Logging into Microsoft on new Windows 11 PC

I just got a new Windows 11 PC and I'm unable to sign in to Microsoft Account in Account Settings, it just lists me as the 'Owner Local Account Administrator'. However I am able to login to my online Microsoft Account. I still have my old PC going so I can copy things to my new computer and it does have me logged in with my name.

Probably a simple thing but I can't figure it out. Any suggestions?

In the Account settings there should be an option to log into your Microsoft account. Have you tried that?

Is there is a reason you want to log into your Microsoft account? I haven't found a good reason to. Note I do log into my Microsoft account for other Windows functions like Microsoft Office, Sticky Notes, and the Microsoft Store. However, this is totally separate from the Windows login.

Yes thats where i have been trying to login but it won’t take the login credentials i use to login online to my account.

The main reason is i use Blue Iris to manage my ip cameras and it has an option to add Blue Iris as a startup option to Windows. This requires an administrator login which I’m unable to do and which i did have set up to do on my old computer.

Totally confusing to me. Screenshots would be helpful so we can see what you do

mccoady said:

Yes thats where i have been trying to login but it won’t take the login credentials i use to login online to my account.

The main reason is i use Blue Iris to manage my ip cameras and it has an option to add Blue Iris as a startup option to Windows. This requires an administrator login which I’m unable to do and which i did have set up to do on my old computer.

Click to expand...

I have several Microsoft accounts but only one that I consider as my main one. The main one is what I use when I have logged into Windows 10 or 11 sometimes. Note this main Microsoft account is not in any way tied to any of my PCs since they were set up with local accounts. I am just saying that if you set up a PC with a local account it doesn't make any difference which Microsoft account you log in as long as it is your account and is a valid one.

When you first set up a PC with Windows it asks you to create at least one account. This account is always type Administrator. Any additional accounts can be either of type Administrator or Standard User. What type is your choice since you have an Administrator account by default. Note every Windows installation also has a built-in account named Administrator with type Administrator. You don't normally see this account because it is hidden by default.

Now to get to your question...If you have the only account on your computer then you do have a account of type Administrator. I don't understand what the question is. Are you logging in with another account which is type Standard User?

You keep comparing your old computer with your new one. I hope you are not just copying programs from your old computer to your new one. If so then that will sometimes confuse things. If that is the case then you need to reinstall these programs to solve any problems like that.

Hey sorry guys to post and disappear but had an issue come up yesterday but thanks for the replies.

From my snapshot you can see where I was trying to Sign in and when I tried logging in, it kept saying the password was wrong. On the other hand I can Sign in to my online Microsoft account. Oh well.

MisterEd you mentioned it really wasn't necessary to Sign in to Microsoft in Settings > Account so I won't.

I was able to get around the Blue Iris option to run as a Windows service by using netplwiz (Googled) and reset my password. I purchased this from a store that did custom builds so they installed Windows 11 and did all the updates. Still trying to get my head around Windows 11 as it seems so different from 10.

I really appreciate the help and sorry again for the delay in responding!

On my computers with Windows 10 and 11 I have both PINs and passwords. I use PINs most of the time because it is faster to log in with these. It is important to remember the passwords because you never know when it will be needed.

You might want to create another account of type Administrator. If for some reason you are locked out of your main account you can log into your 2nd account. Once you do that you can reset the password on your main account.

Another option is to enable the build-in administrator account which is also of type Administrator. It is hidden by default. You can do the following at the Command Prompt (Run as Administrator).

To enable built-in administrator account:
net user administrator /active:yes

To disable built-in administrator account:
net user administrator /active:no

Thanks MisterEd I just setup a PIN!