Can't use local account. Don't have MS account

Kingofchimps · Nov 30, 2025

Previously running Windows 10 using local accounts. I did have a Microsoft account on the machine, but it was my company's email and I am no longer employed there. (so no access)

I did an in-place upgrade and that went fine. But it only gives me option for MS login.

I can login to Safe Mode using my old local login and also the Administrator account. When I go to Settings/Accounts/Other accounts, there is no option to allow local accounts.

Any ideas?

PCUser · Nov 30, 2025

Kingofchimps said:
Previously running Windows 10 using local accounts. I did have a Microsoft account on the machine, but it was my company's email and I am no longer employed there. (so no access)

I did an in-place upgrade and that went fine. But it only gives me option for MS login.

I can login to Safe Mode using my old local login and also the Administrator account. When I go to Settings/Accounts/Other accounts, there is no option to allow local accounts.

Any ideas?

Watch this, and see if these work for you.

Pay close attention from 4:33 and on

glasskuter · Nov 30, 2025

Not knowing the legitimacy of your request, I don't feel comfortable giving you full instructions. I will only say there are available methods readily available to you on the web how to create user accounts using the command line offline.

Kingofchimps · Dec 1, 2025

The video did not help. As I said, I did inplace upgrade. So I'm at the normal login prompt, except no option to login using local account.

And that being said, how is this not legit? I don't want to hack the box, just dont want to use MS account and use my local account which works fine in Safe Mode. I already have the account so creating a new one doesn't apply.

Kingofchimps · Dec 1, 2025

Also, when you logging into Safe mode, then going to Settings /Accounts /Your info, all I see is Adjust Your Photo and Related Settings. Even logged in as Administrator.

Also created a new local account, but it still just prompts for MS account.

DTG1 · Dec 1, 2025

Its free to sign up with for a Microsoft account with a fake name but you may need an alternate email for verification or as phone number for 2fa which people use a burner phone again with a fake name.

Kingofchimps · Dec 1, 2025

Correction on original post

When at login prompt, it does state Other User, but prompt in top field says Email address or phone number. Local account does not work. And new MS account I created doesn't either since machine doesn't know about it (I guess)

garlin · Dec 1, 2025

Was this PC originally a personally owned system, or provided for your work?

The reason is it may be locked (by policy) to logon into your old company's work domain. If your e-mail account did not include the domains @hotmail.com,@msn.com, @live.com or @outlook.com in the address, then your account was a work domain account and not an actual MS Account.

A work domain may require wiping the system clean, and reinstalling Windows. In some cases, a PC may be enrolled in Autopilot and it will insist on a specific work domain account even after a clean install.

idgat · Dec 1, 2025

garlin said:
Was this PC originally a personally owned system, or provided for your work?

The reason is it may be locked (by policy) to logon into your old company's work domain.

Yep, my thoughts as well

A wipe and clean install should be an appropriate course of action, as it would be totally inappropriate to advise on how to bypass settings preventing access to a company device.

Megahertz · Dec 1, 2025

Clean Install Windows 11

This tutorial will show you step by step on how to clean install Windows 11 at boot on your PC with or without an Internet connection and setup with a local account or Microsoft account. Windows 11 has all the power and security of Windows 10 with a redesigned and refreshed look. It also comes...

www.elevenforum.com

Step 15 tell how to create a local account

Kingofchimps · Dec 1, 2025

Yes. This is my old work laptop. They allowed me to keep when I retired.

Soooo... A clean install seems to be the only way. I'm assuming all data gets wiped, correct?

Seeing how it seems to be inevitable that local accounts will go away, is there a way I can just add a MS account to my laptop in it's current state?

Appreciate the help BTW. I realize this is not a common setup.

Try3 · Dec 1, 2025

Kingofchimps said:
it seems to be inevitable that local accounts will go away

Despite how much MS push online-linked user accounts, I've never seen any indication that local user accounts will disappear.

Kingofchimps said:
is there a way I can just add a MS account to my laptop in it's current state?

Yes, but there's no telling if the current login problem will persist.
Add Microsoft Account - ElevenForumTutorials
Add Local Account - ElevenForumTutorials
For both, Change account type [Std / Admin user account] - ElevenForumTutorials

Denis

dacrone · Dec 1, 2025

Kingofchimps said:
Soooo... A clean install seems to be the only way. I'm assuming all data gets wiped, correct?

Yep. And that’s how it’s supposed to be, because it’s company data.

Hazel123 · Dec 1, 2025

Kingofchimps said:
Yes. This is my old work laptop. They allowed me to keep when I retired.

Soooo... A clean install seems to be the only way. I'm assuming all data gets wiped, correct?

Seeing how it seems to be inevitable that local accounts will go away, is there a way I can just add a MS account to my laptop in it's current state?

Appreciate the help BTW. I realize this is not a common setup.

If you back up all your files, you could just do a reset rather than a clean install from usb. It keeps everything from the Windows upgrade, and most Windows updates already installed, but you start again with the out of box experience and can set up with a local account instead by doing this:

When you get to the point where it asks you to connect to the internet, do Shift F10. Click on the command window that opens to enable typing, then type

start ms-cxh:localonly

A window opens enabling you to set up as a local account, and proceed from there.

It will remove programs and files and any settings, so you'll need to do those again, and re-add programs and files, just as if it was a clean install. But it will keep your windows 11 upgrade and basically be a new install of Windows 11.

Try3 · Dec 1, 2025

Hazel123 said:
you could just do a reset rather than a clean install from usb

Alright, but the user has to choose the option Remove everything to achieve what you describe.
Reset Windows 11 PC - ElevenForumTutorials

I used this procedure two years ago. It took 35 minutes on a very modern computer.

All the best,
Denis

Hazel123 · Dec 1, 2025

True. And my experience of selecting keep my files. is that it's completely unreliable! So yes, select remove everything! And ensure you have file backups first.

idgat · Dec 1, 2025

Kingofchimps said:
Yes. This is my old work laptop. They allowed me to keep when I retired.

And grossly irresponsible of an organisation to release a device without them doing a factory restoration/reset and/or a clean install ... both for your safety, and for their security

Absolutely no other option and/or advice other than a wipe and clean install

Kingofchimps · Dec 1, 2025

idgat said:
And grossly irresponsible of an organisation to release a device without them doing a factory restoration/reset and/or a clean install ... both for your safety, and for their security

Settle down sport. I removed all data and apps before I left.

Community of self-righteous chodes...

idgat · Dec 1, 2025

Kingofchimps said:
Settle down sport. I removed all data and apps before I left.

Absolutely no guarantee of your safety. The more I think about this the more I'm concerned about your liability. Seriously, if it were me, I'd be removing the company installed drive, handing it back to them and using a new blank drive to do a clean install (the Windows license is "embedded" with the device so a clean install is feasible)**

**EDIT
Unless of course it's a corporate license tied to a MS account ... this is getting more and more messy every time I think about it

With all due respect, and no offence intended, the fact that you're having difficulties (re)configuring this device suggests a level of inexperience that doesn't support any guarantee all relevant software was removed.

Down to you, eh?

dacrone · Dec 1, 2025

Kingofchimps said:
Community of self-righteous chodes...

and yet, here you are… pleading for help. good luck, boy genius.

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