Solved Installing Microsoft 365 switched me to an online account

smalltalk · Apr 7, 2024

I reinstalled Windows 11 fresh a couple days ago and managed to keep my local account intact. Yesterday I installed Microsoft 365 and it went well. I already have it installed on a Windows 10 machine.

But today I noticed my account is now online. I tried some AI based suggestions to change my account back to local. But somehow my password got changed and I was locked out of my system. Fortunately I made a Hasleo backup yesterday and managed to restore it. At this moment Microsoft 365 is NOT currently installed and my account is still local.

So I'd like the guidance of this forum on installing Microsoft 365 and keeping my local account. Hopefully this is possible.

Any guidance?

Spunk · Apr 7, 2024

If your not already, you should use the Offline Installer.

Use the Office offline installer - Microsoft Support

Use the Office offline installer to install Office 2016 or Office 2013 if you don't have an active Internet connection or you're having problems with slow speed or unreliable connections.

support.microsoft.com

You have to login to the Office 365 web page with your Microsoft account to download the Offline Installer, but then you can Install it from your Local Account

Wynona · Apr 7, 2024

smalltalk said:
I reinstalled Windows 11 fresh a couple days ago and managed to keep my local account intact. Yesterday I installed Microsoft 365 and it went well. I already have it installed on a Windows 10 machine.

But today I noticed my account is now online. I tried some AI based suggestions to change my account back to local. But somehow my password got changed and I was locked out of my system. Fortunately I made a Hasleo backup yesterday and managed to restore it. At this moment Microsoft 365 is NOT currently installed and my account is still local.

So I'd like the guidance of this forum on installing Microsoft 365 and keeping my local account. Hopefully this is possible.

Any guidance?

Check to see if your subscription to Microsoft 365 has expired . . .

smalltalk · Apr 7, 2024

Wynona said:
Check to see if your subscription to Microsoft 365 has expired . . .

No, I the monthly $10 fee.

smalltalk · Apr 7, 2024

Spunk said:
If your not already, you should use the Offline Installer.

Use the Office offline installer - Microsoft Support

Use the Office offline installer to install Office 2016 or Office 2013 if you don't have an active Internet connection or you're having problems with slow speed or unreliable connections.

support.microsoft.com

You have to login to the Office 365 web page with your Microsoft account to download the Offline Installer, but then you can Install it from your Local Account

Thanks! This did the trick ... eventually. That is the website has changed and the option to download the offline installer is hard to find. But it does allow me to install 365 and keep my local account.

Why does Microsoft make this so hard to locate?

markw51 · Apr 8, 2024

smalltalk said:
Thanks! This did the trick ... eventually. That is the website has changed and the option to download the offline installer is hard to find. But it does allow me to install 365 and keep my local account.

Why does Microsoft make this so hard to locate?

I'd have thought that was obvious, they want you to use a Microsoft Account over a local one.

PGHammer · Apr 24, 2024

smalltalk said:
Thanks! This did the trick ... eventually. That is the website has changed and the option to download the offline installer is hard to find. But it does allow me to install 365 and keep my local account.

Why does Microsoft make this so hard to locate?

Security - it's relevant - do you do your taxes - or even those for others? Even if - or especially if - you use a tax software such as TurboTax, TaxCut, or even free software such as TaxSlayer - you - or the folks you do taxes for - must keep copies of those returns - that is a matter of law - speciifically the Tax Code. Microsoft accounts make the process secure and painless - that is why it matters - at least to me.