Can't sign in online to my Microsoft account if my computer is logged into a local account

I used to be able to access my Microsoft account online with my Microsoft credentials when my computer was logged in with a local account. Apparently Microsoft no longer likes that and requires the computer to be logged into your Microsoft account. I am on W11 24H2.

JohnD

have you tried putting your email address into accounts
settings > accounts > Email & accounts

best of luck, Steve ..

Thanks for your reply,

That setting only allows adding a Microsoft account, or a work or school account. Since my local account is already set up, I don't know what trying to add it to the email accounts will do. It is no big deal. Microsoft is really getting sticky. I just have to switch accounts when I need to go to my Microsoft account online.

JohnD

I recently updated an old computer that we have at our vacations house in Crete running Windows 11 23H2 (old CPU without SSE4.2). After all the updates were installed I noticed that I had to enter my Microsoft Account again to access Microsoft Mahjong and other Store games. I tried to login, but it would not accept my password, for some reason. However, I was offered to receive a temporary confirmation code in my e-mail (the one used in my Microsoft account) and could verify my identity and login using the temporary code. Probably you can also use a temporary code to unlock your account. Once you unlock it, your credentials are saved locally and you can access Microsoft Store and any game or app without having to login again. This also works for new devices that didn't have your Microsoft account before.

I have no problem accessing my Microsoft account info online as log as my computer is logged into my Microsoft account. When I got my computer a couple of years ago, I set the M-Store to stay signed in so I can access that regardless of what account my computer is logged into (at least as of now). Don't know if they will change that in the future.

JohnD

I use a local account in many computer where I also use my Microsoft account to play games. I never had any issue apart for having to sing in again at list once in each and my password wasn't always accepted. No big deal, I just used a temporary confirmation code. If you had used your Microsoft account in one local user but then you created another, you might have to sign in to Microsoft Store again with your Microsoft account before you can use your games and apps. Once I could not sign in, so I signed out, removed my Microsoft account from Settings and then singed in again. This worked.

This is what I do...

If you are talking strictly just about accessing your Microsoft Account settings online, where is it exactly that you are going to do that? I go to login.live.com. That allows me to manage my Microsoft account online even though I only have a local account on my PC.

For everything else I start with only a local account on my PC. Then I open the Microsoft Store app, and I sign in using my Microsoft account. It will then ask me if I want to use that account everywhere but there is also an option that says use for Microsoft apps only. And forgive me, the wording might be slightly different. I'm just doing this by memory here.

I use a Local Account throughout Windows 8.1 to Windows 11 and have no problem signing in to Microsoft Accounts, more than one of those.

They have put more security hoops to jump through, sure, but it is still possible.
Some things have a skip link e.g. for such things as fingerprint, my laptops have no such hardware.
I use an alternative Email address for verification codes, they demand that in some areas of your Microsoft Account.

Control Panel > Credential Manager > Windows Credentials

You may have to delete some entries in there related to Microsoft Accounts. Seems to be 2 entries at least for each Microsoft Account.

The point of this is to get rid of possible wrong entries and they will subsequently be re-generated.

I never sign in to MS Store unless you have to for certain Apps, no need to do so for updates.

John,

What happens when you try?


Denis

Try3 said:

John,

What happens when you try?


Denis

Click to expand...

Nothing if you are careful not to convert your local account to Microsoft account. If you by accident convert it, you may enable OneDrive storing your data instead of your user folder and other nuisances. It can be fixed by re-converting it to a local account and disabling OneDrive and other Microsoft services you don't need. Microsoft Office also claims to offer "more features" if you login, but I never needed anything that cannot be done unless I login.