Questions
- I was invited to Bowdoin's Claude Team — what should I choose?
- Should I keep my personal Claude account or switch to the Bowdoin Team account?
- What's the difference between "Keep both accounts" and "Use your organization account only"?
- Can I use one Claude login for both my personal and my Bowdoin work?
- Will I lose my chats and projects if I switch to the Team account?
- How do I switch between my personal account and my Bowdoin account?
- I ignored the invite prompt — can I still choose later?
- Which option does Bowdoin IT recommend?
Environment
This article applies when you accept an invitation to Bowdoin's Claude Team organization using your Bowdoin email.
- Who: Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students who already have — or may have — a personal Claude account (Free, Pro, or Max) on their Bowdoin email address.
- What: The one-time choice Claude presents when you join the Team, and how to change it afterward.
- Not in scope: What actually moves and what happens to a paid subscription during migration — that is covered in the companion article linked below.
Resolution
Your two options
When you accept the Team invite, Claude asks how to handle any personal account on the same email:
- Keep both accounts: Your personal account stays active alongside your Bowdoin account. You switch between them from your account menu.
- Use your organization account only: Your personal account closes. You then choose whether to bring your data into the Bowdoin workspace or start fresh.
Bowdoin's recommendation: For work you do as a member of the College, switch to the Bowdoin Team account. Team accounts keep your Bowdoin work in the College's managed workspace, with the data protections and support that come with it. Keep a separate personal account only for genuinely personal use.
How to make the choice
- Accept the invitation email to join Bowdoin's Claude Team.
- When prompted, select Use your organization account only to move to the Team account (recommended), or Keep both accounts to keep them separate.
- If you don't decide right away, a reminder banner appears for about seven days. You can also start the switch anytime from Settings > Account > Close your personal account.
Start from your Bowdoin account. The Close your personal account option only appears when you're signed in to the organization account. If you're in your personal account, click your initials in the lower-left corner and switch to Bowdoin first.
Moving your work in is one-way. Once content is migrated into the Bowdoin Team workspace, it cannot be moved back to a personal account. Be sure before you migrate.
Switching between accounts (if you keep both)
Click your initials or name in the lower-left corner. A blue checkmark shows the account you're currently using; click the other account to switch. Each account has its own separate conversations and projects.
Subscribed through the Apple App Store? If your personal Pro or Max plan was purchased in the Apple App Store, Keep both accounts is your only option at the prompt. To move your work into the Team, cancel the iOS subscription in your Apple ID settings first, then start the migration. See the companion article below.
Additional Help
If you need further assistance, you have several options:
- Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
- Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
- In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
- Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.
Additional Resources
AI-assisted content: This article was drafted with the assistance of an AI writing tool and reviewed by Bowdoin IT staff for accuracy.