What you need to know
- A Microsoft support document now lists the steps on how to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account in Windows 11.
- The support page does not include a brief guide or information on how to switch account types.
- Microsoft pushes Microsoft accounts to Windows 11 and recommends them over local accounts.
- The process of switching from a Microsoft account to a local account has not changed; only the support document with the guide has changed in the past month.
Microsoft brought back its guide on how to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account in Windows 11 recently. Last month, the tech giant updated a support page with steps on how to switch to a local account, only to remove that guide. Microsoft has since updated the guide and added some helpful tips for those who want to use a local account in Windows 11.
The official line from Microsoft is that a Microsoft account is recommended over a local account in Windows 11.Important: Microsoft recommends using a Microsoft account, not a local account, when signing in to Windows,” the support document states. “Using a Microsoft account in Windows allows for seamless integration of Microsoft services, improved security, and synchronization between devices , unlike the local ones. account.”
But in its efforts to convince people to use a Microsoft account, the company accidentally listed several reasons why a local account might be preferable:
- A local account is created on the device and does not require an internet connection to log in. It is independent from other services and is not connected to the cloud. Your settings, files, and apps are limited to that single device
- A Microsoft account, on the other hand, is associated with an email address and password you use with Outlook.com, Hotmail, Office, OneDrive, Skype, Xbox, and Windows. When you sign in to your computer with a Microsoft account, you’re connected to a Microsoft cloud service, and your settings and files can be synced across devices. You can also use it to access other Microsoft services
The above items were removed from the support page temporarily, as was the guide on how to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account. It’s unclear why Microsoft went so far as to include information about switching to a local account in Windows 11. There’s a chance that the support document was just patchily updated, causing some content to be removed for a short time. .
Using a Microsoft account in Windows 11 has benefits, such as syncing settings and files across devices. Backing up your system is even easier by setting up a Microsoft account. If you’re in the Microsoft ecosystem, you’ll generally have a better computing experience using a Microsoft account in Windows 11.
While these benefits are real, they don’t apply to everyone. Some people prefer to have their computer strictly local. They don’t want to sync content across devices or back up their settings. Others don’t want to integrate their workflow with the Microsoft ecosystem. For those users, a local account may be the preferred option.
Microsoft has changed its support page several times regarding local accounts in Windows 11, but the process to switch to a local account has remained the same throughout:
- pill Windows 11 Settings app.
- Select calculation (by clicking your profile picture).
- Select Your information.
- Select “Sign in with a local account in the country” (under Account Settings).
After following these steps, your computer will guide you through the process, so you just have to follow the instructions that appear on your screen.
It looks like Microsoft has blocked the bypass that allowed you to create a local account during Windows 11 setup by typing in a blocked email address. Now it just sends you back to write to another account 🙁 pic.twitter.com/mKnHToLLQVJune 3, 2024
Microsoft has been pushing people to use Microsoft accounts in Windows 11 more and more over the past few years. It is possible to use a local account in Windows 11, but in most cases, you must first set up a PC with a Microsoft account and then switch to a local account. Our guide on how to set up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account includes workarounds that eliminate the need to ever create a Microsoft account, but those have become rarer.
There used to be a bypass method that involved using a blocked email address that would allow you to set up a computer without a Microsoft account. Microsoft has since blocked that bypass. Another method that requires using the Command Prompt still seems to work.