What do you need to know
- Microsoft used to have a guide on how to switch between a Microsoft account and a local account in Windows 11.
- The guide was covered by several media outlets, and many criticized Microsoft’s push to get people to use Microsoft accounts in Windows 11.
- Microsoft has since removed the guide describing the steps to switch to a local account.
- It’s still possible to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account, there’s just no instructions for that from Microsoft.
Earlier this month, Microsoft shared a tutorial on how to switch from a local account to a Microsoft account in Windows 11. The piece garnered attention across the web as it also revealed how to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account. I went so far as to say that Microsoft mistakenly stated the benefits of not using a Microsoft account in Windows 11. Maybe Redmond saw my article and other coverage because the support page no longer outlines the steps to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account.
Of course, I wasn’t the only journalist who covered the updated support page when it first appeared. As far as I can tell, Neowin was the first store to discover and write about the site. I then reported the news, as did several other outlets. Microsoft’s page on switching the type of account you’re using remains live, but it no longer lists the steps to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account. The Wayback Machine archived the page before the change.
In addition to removing the guide on how to change the type of account you use on your PC, Microsoft has removed its list of differences between a local account and a Microsoft account. The page previously read:
- A local account is created on the device that does not require an internet connection to log in. It is independent of other services and not connected to the cloud. Your settings, files, and apps are limited to this single device
- A Microsoft account, on the other hand, is associated with the 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 Microsoft’s cloud service, and your settings and files can sync across devices. You can also use it to access other Microsoft services
I argued that it sounded like pros, not cons. If you have already set up your computer, it is possible to log in to your computer without an internet connection, but an internet connection is required for the initial setup. You can switch to a local account later. Many argue that Microsoft should add a clear and obvious way to use a local account out of the box.
There are workarounds that allow you to set up your PC without a Microsoft account, but even that has become more difficult.
It looks like Microsoft has blocked a workaround that allowed you to create a local account during Windows 11 setup by entering a blocked email address. Now it just brings you back to writing on another account 🙁 pic.twitter.com/mKnHToLLQVJune 3, 2024
So Microsoft removed their tutorial on how to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account due to media pressure? That cannot be said. However, let me outline the timeline of events:
- June 12, 2024: Microsoft has updated a support document that describes how to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account.
- June 13, 2024: The guide, which appeared on Microsoft’s website, was covered by several media outlets.
- June 17, 2024: Microsoft has removed its guide on how to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account.
Regardless of the reason for removing the wizard, the process of switching to a local account in Windows 11 has not changed:
- Open up Windows 11 Settings app.
- Choose Accounts (by clicking on your profile picture).
- Choose Your information.
- Choose “Sign in with a local account instead” (in Account Settings).
Windows 11 will then guide you through the process of switching to a local account on your computer.