Want to remove Microsoft account from Administrator


erewhon

New member
Local time
10:46 AM
Posts
2
Location
Atlanta, GA
OS
Windows 10
I'm setting up a new Windows 11 Pro system for a friend.
Ver 21H2
OS build 22000.675

I enabled the built-in Administrator ID, but somehow my Microsoft account got associated with the ID. I want to make it a local account instead, especially since the machine will be owned by someone else. I disabled the ID and then enabled it again. The Microsoft account stuck.

I have checked three other machines that I have set-up with Windows 11 Pro. I activated the built-in Administrator ID for each, and all three are local accounts.

So, how do I change the problem Administrator ID from a Microsoft account to a local local account? On-line searches for solutions seem to result in different settings screens than what I am seeing.
 
Windows Build/Version
Win 11 Pro, Ver 21H2, OS build 22000.675

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
In this video, i will show you how to add a local account as a user on the PC in Windows 11.

 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
    Motherboard
    Erica6
    Memory
    Micron Technology DDR4-3200 16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC671
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster U28E590
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG MZVLQ1T0HALB-000H1
I enabled the built-in Administrator ID, but somehow my Microsoft account got associated with the ID. I want to make it a local account instead
I have checked three other machines that I have set-up with Windows 11 Pro. I activated the built-in Administrator ID for each, and all three are local accounts.
how do I change the problem Administrator ID from a Microsoft account to a local local account?
In Windows 10, several people reported that they could not change the Built-in Admin back to a local account and had to reinstall Windows to get the MSAccount off the Built-in Admin.

Windows does not envisage routine use of the Built-in Admin and MS does not even document its limitations [which have been known to change over time].
It exists for one reason & one reason only - to become available for login at the Safe mode login screen if Windows detects that there are not functioning Admin accounts on the computer.

You are not achieving any benefits by using the Built-in Admin accounts.

Denis
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home x64 Version 23H2 Build 22631.3296
I'm setting up a new Windows 11 Pro system for a friend.
Ver 21H2
OS build 22000.675

I enabled the built-in Administrator ID, but somehow my Microsoft account got associated with the ID. I want to make it a local account instead, especially since the machine will be owned by someone else. I disabled the ID and then enabled it again. The Microsoft account stuck.

I have checked three other machines that I have set-up with Windows 11 Pro. I activated the built-in Administrator ID for each, and all three are local accounts.

So, how do I change the problem Administrator ID from a Microsoft account to a local local account? On-line searches for solutions seem to result in different settings screens than what I am seeing.
Are you talking about the hidden admin account.

If so, why did you enable the account? It is not for general use and it is too easy to break Windows.

I would certainly not do it on a friend's pc.

I would just reinstall from scratch on new pc, and click link to create offline account.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro + others in VHDs
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Vivobook 14
    CPU
    I7
    Motherboard
    Yep, Laptop has one.
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Iris XE
    Sound Card
    Realtek built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    N/A
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Optane NVME SSD, 1 TB NVME SSD
    PSU
    Yep, got one
    Case
    Yep, got one
    Cooling
    Stella Artois
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Bluetooth , wired
    Internet Speed
    72 Mb/s :-(
    Browser
    Edge mostly
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0
So, how do I change the problem Administrator ID from a Microsoft account to a local local account?
Because it is supposed to be impossible to switch the built in Administrator account to a Microsoft account, there is no mechanism to undo this. A clean install is the only fix.

But have you really switched Administrator to a MS account? Or have you just associated your MS account with Administrator, while keeping it as a local account? If the latter, then you should be able to remove your MS account in Accounts > Email & accounts.

1653572925707.png


Although Microsoft do their best prevent you switching the built in Administrator account to a Microsoft account, there is one specific loophole they missed. It was there in Windows 10, and it appears you have found that it's still there in Windows 11. See post #10 here:

Kari said:
I have now replicated your situation and can confirm the loophole in Windows 10 you have accidentally found...

...The loophole you found, activating the built-in admin in previous version and then upgrading to Windows 10 using it seems to override all default security restrictions on the said built-in admin account, making it possible to connect it to a Microsoft account. However, as this is meant never to happen, once you have converted the built-in admin account to a Microsoft account, it is no longer possible to convert it back to a local account. It is absolutely impossible, that is why the Your account page does not even show the Sign in with a local account instead option
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD
    Internet Speed
    50 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 4GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Beta as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 4GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Lattitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround. In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround. Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 4GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Beta as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 4GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.
I enabled the built-in Administrator ID, but somehow my Microsoft account got associated with the ID. I want to make it a local account instead, especially since the machine will be owned by someone else. I disabled the ID and then enabled it again. The Microsoft account stuck.

First, please believe this: there's absolutely, profoundly nothing you can do. Your only option to remove Microsoft account from built-in admin, is to clean install Windows.

It's of course up to you, if you decide to wait here in case some other member will come with "download this tool, change this registry setting, blah blah blah..." magic trick, but I am telling you, nothing will work. Once the built-in admin account has been switched to a Microsoft account, it cannot be reverted. Never.

In my opinion, the greatest f**k up, the biggest mistake Windows coding teams have made is exactly this. Until Windows 10 version 1703, it was not possible to use any Store apps, not even Edge, with built-in admin account:

Built-in admin pre 1709.jpg

It was also impossible to switch the built-in admin account to a Microsoft account. This was as it should still be; the built-in admin account is not intended to be used as a normal user account.

Windows 10 version 1709 changed this. Suddenly, it was not only possible to use Store apps with built-in admin account, but also possible to switch it to MS account. From my point of view, this was really bad screw up by the various Windows teams. For instance, as it is now possible for Windows store apps to update when customizing the deployment image in Audit Mode, Sysprep often fails because of the app provisioning. Removing provisioning requires extra steps, more work, which I hate.

In addition, what about Windows security? If user loses control of the MS account used by the built-in admin account, or simply deletes that MS account, Windows will become a useless brick. Because switching the built-in admin user account back to a local account is impossible, user has lost the use of it.

When user wants to switch a normal user account from an MS account back to a local account, it's easily done in settings:

Switch normal user to local account.jpg

But if the built-in admin account has been switched, accidentally or on purpose, to an MS account, it cannot be undone. Option to switch back to a local account is simply missing:

Cannot switch built-in admin MSA to local account.jpg

I repeat: there's nothing you can do.

In this video, i will show you how to add a local account as a user on the PC in Windows 11.

That has absolutely nothing to do with OP's issue!

Kari
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 PRO x64 Dev
    Manufacturer/Model
    Hyper-V Virtual Machine (host in System 2 specs)
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-8550U
    Memory
    6 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Microsoft Hyper-V Video
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop display (17.1") & Samsung U28E590 (27.7")
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 PRO x64 Dev Channel
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP HP ProBook 470 G5
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-8550U
    Motherboard
    HP 837F KBC Version 02.3D.00
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel(R) UHD Graphics 620 & NVIDIA GeForce 930MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop display (17.1") & Samsung U28E590 (27.7")
    Hard Drives
    128 GB SSD & 1 TB HDD
    Mouse
    Wireless Logitech MSX mouse
    Keyboard
    Wireless Logitech MK710 keyboard
    Internet Speed
    100 Mbps down, 20 Mbps up
    Browser
    Edge Chromium Dev Channel
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    2 * 3 TB USB HDD
    6 TB WD Mirror NAS

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 PRO x64 Dev
    Manufacturer/Model
    Hyper-V Virtual Machine (host in System 2 specs)
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-8550U
    Memory
    6 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Microsoft Hyper-V Video
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop display (17.1") & Samsung U28E590 (27.7")
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 PRO x64 Dev Channel
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP HP ProBook 470 G5
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-8550U
    Motherboard
    HP 837F KBC Version 02.3D.00
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel(R) UHD Graphics 620 & NVIDIA GeForce 930MX
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop display (17.1") & Samsung U28E590 (27.7")
    Hard Drives
    128 GB SSD & 1 TB HDD
    Mouse
    Wireless Logitech MSX mouse
    Keyboard
    Wireless Logitech MK710 keyboard
    Internet Speed
    100 Mbps down, 20 Mbps up
    Browser
    Edge Chromium Dev Channel
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    2 * 3 TB USB HDD
    6 TB WD Mirror NAS
Problem solved!

First, some thanks.

FreeBooter - nice video, but, not quite what I was looking for!

Try3 and cereberus - I now understand that I have been using the built-in "Administrator" account for the wrong reasons. Thanks!

cereberus, Bree, and Kari - I was able to reinstall Win 11 with a minimum of problems. The freshly installed "Administrator" is no longer infected by a Microsoft account and is now disabled. I created an "admin" account with administrator privileges to serve as backup for the main account.

Having a second account with administrator privileges saved me once when the main account password got corrupted. I have hazy recollections of other times it has saved me.

The subject machine was a Lenovo ThinkCentre that I got for a needy friend. It came with Win 10, but was Win 11 capable, so I updated to win 11. Fortunately, I make it a practice to back up a system whenever I do something major to it. So, I just restored the Win 10 backup onto the machine to get rid of the wonky "Administrator". Then, I installed Win 11 again, but was not stupid the second time around. I'm now running around to the other machines I maintain to make sure that there is an "admin" account and that "Administrator" is disabled. Only one "Administrator" seems to have been infected - on the now fixed Lenovo.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
Try3 and cereberus - I now understand that I have been using the built-in "Administrator" account for the wrong reasons. Thanks!

cereberus, Bree, and Kari - I was able to reinstall Win 11 with a minimum of problems.
Great news.

I can't recall any situation where I needed to use the built in Administrator account, an ordinary administrator account should be sufficient for all your needs. I always create at least one more local administrator account on all my machines. It's a sensible precaution, should you ever get locked out of your main account,
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD
    Internet Speed
    50 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 4GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Beta as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 4GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Lattitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround. In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround. Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 4GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Beta as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 4GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.
Problem solved!

First, some thanks.

FreeBooter - nice video, but, not quite what I was looking for!

Try3 and cereberus - I now understand that I have been using the built-in "Administrator" account for the wrong reasons. Thanks!

cereberus, Bree, and Kari - I was able to reinstall Win 11 with a minimum of problems. The freshly installed "Administrator" is no longer infected by a Microsoft account and is now disabled. I created an "admin" account with administrator privileges to serve as backup for the main account.

Having a second account with administrator privileges saved me once when the main account password got corrupted. I have hazy recollections of other times it has saved me.

The subject machine was a Lenovo ThinkCentre that I got for a needy friend. It came with Win 10, but was Win 11 capable, so I updated to win 11. Fortunately, I make it a practice to back up a system whenever I do something major to it. So, I just restored the Win 10 backup onto the machine to get rid of the wonky "Administrator". Then, I installed Win 11 again, but was not stupid the second time around. I'm now running around to the other machines I maintain to make sure that there is an "admin" account and that "Administrator" is disabled. Only one "Administrator" seems to have been infected - on the now fixed Lenovo.
If you want to use the administrator to set up a computer for someone else, when you get to the first OOBE screen after the computer reboots during a clean install where it asks you for region/language (I think), press Shift+Ctrl+F3. The computer will reboot into audit mode which uses the default administrator account. You can then set things up, activate windows, do updates, install drivers, install programs/apps. When you are all done you select the sysprep option to shutdown to OOBE, leave generalize unchecked. The built-in administrator account will deactivate itself, and the next startup will be back to the OOBE region selection screen just like nobody had logged onto the computer before - but everything you did in audit mode will still be there. Google Windows Audit Mode for more info.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Crosshair VII Hero (WiFi)
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Education
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 7773
    CPU
    Intel i7-8550U
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce MX150
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 512GB NVMe SSD
    SK Hynix 512GB SATA SSD
    Internet Speed
    Fast!
Hi,
I've only gone as far to add a real password to the built in admin account
Which I have not bothered to do with 11 since I don't use it much at all.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win-7-10-11Pro's
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer 17" Nitro 7840sn/ 2x16gb 5600c40/ 4060/ stock 1tb-os/ 4tb sn850x
    CPU
    10900k & 9940x & 5930k
    Motherboard
    z490-Apex & x299-Apex & x99-Sabertooth
    Memory
    Trident-Z Royal 4000c16 2x16gb & Trident-Z 3600c16 4x8gb & 3200c14 4x8gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Titan Xp & 1080ti FTW3 & evga 980ti gaming
    Sound Card
    Onboard Realtek x3
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1-AOC G2460PG 24"G-Sync 144Hz/ 2nd 1-ASUS VG248QE 24"/ 3rd LG 43" series
    Screen Resolution
    1920-1080 not sure what the t.v is besides 43" class scales from 1920-1080 perfectly
    Hard Drives
    2-WD-sn850x 4tb/ 970evo+500gb/ 980 pro 2tb.
    PSU
    1000p2 & 1200p2 & 850p2
    Case
    D450 x2 & 1 Test bench in cherry Entertainment center
    Cooling
    Custom water loops x3 with 2x mora 360mm rads only 980ti gaming air cooled
    Keyboard
    G710+x3
    Mouse
    Redragon x3
    Internet Speed
    xfinity gigabyte
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    mbam pro

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