Accounts 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 to Windows 11.

When you switch to a Microsoft account from a local account, your account will still use the same profile folder. It will not affect the name of your account's profile folder name.

Signing in to Windows 11 with a Microsoft account lets you:

• Download apps from the Microsoft Store.
• Get your online content in Microsoft apps automatically.
• Sync settings online to make PCs look and feel the same - like your browser history, account picture, and color.

Signing in to Windows 11 with a local account means:

• You have to create a user name and account for each PC you use.
• While not recommended, you can remove the account password if you like.
• You'll need to sign in to the Microsoft Store with a Microsoft account to download apps from the Microsoft Store.
• Your settings won't be synced across the PCs that you use.

Reference:



Here's How:

1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on Accounts on the left side, and click/tap on Your info on the right side. (see screenshot below)



3 Click/tap on the Stop signing in to all Microsoft apps automatically link (if available) on the right side. (see screenshots below)

You will only have the Stop signing in to all Microsoft apps automatically link if you clicked on Next instead of Microsoft apps only for Use this account everywhere on your device when signing in to an app with a Microsoft account for your local account.

If you do not have a Stop signing in to all Microsoft apps automatically link, then skip this step and continue on to step 4.

4 Click/tap on the Sign in with a Microsoft account instead link on the right side. (see screenshot below)


5 Type in the email address of the Microsoft account you want to switch to, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)


6 Type in the password of the Microsoft account you want to switch to, and click/tap on Sign in. (see screenshot below)


7 If you have two-step verification turned on for your Microsoft account, you will need to click/tap on how (ex: text) you would like to get a security code, enter any required information, and click/tap on Send code. (see screenshots below)




8 Enter the password of your local account you are switching from, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)


9 Click/tap on Next, and enter your Windows Hello (ex: PIN) credentials. (see screenshots below)

If you currently do not have a PIN for your account, you will prompted to create and set up a PIN first.

10 You will now be switched to your Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 11 with instead. (see screenshot below)



That's it,
Shawn Brink