couldn't find work or school account

If you're encountering a message that Outlook couldn't find a work or school account on a new PC, it may be due to the fact that Outlook is primarily designed to connect with a work or school account when installed in certain environments. Since you mentioned that this is a personal/private account and not connected to any business or school, you can try the following steps:

1. Sign Out and Sign In Again: Open Outlook, go to your account settings, and sign out. Then, sign back in using your personal Microsoft account credentials.
2. Check for Updates: Ensure that your Microsoft 365 apps are up to date. You can do this by opening any Office app, going to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now.
3. Use the Microsoft 365 Sign-in Troubleshooter: This tool can help resolve sign-in issues. You can find it in the Get Help app or by searching for the Microsoft 365 sign-in troubleshooter online.
4. Reinstall Office: If the issue persists, consider uninstalling and then reinstalling the Microsoft 365 apps to ensure that the installation is correct and complete.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, you may need to contact Microsoft support for further assistance.

References:

• Microsoft 365 Apps activation error: "That Microsoft account doesn't exist. Enter a different account or get a new one."
• Microsoft 365 apps activation error "Another account from your organization is already signed in on this computer"

Dear Larie Trippet

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A Community. I understand you are having a problem with opening Outlook on your new PC using a personal account. I am happy to assist you. 

Why this happens:  The New Outlook for Windows is designed primarily for Microsoft 365 work or school accounts, but it also supports personal accounts (Outlook.com, Hotmail.com, Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud). If you see “couldn’t find a work or school account” and no option for a personal account, it means the app is defaulting to organizational sign-in. 

Please kindly :  

• Switch Back to Classic Outlook 
  • Open New Outlook and toggle off “Try the new Outlook” in the top-right corner. 
  • This will reopen Classic Outlook, which fully supports personal accounts. 
  • Guide: Toggle out of the new Outlook for Windows. 
• Run Both Versions Side-by-Side 
  • You can keep Classic Outlook and New Outlook installed and switch between them. 
  • Guide: Run new Outlook and classic Outlook side-by-side. 
• Add Your Personal Account in New Outlook 
  • In New Outlook, go to Settings > Accounts > Add Account and add your Outlook.com or other personal account. 
  • Guide: Getting started with the new Outlook for Windows. 
• Feature Differences 
  • Some features in Classic Outlook are not yet available in New Outlook. If you rely on those, stay with Classic Outlook. 
  • See : Feature comparison between new Outlook and classic Outlook - Microsoft Support 

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Hi Larie Trippet

It has been a while and I am writing to see how things are going with this issue. Have you had a chance to check the replies provided? Any update would be appreciated.  

Warm Regards

See my reply to Alice. Problem solved by using Outlook Classic.