions taken by your organization’s security team.

By promptly reporting any suspicious activity, you help protect not only your own account but also the overall security of Office 365. Stay vigilant and take action if you notice anything out of the ordinary.

Step 14: Educate your team on session security

Ensuring the security of sessions in Office 365 is crucial for protecting your organization’s data and preventing unauthorized access. It is important to educate your team on best practices for session security to minimize the risk of data breaches.

Why is session security important?

All sessions in Office 365, whether accessed from a web browser or a mobile device, are potential entry points for hackers. Educating your team on session security helps create awareness about the risks and empowers them to take the necessary precautions to protect sensitive information.

Best practices for session security

Use strong and unique passwords: Encourage your team to create complex passwords that are hard to guess. They should avoid using common passwords or reusing passwords across different accounts.
Enable multi-factor authentication: Implement multi-factor authentication for all user accounts to add an extra layer of security. This requires users to provide multiple forms of verification to access their accounts.
Regularly review and revoke access: Keep track of user sessions and regularly review and revoke any unnecessary access. This helps ensure that only authorized users have access to Office 365.
Secure devices: Remind your team to secure their devices by enabling PINs, passcodes, or biometric authentication. They should also avoid leaving devices unattended or being careless with their login credentials.
Stay vigilant against phishing: Teach your team to be wary of suspicious emails or links that may lead to phishing attacks. They should be cautious about sharing sensitive information or clicking on unknown links.
Regularly update software: Keep Office 365 and all relevant software up to date to ensure you have the latest security patches and bug fixes.

By educating your team on session security and enforcing these best practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and protect your organization’s sensitive data in Office 365.

Step 15: Regularly review security best practices

Securing your office 365 sessions and all your sensitive information is crucial to protecting your organization. To ensure the highest level of security, it’s important to regularly review and update your security best practices. Here are some key security best practices to consider:

1. Enable multi-factor authentication:	Enabling multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your office 365 sessions by requiring users to provide an additional form of authentication, such as a fingerprint or a code sent to their mobile device.
2. Use strong, unique passwords:	Encourage users to create strong, unique passwords for their office 365 accounts. Passwords should be a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters, and should be changed regularly.
3. Keep software up to date:	Regularly update your office 365 software and applications to ensure that you have the latest security patches and enhancements. Out-of-date software can be vulnerable to security breaches.
4. Educate users about phishing:	Phishing attacks are a common method used by hackers to gain access to sensitive information. Educate your users about the dangers of phishing emails and how to identify and report them.
5. Limit access privileges:	Grant office 365 access privileges only to those who need it. Regularly review and update user access rights to ensure that employees have the appropriate level of access based on their roles and responsibilities.
6. Monitor and review user activity:	Implement a system to monitor user activity within office 365 sessions. Regularly review user logs and audit trails to identify any suspicious or unauthorized activity.

By regularly reviewing and updating your security best practices, you can help protect your office 365 sessions and all your sensitive information from unauthorized access and potential security breaches.

Question-answer:

Why would I need to close all sessions in Office 365?

There could be multiple reasons why one might need to close all sessions in Office 365. One common reason is when you suspect unauthorized access to your account and want to ensure that all active sessions are terminated to prevent any further unauthorized access. Another reason could be when you want to sign out from all devices and sessions after completing a task or project.

How can I close all sessions in Office 365?

To close all sessions in Office 365, you can go to the Office 365 portal, click on your profile picture or initials at the top right corner, and select the “Sign out” option. This will sign you out from the current session. To sign out from all other active sessions, you can click on “My account settings” and then select “Sign out of all other devices”. This will terminate all other active sessions across different devices.

Is closing all sessions in Office 365 permanent?

No, closing all sessions in Office 365 is not a permanent action. It simply signs you out from all active sessions at that moment. You can still sign in to your account again using your credentials, and new sessions will be created. It is important to note that closing all sessions does not change your password or security settings.

Can I close all sessions in Office 365 remotely?

Yes, you can close all sessions in Office 365 remotely. If you have access to the Office 365 admin center, you can sign in to the admin portal, go to the “Active users” section, select the user for whom you want to close sessions, and click on the “Close sessions” button. This will immediately terminate all active sessions for that user across different devices. It is a useful feature if you suspect unauthorized access or want to enforce a sign-out for a specific user.

What happens if I close all sessions in Office 365 but forget to sign out from a device?

If you close all sessions in Office 365 but forget to manually sign out from a device, that device will remain signed in to your account until you explicitly sign out. Closing sessions only terminates active sessions at the moment of action and does not force sign out from individual devices. It is recommended to manually sign out from all devices to ensure complete sign-out and prevent any unauthorized access to your account.