diff --git a/src/Lifecycle.ts b/src/Lifecycle.ts
index 273b2eeb107..c1559886b47 100644
--- a/src/Lifecycle.ts
+++ b/src/Lifecycle.ts
@@ -701,6 +701,43 @@ export async function setLoggedIn(credentials: IMatrixClientCreds): Promise<Matr
     return doSetLoggedIn(credentials, true, true);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Hydrates an existing session by using the credentials provided. This will
+ * not clear any local storage, unlike setLoggedIn().
+ *
+ * Stops the existing Matrix client (without clearing its data) and starts a
+ * new one in its place. This additionally starts all other react-sdk services
+ * which use the new Matrix client.
+ *
+ * If the credentials belong to a different user from the session already stored,
+ * the old session will be cleared automatically.
+ *
+ * @param {IMatrixClientCreds} credentials The credentials to use
+ *
+ * @returns {Promise} promise which resolves to the new MatrixClient once it has been started
+ */
+export async function hydrateSession(credentials: IMatrixClientCreds): Promise<MatrixClient> {
+    const oldUserId = MatrixClientPeg.safeGet().getUserId();
+    const oldDeviceId = MatrixClientPeg.safeGet().getDeviceId();
+
+    stopMatrixClient(); // unsets MatrixClientPeg.get()
+    localStorage.removeItem("mx_soft_logout");
+    _isLoggingOut = false;
+
+    const overwrite = credentials.userId !== oldUserId || credentials.deviceId !== oldDeviceId;
+    if (overwrite) {
+        logger.warn("Clearing all data: Old session belongs to a different user/session");
+    }
+
+    if (!credentials.pickleKey && credentials.deviceId !== undefined) {
+        logger.info("Lifecycle#hydrateSession: Pickle key not provided - trying to get one");
+        credentials.pickleKey =
+            (await PlatformPeg.get()?.getPickleKey(credentials.userId, credentials.deviceId)) ?? undefined;
+    }
+
+    return doSetLoggedIn(credentials, overwrite, false);
+}
+
 /**
  * When we have a authenticated via OIDC-native flow and have a refresh token
  * try to create a token refresher.
diff --git a/src/components/structures/auth/SoftLogout.tsx b/src/components/structures/auth/SoftLogout.tsx
index 7ebcc7af6a4..68fe65aedc2 100644
--- a/src/components/structures/auth/SoftLogout.tsx
+++ b/src/components/structures/auth/SoftLogout.tsx
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ export default class SoftLogout extends React.Component<IProps, IState> {
             return;
         }
 
-        Lifecycle.setLoggedIn(credentials).catch((e) => {
+        Lifecycle.hydrateSession(credentials).catch((e) => {
             logger.error(e);
             this.setState({ busy: false, errorText: _t("auth|failed_soft_logout_auth") });
         });
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ export default class SoftLogout extends React.Component<IProps, IState> {
             return false;
         }
 
-        return Lifecycle.setLoggedIn(credentials)
+        return Lifecycle.hydrateSession(credentials)
             .then(() => {
                 if (this.props.onTokenLoginCompleted) {
                     this.props.onTokenLoginCompleted();
diff --git a/test/unit-tests/Lifecycle-test.ts b/test/unit-tests/Lifecycle-test.ts
index 62a93b6d388..97ab3c61098 100644
--- a/test/unit-tests/Lifecycle-test.ts
+++ b/test/unit-tests/Lifecycle-test.ts
@@ -38,6 +38,12 @@ const webCrypto = new Crypto();
 const windowCrypto = window.crypto;
 
 describe("Lifecycle", () => {
+    const homeserverUrl = "https://domain";
+    const identityServerUrl = "https://is.org";
+    const userId = "@alice:domain";
+    const deviceId = "abc123";
+    const accessToken = "test-access-token";
+
     let mockPlatform: MockedObject<BasePlatform>;
 
     const realLocalStorage = global.localStorage;
@@ -53,7 +59,7 @@ describe("Lifecycle", () => {
             removeAllListeners: jest.fn(),
             clearStores: jest.fn(),
             getAccountData: jest.fn(),
-            getDeviceId: jest.fn(),
+            getDeviceId: jest.fn().mockReturnValue(deviceId),
             isVersionSupported: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(true),
             getCrypto: jest.fn(),
             getClientWellKnown: jest.fn(),
@@ -156,11 +162,6 @@ describe("Lifecycle", () => {
             });
     };
 
-    const homeserverUrl = "https://server.org";
-    const identityServerUrl = "https://is.org";
-    const userId = "@alice:server.org";
-    const deviceId = "abc123";
-    const accessToken = "test-access-token";
     const localStorageSession = {
         mx_hs_url: homeserverUrl,
         mx_is_url: identityServerUrl,
@@ -605,6 +606,38 @@ describe("Lifecycle", () => {
             expect(MatrixClientPeg.start).toHaveBeenCalled();
         });
 
+        describe("after a soft-logout", () => {
+            beforeEach(async () => {
+                await setLoggedIn(credentials);
+                localStorage.setItem("mx_soft_logout", "true");
+            });
+
+            it("should not clear the storage if device is the same", async () => {
+                await Lifecycle.hydrateSession(credentials);
+
+                expect(localStorage.removeItem).toHaveBeenCalledWith("mx_soft_logout");
+                expect(mockClient.getUserId).toHaveReturnedWith(userId);
+                expect(mockClient.getDeviceId).toHaveReturnedWith(deviceId);
+                expect(mockClient.clearStores).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+            });
+
+            it("should clear the storage if device is not the same", async () => {
+                const fakeCredentials = {
+                    homeserverUrl,
+                    identityServerUrl,
+                    userId: "@bob:domain",
+                    deviceId,
+                    accessToken,
+                };
+                await Lifecycle.hydrateSession(fakeCredentials);
+
+                expect(localStorage.removeItem).toHaveBeenCalledWith("mx_soft_logout");
+                expect(mockClient.getUserId).toHaveReturnedWith(userId);
+                expect(mockClient.getDeviceId).toHaveReturnedWith(deviceId);
+                expect(mockClient.clearStores).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+            });
+        });
+
         describe("without a pickle key", () => {
             beforeEach(() => {
                 jest.spyOn(mockPlatform, "createPickleKey").mockResolvedValue(null);