What do you need to know
- A Microsoft support document now provides steps to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account in Windows 11.
- The support page briefly lacked a guide or information on how to switch account types.
- Microsoft is pushing Microsoft accounts to Windows 11 and recommending 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 last month.
Microsoft recently brought back its guide on how to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account in Windows 11. Last month, the tech giant updated its support page with steps on how to switch to a local account, only to remove the guide. Microsoft has since updated the guide and added some helpful advice for those looking 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 reads. account.”
But in its effort to convince people to use a Microsoft account, the company mistakenly cited several reasons why a local account might be preferred:
- 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
The above points have been temporarily removed from the support page, as well as instructions on how to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account. It’s unclear why Microsoft included information about switching to a local account in Windows 11 back and forth. There’s a chance that the support document was simply updated in a staggered fashion, resulting in some content being left out for a short period of time.
Using a Microsoft account in Windows 11 has benefits such as syncing settings and files between devices. Backing up your system is easier if you set up a Microsoft account. If you’re in the Microsoft ecosystem, you’ll generally have a better PC experience with a Microsoft account in Windows 11.
While these benefits are real, they don’t apply to everyone. Some people prefer to keep their computer purely local. They don’t want to sync content between devices or back up their settings. Others don’t want to integrate their workflow with the Microsoft ecosystem. For these 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 of switching to a local account has remained the same throughout:
- 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).
After completing these steps, your computer will guide you through the process, so just follow the on-screen instructions.
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
Over the past few years, Microsoft has been increasingly pushing people to use Microsoft accounts in Windows 11. It is possible to use a local account in Windows 11, but in most cases you need to set up a computer with a Microsoft account first and then switch to a local account. Our guide to setting up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account includes workarounds that eliminate the need to constantly create a Microsoft account, but these are becoming increasingly rare.
There used to be a workaround that involved using a blocked email address that allowed you to set up a PC without a Microsoft account. Microsoft has since blocked this bypass. Another method that requires using the command line still seems to work.