My store data being synced to a new local user account on fresh install

Windows 11 22H2 22621.525

My experience is as follows:

My pc having some hiccups so I reinstall windows 11 via media creation toolkit/iso usb and formating my drive. (The only drive in my pc besides the usb iso, fwiw).

In the installer I force a local user account to avoid signing in with a Microsoft account. (I want to start 100% fresh.)

When Windows boots, I launch the microsoft store and click on my library. (Should only have default Windows apps as no one is signed in to Windows or the store...)

For whatever reason, my previous purchases and downloads I've made with my Microsoft account are listed on the bottom of the list. Next to each one it lists the date I downloaded it (years ago.) Moments later the page refreshes and they all vanish.

I have tried reinstalling Windows 3 times and this happens each time. I just want to start fresh and not have any data synced, to rule out as many things as possible that could be causing my issues (which are for another thread.)

I tried diskpart "clean all" in command prompt while in the installer and I still get the same results. My purchases briefly are listed in the Windows store despite not being signed into anywhere on the pc or having any data on my hard drive...

Obviously Windows is syncing some of my data despite me not being signed into on the pc. I find it creepy that my digital footprint, even if accidentally and briefly, gets showed in-between installs.
-What if someone buys and sells computers every few years? How can they be prevent traces of their data exposed to a customer?

What am I supposed to do if I need to completely reinstall Windows 11, without any traces any prior users' data?

Why exactly is this happening? Is Windows attempting to sync data by my computer's MAC address? Is this data that's being synced maybe associated with the license/activation code for Windows?

Windows says this when it makes you sign into your microsoft account in order to use Windows 11:

"Sign in with your Microsoft account and create the experience you want. Customize preferences, sync content and security settings, across devices, and discover products and services relevant to you... ...Make your device setup fast and easy by restoring your existing Windows preferences."

And there was no option to opt of any of this! It was mandatory to proceed with the install!

I even tried a handful of the tricks that allow you to force a local user install and it appears all but 1 of them have been patched by Microsoft.

It's obvious Windows is now designed to constantly sync all of your data constantly regardless if you want to or not. I don't agree with this and find it creepy that my I can formst my drive and reinstall Windows and it's already syncing my data even though Im not signed into the computer with my Microsoft account anywhere. What if I was gifting the computer to a relative and adult material was purchased from the store?... You know? It's just weird.

Has anyone heard of this happening before?

Have you tried going into your Microsoft account and removing the device from the list of linked devices?
Be warned this might have unintended consequences for a device you intend to keep using yourself.

I agree with @DigitalGoat about unlinking the machine from your MS account.
IMO, this would also be possible if you logged into onedrive on your new installation. If Onedrive is used in any way with a machine, unexplainable crap happens.
For people who use Onedrive it's fine and dandy. For folks who want no part of it, it's a menace.

I didn't know that was a thing. I'm gonna unlink it and redo the install just to see.

Update: I unlinked my computer from my Microsoft account yet my purchases still show up in the store after doing a clean install! How do I stop this from happening? What other data, settings, etc could be getting synced? I am trying to diagnose and fix an issue with my pc and this is making me uneasy. I just want to start a completely fresh build of Windows, is this not possible!?

Also, forgot to add I havent used onedrive on any of these installs or signed into any accounts anywhere. Quite literally, I've been cleaning/formatting my drive, signing on with a local user, and the moment Windows boots I open the store and my purchases show up.

For all Windows knows, it might not be me using the machine. I could have given it to my sister for all they know... Seems like a 1) huge privacy issue to me, and 2) a usability issue because I'm trying to start fresh and not have any data synced to diagnose the problem my pc is having.

JakeMonn11 said:

Update: I unlinked my computer from my Microsoft account yet my purchases still show up in the store after doing a clean install! How do I stop this from happening? What other data, settings, etc could be getting synced? I am trying to diagnose and fix an issue with my pc and this is making me uneasy. I just want to start a completely fresh build of Windows, is this not possible!?

Click to expand...

Yes, it's absolutely possible.

Firstly, what do you identify as a "clean install" ? What steps are you doing ?

Secondly, are you doing a clean install and using an MS account, or are you doing a clean install with just a local account ?

idgat said:

Yes, it's absolutely possible.

Firstly, what do you identify as a "clean install" ? What steps are you doing ?

Secondly, are you doing a clean install and using an MS account, or are you doing a clean install with just a local account ?

Click to expand...

1) I'm installing windows using the media creation toolkit, all steps per this guide:


2) I'm only using a local user account.

How are you creating your install disk, which option do you choose?
Are you using the same user name and password/ PIN each time when you install Windows?

I have passed two computers on to family members within the last year that I was using daily on my Microsoft account, after removing the devices from my Microsoft account, I installed Windows using the Microsoft media creation tool on both machines, setting up different user profiles (specific to the family members) with unique passwords, both as local accounts.

Since passing on the machines both family members have sinced created and logged in with thier own Microsoft accounts. I have asked them today if they can see my purchases in the store, they can't, likewise I can't see anything they have purchased.
The macines still have the same hardware IDs and digital entitlement to the same versions of Windows on each as I was using.

idgat said:

Yes, it's absolutely possible.

Firstly, what do you identify as a "clean install" ? What steps are you doing ?

Secondly, are you doing a clean install and using an MS account, or are you doing a clean install with just a local account ?

Click to expand...

In the media creation toolkit I select UEFI. As for what method I use to create the ISO, I use the media creation toolkit as opposed to Rufus, command prompt, or using a batch file.

DigitalGoat said:

How are you creating your install disk, which option do you choose?
Are you using the same user name and password/ PIN each time when you install Windows?

I have passed two computers on to family members within the last year that I was using daily on my Microsoft account, after removing the devices from my Microsoft account, I installed Windows using the Microsoft media creation tool on both machines, setting up different user profiles (specific to the family members) with unique passwords, both as local accounts.

Since passing on the machines both family members have sinced created and logged in with thier own Microsoft accounts. I have asked them today if they can see my purchases in the store, they can't, likewise I can't see anything they have purchased.
The macines still have the same hardware IDs and digital entitlement to the same versions of Windows on each as I was using.

Click to expand...

1) In the media creation toolkit I select UEFI. As for what method I use to create the ISO, I use the media creation toolkit as opposed to Rufus, command prompt, or using a batch file. (I think that was your question.)

2) The purchases only show up in the store briefly, immediately after Windows installs. Sometime after, they are removed from the list. In the case of the PC's you gave to your family, I'm sure they've been signed into them and using them for months now whereas I am seeing this happen only right after I install Windows.

3) Each time I have done the re-install I have given the local user a random name, but I have been reusing pin codes? You think the pin could be causing this to happen? I'll try it all over again with another pin just to see.

The Pin will have replaced your microsoft account password previously so will be linked to your Microsoft password and hence Microsoft account - maybe that's it?

Hazel123 said:

The Pin will have replaced your microsoft account password previously so will be linked to your Microsoft password and hence Microsoft account - maybe that's it?

Click to expand...

The first local user I tried, that one reused the pin of my Microsoft account, but Ive done 2 reinstalls since then with a new pin.

Edited for clarity

I just reinstalled it again with a local user with another new name and a brand new unused-previously pin code. My store purchases still show up. They even have a "download from cloud" button next to them and the date I originally installed them. Windows is syncing data despite me not opting in to get any data synced and despite me not being signed into the pc with any Microsoft account.

Additionally, ever time I install windows I run system file checker and it fixes a corruption for the bluetooth driver "bthmodem.sys" and I don't know if this is normal or if there's something else being synced causing this corruption to happen. I've done like 5 reinstalls and each time SFC says it repaired this file.

All I would like is to reinstall Windows completely and have a completely fresh install, without it automatically syncing any data from any of my accounts.

I think many people would say or are under the assumption that if you unlink the device in your account settings and use a local user only, nothing should be getting synced, but this is obviously not the case with Windows 11 and this is proof.

So please, someone, help me understand whether I'm doing something wrong or if Windows simply doesnt actually give you the option to do a fresh/clean install.

The PIN is simply a "shortcut" to a Microsoft account, and while ever you do an installation using an MS account (PIN or @ email) you're "connected" to MS > Store > your account details

You need to do a clean install without any sign in - no PIN, no email. Just because you're prompted for an account/PIN doesn't mean you have to give one. Easily bypassed/over-ridden (plenty of hints/tips/tricks/guides on this method in this forum and elsewhere on the internet).

That way, it's a local account, Microsoft doesn't know who you are and can't throw your personal data history details back at you.

Note this is during the installation process, it's got nothing to do with the creation of the boot installation USB, UEFI, BIOS or anything.

idgat said:

The PIN is simply a "shortcut" to a Microsoft account, and while ever you do an installation using an MS account (PIN or @ email) you're "connected" to MS > Store > your account details

You need to do a clean install without any sign in - no PIN, no email. Just because you're prompted for an account/PIN doesn't mean you have to give one. Easily bypassed/over-ridden (plenty of hints/tips/tricks/guides on this method in this forum and elsewhere on the internet).

That way, it's a local account, Microsoft doesn't know who you are and can't throw your personal data history details back at you.

Note this is during the installation process, it's got nothing to do with the creation of the boot installation USB, UEFI, BIOS or anything.

Click to expand...

I'm trying it now.

Ok some clarification, during the installation, it was asking me to enter a passcode, not a pincode.

This time where it asked for a passcode I didnt't enter one but when Windows boots, my downloads still show up in the store.

So, to clarify, there's no pin code on this machine at all or on the previous installs I have done, and it's still doing it.

I have a feeling it is attached to the digital activation of the board.
Does it let you download those store apps without entering a password on an app you had to pay for?

Porthos said:

I have a feeling it is attached to the digital activation of the board.
Does it let you download those store apps without entering a password on an app you had to pay for?

Click to expand...

Looks like all the apps were free.. There was one that I thought I paid a dollar or 2 for but I looked it up and it's actually free, so I dont know.

This is all very strange.. I would like to verify something about the way you are creating your installation media and doing your install.
Is this what you are doing?
1.download media creation tool.
2. Insert flash drive.
4. open creation tool
5. accept agreement. Then select language and edition. At this step I always UNCHECK "Use recommended options for this PC."This creates a multi-edition installation media that can be used on any computer.
6. select usb flash drive and let the tool create your media

When you boot from this media, it automatically detects that your hardware is compatible (the bios is uefi, that you are secure boot capable, that a tpm is present, and that your cpu is compatible. You have an option of selecting which edition of windows to install. If you currently have Home, select home or select Pro if you have pro. The installation does all the formatting,

You should install windows using this tutorial. Be sure at step 11 you Delete all partitions on the Drive # (ex: Drive 0) you want to install Windows 11 until that Drive # shows only as one Unallocated Space, select the unallocated space, and click/tap on Next.
Complete steps 1-19, SKIP step 20 and go to step 21 to create a local account.

glasskuter said:

This is all very strange.. I would like to verify something about the way you are creating your installation media and doing your install.
Is this what you are doing?
1.download media creation tool.
2. Insert flash drive.
4. open creation tool
5. accept agreement. Then select language and edition. At this step I always UNCHECK "Use recommended options for this PC."This creates a multi-edition installation media that can be used on any computer.
6. select usb flash drive

When you boot from this media, it automatically detects that your hardware is compatible (the bios is uefi, that you are secure boot capable, that a tpm is present, and that your cpu is compatible. You have an option of selecting which edition of windows to install. If you currently have Home, select home or select Pro if you have pro. The installation does all the formatting,

You should install windows using this tutorial. Be sure at step 11 you Delete all partitions on the Drive # (ex: Drive 0) you want to install Windows 11 until that Drive # shows only as one Unallocated Space, select the unallocated space, and click/tap on Next.
Complete steps 1-19, SKIP step 20 and go to step 21 to create a local account.

Clean Install Windows 11 Tutorial

Windows 11 has all the power and security of Windows 10 with a redesigned and refreshed look. It also comes with new tools, sounds, and apps. Every detail has been considered. All of it comes together to bring you a refreshing experience on your PC. See also...

www.elevenforum.com

Click to expand...

1) I dont remember if I unchecked "use recommended options for this pc" when I made the install medium, but I probably would have.
2) When I boot from the flash drive it doesnt ask me which version of Windows I want to install nor does it ask for my license key. When I boot from the USB stick it pretty much just asks me to agree to the terms and then it lists my drives.
3) In the installer I have tried using the format button and the delete button. Additionally, most of the time I have been pressing Shift+F10 to open command prompt inside the installer and running diskpart to clean the drive. But after that yes, the only drive listed is "unallocated space" which is where I install Windows.
4) Only other thing I do differently is the method I use to force a local user. I use the method where if you sign in with the email test@test.com with the password test, it lets you make a local user.

Sorry for the italics lol, it isnt letting me change it for whatever reason...