Use Microsoft account on new pc

I have just bought a pc with Windows 11 installed. When I switched on, it created a Local User. I want to sign in to my Microsoft account instead. When I try to do this, it wants me to scan a QR code which logs me into Microsoft. It does not add this to Account in my Control panel. In File Explorer, I only see 'User' not my name. How do I solve this, please?

janey6 said:

I have just bought a pc with Windows 11 installed. When I switched on, it created a Local User. I want to sign in to my Microsoft account instead. When I try to do this, it wants me to scan a QR code which logs me into Microsoft. It does not add this to Account in my Control panel. In File Explorer, I only see 'User' not my name. How do I solve this, please?

Click to expand...

Hi Janey,

Try going to Settings>Accounts then click on "Sign in with a Microsoft account instead" under Account Settings. (see below circled in red)




Kind regards,

tecknot

Hi Janey, I can see that tecKnot can readNot, so I'll try to help out.

You may want to try using netplwiz to change the account name, but I doubt that's going to give you the desired effects. To open netplwiz, just type "netplwiz" into a command prompt that's run as administrator. Right click the account and select properties to get to the name change menu.

If you want to have your new account name reflected correctly system wide, the easiest approach is to create a new Windows account with your desired account name.

You may want to try using netplwiz to change the account name, but I doubt that's going to give you the desired effects. To open netplwiz, just type "netplwiz" into a command prompt that's run as administrator. Right click the account and select properties to get to the name change menu.

There's zero documentation from Microsoft for updating the file directory to reflect account name changes because doing so oftentimes breaks things that no-one has the knowledge or patience to diagnose and fix.

yngDreamer said:

Hi Janey, I can see that tecKnot can readNot, so I'll try to help out.

You may want to try using netplwiz to change the account name...

Click to expand...

The issue it not a name change but the type of account Janey wants. That is, an MS account as opposed to a local account. Janey did not describe how she made her account in the first place, I suggested one way of doing it.

Kind regards,

tecknot

Is this a normal Windows 11 behaviour? I've got doubts about the security.

I've never done a clean install of Windows 11, I've done 2 of Windows 10 instead (and I updated the former to 11 afterwards, what didn't imply any account main setting). In the 1st one (a new pre-built) I was guided to have an Administrator user with MS account. I don't recall the details but I saw I was doing things (like establishing a password to use the OS, afterwards a PIN, and indentifying myself with my real name) I had never done before, with a high degree of security and compliance with the MS defaults (compared to what I was used to). I didn't think it a lot b/c the computer was for tele-working and thought it was all benefitial, and Windows 10 was new to me (I had used Windows 7 in foreign computers but my own one had Vista, used ala XP or even 98 with better visuals -or even DOS with graphical GUI - and nothing about accounts and such, or either they were 100% transparent). In the 2nd clean install I understood and "regulated" it a bit better but I also used an MS account (the same I had created before) and my real name.

I've never adquired a 2hd hand full computer. I've sold a few with OS included, but the latter one was in 2004, not sure if XP or 98 and nothing ("visible" at least) about users and security. In all cases my computers had recent new OS installs with some free "obvious" utilities. Idk what the buyers did with my installs, but they were ready for any user to inmediately use the computer, install his or her programs etc.

I would need to learn how to sell a Windows 10/11 computer, supposing the buyer isn't very expert or hasn't given concrete directions. A local Admin account is what's more similar to what I used to do, but it isn't the MS default. Were "secure" my computers? The age, the world and the computers world were different. In the early 90s I heard that some childs from northern Europe got to access Pentagon etc computers just for fun, but neither the journalists nor I were understanding the issue, until I learnt what Internet is I didn't understand anything (specially the physical connection part).

Thank you for all your replies.

I have now achieved changing from a Local User to my Microsoft account and all is working well.

I notice in File Explorer, under Users, that I am shown by the first 4 letters of my email address. On my other computer - also in my Microsoft account - I’m shown as Mrs_B, which I much prefer.
Can I change this in some way, please?

Good morning, Janey.

To change the User name in your profile is a bit involved. Here is a tutorial to help you through the process: Change Name of User Profile Folder.

I hope this resolves your issues. Please let us know if you should need anything further.

Kind regards,

tecknot

Thanks tecknot

I’ve looked at the link, opened Command Prompt and typed “cd oobe”.
It just shows “The system cannot find the path specified” so I couldn’t proceed.

Can you help, please?

janey6 said:

Thanks tecknot

I’ve looked at the link, opened Command Prompt and typed “cd oobe”.
It just shows “The system cannot find the path specified” so I couldn’t proceed.

Can you help, please?

Click to expand...

Hi Janey,

That step is to take place when installing Windows ("...during OOBE set up. To do so, follow these steps..."). Since you already have Windows installed, start at step 1.

Let me know if you need further assistance.

Kind regards,

tecknot