New Local Account login hanging in Windows 11

Approx 10 months old laptop, shipped with Win 11. Using MS Account as the default login. No problems with extensive daily use.

Last week I created a new 'Local' (non-MS) account and made it an administrator account. I logged into it a couple of times, just to make sure it worked - got in all the way to desktop, opened a few files, then logged off and back to the main MS account (I'm generally opposed to using the MS Account concept but I'm also giving it a fair shot on this new laptop just for educational purposes). Today I applied latest update and now I have 22H2, build 22621.1105.

I tried to switch to the 'local' account. Upon entering password, I got the experience that I'd describe as being similar to the OOBE experience - the 'Hi' screen, the 'please wait while we set up ...' screen, etc. Finally, it seemed to hang on a screen similar to 'We're still getting things ready for you' and after about 10 minutes I used ctrl-alt-del to switch user to my working MS account. I then shut down, restarted, and tried to log in to the new local account; same thing happened, but this time I simply left it alone for some time. EVENTUALLY, I got past the above mentioned screen and got the startup screen 'Choose Privacy Settings for your device'. This is a one-time screen where you enable/disable 'location services', 'find my device', 'advertising ID', etc. However, this screen would 'flash', disappear, hourglass would display, then the screen would re-appear. Attempts to change any setting would echo immediately, but then the screen would disappear/reappear and my changes ignored.

I used CTRL-ALT-DEL again to restart the machine and get back to the MS Account, and deleted the Local Account. I then re-created the Local Account, and tried again - same result. Finally, on the 'flashing'/recycling 'choose privacy ...' screen, I clicked on 'Next' and ... it took! So I did finally get my account setup and logged into, but it was not pretty and ... I have privacy settings that I don't like. I'll go figure how to change them 'after the fact', but this entire experience was disconcerting as I want to start using this new local account.

Has anyone else experienced this account behavior?

Welcome to ElevenFourms,
First, let me start by asking you if you have tried restarting your laptop? Often restarting will fix problematic issues.
If that fails, launch the Command Prompt by pressing the Windows key along with the "R" key and typing "CMD" into the dialogue, and type the following commands:
SFC /SCANNOW
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth

You noted that you are trying to use a local account. For Windows 11 Home, local accounts have been deprecated in favor of Genuine Microsoft Accounts. My suggestion would be to upgrade to Windows 11 Professional.

CaptianObvious said:

You noted that you are trying to use a local account. For Windows 11 Home, local accounts have been deprecated in favor of Genuine Microsoft Accounts.

Click to expand...

This is not true at all. Local accounts are still fully supported in Windows 11 in all editions.

Please do not spread misinformation.

CaptianObvious said:

Welcome to ElevenFourms,
First, let me start by asking you if you have tried restarting your laptop? Often restarting will fix problematic issues.
If that fails, launch the Command Prompt by pressing the Windows key along with the "R" key and typing "CMD" into the dialogue, and type the following commands:
SFC /SCANNOW
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth

Click to expand...

Did you read my post at all?
Para 3: "I then shut down, restarted, and tried to log in to the new local account..."
Para 4: "I used CTRL-ALT-DEL again to restart the machine"

CaptianObvious said:

You noted that you are trying to use a local account. For Windows 11 Home, local accounts have been deprecated in favor of Genuine Microsoft Accounts. My suggestion would be to upgrade to Windows 11 Professional.

Click to expand...

Local accounts are no longer supported for the initial account setup process in W11 Home but are still fully supported as secondary/subsequent accounts.

Steerpike said:

Local accounts are no longer supported for the initial account setup process in W11 Home but are still fully supported as secondary/subsequent accounts.

Click to expand...

Actually, you can still set up a local account during Windows Setup like in step 21 below for the Home edition. You just have to jump through a few hoops to do so though.

@Steerpike,

For your initial issue, it sounds like something was causing a system hang.

If you like, you can use the tutorial below to disable the "Choose privacy settings for your device" experience from showing anymore to help in the future.

Enable or Disable Choose Privacy Settings Experience at Sign-in in Windows 11 Tutorial

You will still be able to manually change these privacy settings below at anytime.

• Enable or Disable Location Services in Windows 11
• Enable or Disable Improve Inking and Typing in Windows 11
• Enable or Disable Tailored Experiences in Windows 11
• Enable or Disable Advertising ID for Personalized Ads in Apps in Windows 11

Brink said:

Actually, you can still set up a local account during Windows Setup like in step 21 below for the Home edition. You just have to jump through a few hoops to do so though.

Clean Install Windows 11 Tutorial

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

Click to expand...

Wow, that's an interesting approach - enter a 'validly formed', but not functioning, email address! That I haven't seen before. I was able to set up a Win11 machine without an MS account by killing some windows service at a key point during the initial setup (I was using WiFi, so the option of yanking the ethernet cable wasn't available to me). I can't find the link now, but basically you start the process with a valid network connection, but then kill it right before the step where account creation occurs, and it will give you the option of a local account (just like in the case you reference above). I like your approach better!

But - I'd still consider this 'not supported', though!

Brink said:

@Steerpike,

For your initial issue, it sounds like something was causing a system hang.

If you like, you can use the tutorial below to disable the "Choose privacy settings for your device" experience from showing anymore to help in the future.

Enable or Disable Choose Privacy Settings Experience at Sign-in in Windows 11 Tutorial

You will still be able to manually change these privacy settings below at anytime.

• Enable or Disable Location Services in Windows 11
• Enable or Disable Improve Inking and Typing in Windows 11
• Enable or Disable Tailored Experiences in Windows 11
• Enable or Disable Advertising ID for Personalized Ads in Apps in Windows 11

Click to expand...

I'll follow through on this, thanks. Just out of curiosity - if you don't have a touch screen (I don't), then is there any value to 'Improve Inking and Typing'? I've always said no.

Steerpike said:

I'll follow through on this, thanks. Just out of curiosity - if you don't have a touch screen (I don't), then is there any value to 'Improve Inking and Typing'? I've always said no.

Click to expand...

It get's applied to all typing whether touch or keyboard. I don't personally find any need for it though.

Steerpike said:

Wow, that's an interesting approach - enter a 'validly formed', but not functioning, email address! That I haven't seen before. I was able to set up a Win11 machine without an MS account by killing some windows service at a key point during the initial setup (I was using WiFi, so the option of yanking the ethernet cable wasn't available to me). I can't find the link now, but basically you start the process with a valid network connection, but then kill it right before the step where account creation occurs, and it will give you the option of a local account (just like in the case you reference above). I like your approach better!

But - I'd still consider this 'not supported', though!

Click to expand...

The no Internet connection method no longer works for the Home edition. It'll just stop there saying it needs a connection to continue.