What you need to know
- Microsoft previously had instructions on how to switch between a Microsoft account and a local account on Windows 11.
- Several media outlets reported on the guide, and many criticized Microsoft’s push to get people to use Microsoft accounts on Windows 11.
- Microsoft has now removed the instructions with the steps to switch to a local account.
- It is still possible to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account, but there are no instructions from Microsoft for doing so.
Earlier this month, Microsoft published a guide on how to switch from a local account to a Microsoft account on Windows 11. This article attracted attention online because it also included the guide on how to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account. I even went as far as to say that Microsoft accidentally listed the benefits of not using a Microsoft account on Windows 11. Maybe I read my article and other reports in Redmond because the support page no longer describes the steps to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account.
Of course, I wasn’t the only journalist to report on the updated support page when it first appeared. As far as I know, Neowin was the first outlet to discover the page and write about it. I then reported the news, as did several other outlets. Microsoft’s page for switching the type of account you use remains active, 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.
Not only has Microsoft removed the instructions for switching the account type on your PC, but it has also removed the list of differences between a local account and a Microsoft account. The page previously stated:
- 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 applications are limited to this single device.
- A Microsoft account, on the other hand, is linked to an email address and password that you use with Outlook.com, Hotmail, Office, OneDrive, Skype, Xbox, and Windows. When you sign in to your PC 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
I’ve argued that these sound like advantages, not disadvantages. It is possible to log into your PC without an internet connection if you’ve already set up your computer, but an internet connection is required for the initial out-of-box experience. You can then switch to a local account later. Many argue that Microsoft should add a clear and obvious way to use a local account during the out-of-box experience.
There are workarounds that allow you to set up a PC without a Microsoft account, but even that has become more difficult.
It looks like Microsoft blocked the bypass that allowed you to create a local account during Windows 11 setup by entering a blocked email address. Now you’re just redirected back and have to enter a different account đ pic.twitter.com/mKnHToLLQVJune 3, 2024
So, did Microsoft remove its guide on how to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account due to media pressure? It’s hard to say. But let me outline a chronology 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: Several media outlets reported on the guide, which appeared on Microsoftâs website.
- June 17, 2024: Microsoft has removed its instructions for switching from a Microsoft account to a local account.
Regardless of the reason for removing the guide, the process of switching to a local account on Windows 11 has not changed:
- Open the Windows 11 Settings app.
- Choose Accounts (by clicking on your profile picture).
- Choose your data.
- Choose âSign in with a local account insteadâ (under Account Settings).
Windows 11 will then guide you through the process of switching to a local account on your PC.