Microsoft explains why it wants you to switch to Microsoft account from Local account

Wolfzz · Jun 13, 2024

Microsoft explains why it wants you to switch to Microsoft account from Local account

Microsoft recently published its own guide on how to switch from a local to a Microsoft Account on a Windows PC. The company has now posted the opposite, though it explains why it still recommends MSA

www.neowin.net

Wisewiz · Jun 13, 2024

"A Microsoft account, on the other hand, is associated to an email address and password that you use with Outlook.com, Hotmail, Office, OneDrive, Skype, Xbox, and Windows."

Well, MS, I don't use Outlook.com, don't use Hotmail, don't use Office, don't use OneDrive (and never will), don't use Skype, don't use Xbox, and don't want the settings and files of my office computers synched unless I sync them. So p*ss off, MS!

andrew129260 · Jun 13, 2024

For laptops you do get better security by using a microsoft account vs a local. It makes the machine much harder to get into if stolen as the password can't easily be reset. Especially combined with bitlocker and a bios password.

But most people would probably be fine with a local account.

A microsoft account doesn't benefit much unless your all up in that microsoft ecosystem, which many are not.

Dwarfr66 · Jun 13, 2024

Wisewiz said:
"A Microsoft account, on the other hand, is associated to an email address and password that you use with Outlook.com, Hotmail, Office, OneDrive, Skype, Xbox, and Windows."

Well, MS, I don't use Outlook.com, don't use Hotmail, don't use Office, don't use OneDrive (and never will), don't use Skype, don't use Xbox, and don't want the settings and files of my office computers synched unless I sync them. So p*ss off, MS!

Exactly the same as me.

Berton · Jun 13, 2024

Wisewiz said:
"A Microsoft account, on the other hand, is associated to an email address and password that you use with Outlook.com, Hotmail, Office, OneDrive, Skype, Xbox, and Windows."

Well, MS, I don't use Outlook.com, don't use Hotmail, don't use Office, don't use OneDrive (and never will), don't use Skype, don't use Xbox, and don't want the settings and files of my office computers synched unless I sync them. So p*ss off, MS!

T'were it me I'd post that in the Feedback Hub, in F on the Start, All apps list.

Wisewiz · Jun 13, 2024

Yahbut, Berton, you gotta log in to a MSA to use the feedback hub. So no.

NormanF · Jun 13, 2024

I've a personal account and a work/school account.

If you run a Microsoft product, you'll need one.

Bree · Jun 13, 2024

Microsoft said:
When you sign in to your PC with a Microsoft account, you’re connected to a Microsoft cloud service, and your settings and files can sync across various devices. You can also use it to access other Microsoft services...

Wisewiz said:
Well, MS, I don't use Outlook.com, don't use Hotmail, don't use Office, don't use OneDrive (and never will)....

andrew129260 said:
For laptops you do get better security by using a microsoft account vs a local. It makes the machine much harder to get into if stolen as the password can't easily be reset. Especially combined with bitlocker and a bios password.

That is true. It's easy to reset the password for a local account, but not so for a Microsoft account - I know, I tried (and gave up) on a Win8 PC for my cousin when her husband had passed away. Ended up creating a new local account instead....

andrew129260 said:
But most people would probably be fine with a local account.

A microsoft account doesn't benefit much unless your all up in that microsoft ecosystem, which many are not.

NormanF said:
If you run a Microsoft product, you'll need one.

I have seamless access to all the services Microsoft provide with my local account. You do know you can add your MS account just for other apps to use?

Ghot · Jun 13, 2024

If MS pays me $1000, I'll use an MS account just until the check clears.
Then I'll switch back to a local account.

pparks1 · Jun 13, 2024

I like the wording on the article that says, Microsoft "recommends" using a microsoft account. Seems like they are trying more and more to force the account versus just recommending it.

While I still am using a local account on my PC, I do have Office 365 and I make use of OneDrive. I just have my Microsoft account connected on my local account. I do typically use my Microsoft account on my virtual machines...but I actually have a testing account that I use for that, just so i can try out some wacky stuff to see how it works.

pparks1 · Jun 13, 2024

Bree said:
I have seamless access to all the services Microsoft provide with my local account. You do know you can add your MS account just for other apps to use?

View attachment 99108

Yeah, that's exactly what I do as well.

Brink · Jun 13, 2024

Switch to Microsoft Account from Local Account in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to switch to a Microsoft account from a local account to sign in to Windows 11 with instead. You can sign in to Windows 11 with a local account or a Microsoft account. However, you can easily switch between using a local account or a Microsoft account to sign in...

www.elevenforum.com

Switch to Local Account from Microsoft Account in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to switch to a local account from a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 11 with instead. You can sign in to Windows 11 with a local account or a Microsoft account. However, you can easily switch between using a local account or a Microsoft account to sign in...

www.elevenforum.com

larc919 · Jun 14, 2024

All my computers are on a single Microsoft account. They are rigged to log in automatically. This arrangement has never caused me any problems. It has helped a couple of times when a Microsoft phone tech has been able to "see" my setup and guide me through some rather "unconventional" solutions to activation problems. So, it's overall been a positive for me. I used only local signins years ago, but don't plan on going back to them.

BobOmb · Jun 14, 2024

larc919 said:
All my computers are on a single Microsoft account. They are rigged to log in automatically. This arrangement has never caused me any problems. It has helped a couple of times when a Microsoft phone tech has been able to "see" my setup and guide me through some rather "unconventional" solutions to activation problems. So, it's overall been a positive for me. I used only local signins years ago, but don't plan on going back to them.

what happens if someone remotely enters your email address for login creds and locks your account from across the planet?

steveg · Jun 14, 2024

Yea, I don't use anything MS provides other than Windows. If I were forced to use a MS account I'd probably start looking at Linux (Ubuntu, Mint, etc.) a lot closer and likely switch.

larc919 · Jun 14, 2024

BobOmb said:
what happens if someone remotely enters your email address for login creds and locks your account from across the planet?

That convoluted email address is used only for my Microsoft account, never for anything else. There's also an equally convoluted and long password.

britgeezer · Jun 14, 2024

I'm an old guy.
I use a MS account. Office 365, Hotmail and several things that make OneDrive useful on the 2 PC's and 1 LT I use.

There are caveats:
My monitors are not the same size and despite me telling OneDrive not to copy desktop icons it does. My orderly desktop gets screwed up.
I just want my documents to be available on all 3 devices.
I'm incredibly frustrated by MS changing Network functions into "NotWorks" seemingly with each update. I'm no power user, but what was easy on W7 is a task on W11.
Can't one of you smart users create a new "Network Magic" app - I'd happily pay to use it.

I rely on tutorials posted here but - do those posters know that their efforts are disrupted by changes made by MS. Example is creating a local account, it's no longer in the family section as many guides show, that now REQUIRES a MS account, but it can be hunted for and found in email accounts and stating don't have email info.

More or less the same with how-to's from MS as well as this forum.
I 'm trying to better control OneDrive, but it's hard when the guides don't show what I see on 23H2.

Winuser · Jun 14, 2024

That only explains why they want user to use a MS account. It doesn't explain why they are forcing users to use a MS account. If they want to keep making it hard to setup a new system with a local account they could at least take the new emojis team away from creating new emojis and let them program new Windows installations to allow us to choose our user name when setting up our devices.

TairikuOkami · Jun 14, 2024

A local account provides zero security, so if you are not using any MS services, you loose nothing. Otherwise, everything.

BobOmb · Jun 14, 2024

TairikuOkami said:
A local account provides zero security, so if you are not using any MS services, you loose nothing. Otherwise, everything.

with bitlocker enabled a local account can be just as secure, you just need to store your own key

Microsoft explains why it wants you to switch to Microsoft account from Local account

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