Added a Local Account as Described herein... is it really a different local account?

I purchased a new laptop with Windows 11 Home, now running 25H2. I first set it up using an existing Microsoft Account and as an Administrator. I then read that I could add a local account, so I followed the procedure below, and it seemed to work. Then today it appeared that I was signed in with the Microsoft Account and I couldn't find the local account. Does this procedure create a truly separate local account, or is something else happening? Am I "switching to" a local account that isn't really separate?

When signed in as a Microsoft Account:
1. Open the Accounts option, go to the Sign-in options, and check if you have PIN/Password enabled.
2. Open "Your Info" click on "Sign in with local account instead" Note that this option only appears if signed in to the Microsoft Account using a password, it does not appear if you're currently signed in using a PIN.
3. Provide your PIN/Password and click next.
4. Create a new password for the local user account.
5. Sign out and login with the new password.

When I then go under Settings > Home I see the Local Account name, and "Local Account" in the upper left corner. If I click "Accounts" I see the same detail.

If I select "Switch User" under the Shutdown menu, I am only presented with the Local Account, the Microsoft Account doesn't show up as an option. I can use either the PIN or the password to sign in under the local account.

Under Settings > Home I also see a Box that says "It's all here with a Microsoft Account" and a button showing Office applications and a button that says "Sign In". If I sign in using the Microsoft Account, the user in the upper left displays my Microsoft Account info, and under Accounts, I see the Microsoft Account info.

So do I really have a unique and separate local account, or is it one account that can behave like either a local account or Microsoft account?

In File Explorer, under Users, I only see one user folder (other than default and public). I see no sign of the local account.

Longs2517 said:

If I select "Switch User" under the Shutdown menu, I am only presented with the Local Account, the Microsoft Account doesn't show up as an option. I can use either the PIN or the password to sign in under the local account.

Click to expand...

When you're ON the MS account, the switch user option, can only show the only other account you have, the Local one.
Try "Sign out" instead of switch user.

Longs2517 said:

When signed in as a Microsoft Account:
1. Open the Accounts option, go to the Sign-in options, and check if you have PIN/Password enabled.
2. Open "Your Info" click on "Sign in with local account instead" Note that this option only appears if signed in to the Microsoft Account using a password, it does not appear if you're currently signed in using a PIN.
3. Provide your PIN/Password and click next.
4. Create a new password for the local user account.
5. Sign out and login with the new password.

Click to expand...

You went through the procedure to change the sign in method from using a Microsoft Account to a Local Account (point 2.), so it is the same Account.

You did not create a New Account so obviously there is nothing to switch to, or another account to sign in to.

Know this. When switching from a MS account to a local account and your MS account had been syncing to Onedrive, any files you had in that MS account remain in the cloud. They do not automatically transfer to your local account user folders. Anything stored in OneDrive stays tied to your Microsoft account, not your local user account.

You can still access your OneDrive files via the web (onedrive.live.com).

Helmut said:

You went through the procedure to change the sign in method from using a Microsoft Account to a Local Account (point 2.), so it is the same Account.

You did not create a New Account so obviously there is nothing to switch to, or another account to sign in to.

Click to expand...

So based on the above, if Microsoft sees it as a single account, is there really any benefit to using the "Local" account versus the Microsoft account?

Longs2517 said:

So based on the above, if Microsoft sees it as a single account, is there really any benefit to using the "Local" account versus the Microsoft account?

Click to expand...

Since I don't use OneDrive, the biggest benefit for me is that, with a local account, OneDrive does not run automatically. I don't have to unlink the PC or otherwise undo anything related to OneDrive.

Longs2517 said:

I first set it up using an existing Microsoft Account and as an Administrator. I then read that I could add a local account, so I followed the procedure below, and it seemed to work.....

2. Open "Your Info" click on "Sign in with local account instead"

Click to expand...

You did not create a new account, what you did was switch your existing account from being a Microsoft account to a Local account. It's still the same account, just the way you sign into it has changed. It's easy to switch back and forth (sometimes without realising you've switched back to an MS account).

Switch to Microsoft Account from Local Account in Windows 11
Switch to Local Account from Microsoft Account in Windows 11

Longs2517 said:

So based on the above, if Microsoft sees it as a single account, is there really any benefit to using the "Local" account versus the Microsoft account?

Click to expand...

I prefer a local account to a Microsoft account. It avoids complications if you ever get locked out of your MS account.

It is quite possible to keep a local account and still get the benefits of your MS Account, automatic sign in to OneDrive, for example. You just need your MS account added as an account that other apps can use.



And as an added precaution against getting locked out, I like to create a second Local account and make it an administrator.

Longs2517 said:

So based on the above, if Microsoft sees it as a single account, is there really any benefit to using the "Local" account versus the Microsoft account?

Click to expand...

Depends on how you work.

I have different MS Accounts for different purposes, so I sign in to a specific Account for a specific purpose/facility/importance. With one MS facility I use a Google account.
I use OneDrive but only manually, syncing is Off.

I went ahead and created a separate local account and set it as an administrator as "insurance". Thanks to everyone for the feedback!