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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteTo switch a Windows 11 sign-in from a Microsoft account to a local account, open Settings > Accounts > Your info, select Sign in with a local account instead, create the local username and password, then choose Next and Sign out and finish. Windows signs you out; sign back in with the new local credentials.
This changes the Windows account type on the device. It does not automatically create a new Windows profile or fix a damaged profile. Save open work first, and make a recovery plan for the local password before completing the sign-out.
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If you are asking, “How do I switch from a Microsoft account to a local account in Windows 11?” the short answer is the Settings path above. The important decisions come before and after that click: choose a username that is not already used, record a password you can recover, and understand what happens to cloud-connected features and app sign-ins.
What changes when you switch account types?
A local account belongs to one Windows device. You can sign in without an internet connection, and the account is not connected to Microsoft’s cloud services by its sign-in identity. Its scope is the PC where you create it; it is not an email-based identity that automatically follows you to another Windows device.
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A Microsoft account uses an email address and password across Microsoft products and services. Windows can use it to connect to cloud features and synchronize settings and files between devices. Microsoft recommends using a Microsoft account for service integration, security and synchronization benefits, but that recommendation does not make either account type universally best for every person.
| Consideration | Local account | Microsoft account |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Specific to this Windows device | Connected to an email-based Microsoft identity used across Microsoft services and devices |
| Internet requirement for Windows sign-in | Does not require internet connectivity | Account is associated with Microsoft’s online services; some connected features require internet access |
| Cloud connection | Not connected to Microsoft’s cloud through the Windows sign-in identity | Provides access to connected Microsoft services |
| Settings and file sync | No Microsoft-account sync between devices | Windows settings and files can sync across devices |
| Password recovery | Plan ahead: a forgotten password may be difficult or impossible to recover without an available recovery method | Recovery follows Microsoft-account recovery options |
These differences affect sign-in, synchronization and recovery. They do not determine whether you can use Windows Hello. Face recognition, fingerprint and PIN are sign-in methods; they do not change the underlying account from local to Microsoft or vice versa. See Microsoft’s Sign-In Options in Windows guidance for the methods available on a particular device.
Decide whether a local account fits your setup
The practical benefit of a local account is independence from an online Windows identity. Once the switch is complete, the local credentials work for that PC even when the device has no internet connection. This can suit a computer that is used mainly as a single, stand-alone machine or a user who does not want Windows settings and files associated with the sign-in to sync between devices.
The trade-off is that you take more responsibility for the local credentials and for reconnecting to Microsoft services when an app asks for them. A Microsoft account is designed to connect Windows with Microsoft products and services and can synchronize supported settings and files. Microsoft explicitly recommends that account type for service integration, security and synchronization. Treat that as Microsoft’s stated preference, not as a rule that every Windows user must follow.
Changing account type also does not turn off every Microsoft identity on the PC. A Store app, cloud-storage app or another service can still request its own Microsoft sign-in. The Windows sign-in identity and an app’s account session are separate decisions.
How do I switch from a Microsoft account to a local account in Windows 11?
The following route is Microsoft’s documented Settings path for Windows 11 (and Windows 10). The link is shown only when the current Windows sign-in is a Microsoft account.
- Save your work. Close or save documents and any other work that could be lost when Windows signs you out. If an installer, update or other operation is still running, let it finish or postpone the switch.
- Open Settings. Select Start > Settings, or press Windows key + I.
- Open your account information. Select Accounts, then Your info.
- Start the conversion. Under the account details, select Sign in with a local account instead. If this link is missing, verify that the current Windows account is a Microsoft account; Microsoft says the option is not displayed for an account that is already local.
- Confirm the local-account details. Enter a new username, password and password hint. The username must be different from every other username on the device. Use a password you can reliably remember, because local-password recovery needs advance preparation.
- Continue. Select Next to review the change. Check the spelling of the username and make sure the password is the one you intend to use at the next sign-in.
- Sign out and complete it. Select Sign out and finish. Windows ends the current session; this is the point at which unsaved work could be lost.
- Sign in again. At the sign-in screen, choose the new local account and enter its password. Windows then uses that local account for the device sign-in.
After you enter the local details, the account transition is completed by signing out and signing in again. It is not a background change that takes effect later. If you are not ready to lose the current session, do not select the final button until your work is saved.
Microsoft’s account instructions are available at Change From a Local Account to a Microsoft Account in Windows. Although the page title describes the opposite direction, its account-type explanation and Settings workflow cover the local-account choice shown in Windows.
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What you need before starting
- Access to Settings: You must be able to open the Windows 11 Settings app and reach Accounts > Your info.
- The current account must be a Microsoft account: The local-account link is conditional. An account that is already local will not show a Microsoft-to-local conversion link.
- A distinct username: Windows will not accept a local username that duplicates another username on the device. If several people use the PC, check their account names before choosing yours.
- A local password and hint: The switch cannot be completed without entering both. Avoid putting the password itself in the hint; the hint should help you remember it without disclosing it.
- Saved work: The final step signs you out immediately.
- A recovery plan: Decide how you will regain access if the local password is forgotten. Recovery choices depend on the device and account setup, so make the plan while you can still sign in.
- Time to reconnect services: Have the sign-in details for Microsoft apps or services you still use. Switching the Windows account does not promise that every app session will remain connected.
Password recovery: prepare before you sign out
Microsoft warns that a forgotten local-account password can be unrecoverable if no recovery method was prepared. Depending on the device and account setup, available methods can include answering security questions at the sign-in screen, using a password reset disk, or having another administrator account reset the password. Microsoft’s detailed instructions are in Change or reset your local account password in Windows.
This warning is one of the biggest differences from using an online identity. Do not assume that knowing the email address previously used for Windows will recover the new local password: after the switch, the Windows sign-in is local. Before signing out, make sure you know the exact local username and password you just entered, and consider which recovery method you can actually use.
Optional password reset disk
A password reset disk is an optional USB flash drive created while you are signed in to the local account. It is not required to perform the account switch, but it can provide a recovery route if the password is forgotten. You create it after the local account works, not as a prerequisite to opening the conversion screen.
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- Sign in to the local account and connect a USB flash drive.
- Search Windows for create password reset.
- Select Create a password reset disk.
- Follow the wizard’s prompts to create the disk.
- Remove the USB drive and store it somewhere safe. Anyone with the disk and access to the sign-in screen could use it to reset that account’s password.
Microsoft’s full procedure is at Create a password reset disk for a local account in Windows. No particular USB brand or capacity is required by the instructions. The drive is a precaution, not a paid requirement for switching accounts.
What happens to files, apps and settings?
The documented switch changes the sign-in account type and requires a sign-out followed by a new sign-in. The instructions do not promise that Windows will create a separate profile, move files to a new profile, repair damaged data or reinstall applications. Do not treat this procedure as a profile-migration or troubleshooting tool.
Because the account is being changed in place, review important locations before proceeding:
- Save documents and projects stored in open applications.
- Confirm that files needed offline are available on the device rather than only in a cloud location.
- Note any account-specific application settings you cannot easily recreate.
- Make sure you know how to sign back in to apps that use a Microsoft identity after the Windows account changes.
- Expect to review synchronization-dependent settings rather than assuming they will continue to sync exactly as before.
A local Windows sign-in does not delete the Microsoft identity used for Microsoft services. It simply stops using that identity as the Windows sign-in for this device. Cloud files and service data should still be handled through the service that owns them, so check important files and app access rather than relying on assumptions about what the switch does.
If your real problem is a corrupted Windows profile, use Microsoft’s separate Fix a corrupted user profile guidance. Microsoft says creating a new profile in that situation may require importing email, reconfiguring or reinstalling apps, and signing into Store apps to restore purchases or settings. Those are profile-recovery tasks, not automatic results of switching account types.
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Troubleshooting the switch
The “Sign in with a local account instead” link is missing
Check Settings > Accounts > Your info and look at the current account identity. Microsoft says the link appears when the current Windows sign-in is a Microsoft account. If the account is already local, there is no Microsoft-to-local conversion to start from that page. Device-management policies or other configuration restrictions can also affect which options are displayed.
The username is rejected
Choose a different username. Microsoft requires the local username to differ from other usernames on the device. If you are unsure which names are already in use, review the accounts configured on the PC and choose a clearly distinct name.
The password hint is rejected or unclear
Enter a password hint along with the password. The hint is for your memory; it should not expose the password to another person who can see the sign-in screen. If the hint does not help you identify the password, choose a password you can reliably remember and revise the hint before completing the switch.
You are not ready to sign out
Selecting Sign out and finish ends the current session. Cancel or postpone the process until documents are saved and any installations, updates or other work that depends on the current session has finished. The Settings path can be reopened later when you are ready.
You forgot the new local password
At the sign-in screen, look for the available reset option and answer the configured security questions if Windows offers them. A prepared password reset disk or another administrator account may also help, depending on the device configuration. If none of those methods is available, Microsoft cautions that recovery may not be possible; consult its password reset disk and local-account password recovery instructions.
Windows Hello still appears after the change
That is expected. A PIN, face recognition or fingerprint is a sign-in method, not an account type. The Windows account can be local while one or more Hello methods remain configured, subject to the device’s hardware and security settings. Review Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options if you want to manage those methods.
An app asks for the Microsoft account again
That does not necessarily mean the conversion failed. The Windows account and an individual app’s account session are separate. Sign in to the app with the Microsoft identity it requires, or continue using the app without that connection if it allows it. Microsoft services may still be used even though the Windows sign-in itself is local.
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A local account may fit when
- You want this PC’s Windows sign-in to be independent of an online identity.
- You need to sign in when internet access is unavailable.
- You do not want Windows account settings and files associated with this sign-in to sync across devices.
- You are prepared to manage local-password recovery yourself.
- You prefer the account to be specific to one computer rather than associated with an email identity used on multiple devices.
A Microsoft account may fit when
- You use Microsoft’s connected services and want one identity across them.
- You want Windows settings and files to synchronize between devices where supported.
- You prefer Microsoft’s account-based recovery and service integration.
- You regularly move between Microsoft-connected devices and want the same online identity available on each one.
Microsoft’s stated recommendation is to use a Microsoft account rather than a local account for its service integration, security and synchronization benefits. The practical choice depends on whether those benefits outweigh the local account’s device-specific scope and offline sign-in behavior for your setup. Neither option eliminates the need to protect credentials or review the sign-in methods enabled on the device.
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After the first sign-in
- Open Settings > Accounts > Your info and confirm that the account is identified as local.
- Check that your expected files are present and that essential applications open normally.
- Review Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options if you want to retain, remove or reconfigure a PIN, fingerprint or face sign-in.
- Create the optional password reset disk after confirming the local account works, and store it securely.
- Sign back into Microsoft services or Store applications individually if they request an account; changing the Windows sign-in type does not guarantee that every app session remains connected.
- Test the local password while you still know it, including a sign-out and sign-in when convenient, so you do not discover a typing or username mistake later.
- Keep the recovery information in a secure place separate from the PC. A password hint, security questions or reset disk should help you recover without simply exposing the password.
Frequently asked questions
Can I switch back to a Microsoft account later?
Yes. Windows provides the corresponding Microsoft-account option under Settings > Accounts > Your info when you are signed in with a local account. The same Microsoft account-management guidance covers that direction as well. Switching back does not remove the need to save work and complete the required sign-out.
Does switching remove my Microsoft account or delete cloud files?
The documented procedure changes the Windows sign-in account on this device. It does not state that the Microsoft account itself is deleted. Review important files and app sign-ins before switching, especially when data is stored only in a cloud location, and access those services separately after the change.
Do I need administrator rights?
Microsoft’s switching procedure requires access to Settings and the account’s sign-in details, but it does not state a separate administrator requirement. Device-management policies or other configuration restrictions can affect what options appear. If the link is absent, first verify the current account type and then check whether the PC is managed.
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Is an internet connection required to create or use the local account?
A local account does not require internet connectivity to sign in to Windows. Internet access may still be needed for connected services or apps you choose to use, but it is not a requirement for the local Windows sign-in itself.
Will my PIN, fingerprint or face sign-in stop working?
Not necessarily. Windows Hello methods are separate sign-in methods. A local account can still have a PIN, fingerprint or face method configured, depending on the device and its security settings. Check Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options after signing in.
Is a password reset disk required?
No. It is an optional USB flash drive precaution. Microsoft also documents security questions at the sign-in screen and resetting from another administrator account when available. Because a forgotten local password can otherwise be difficult or impossible to recover, creating the disk after the switch is sensible if you can store it securely.
Will this create a clean profile for a corrupted account?
No. The account-switching workflow does not promise a new profile or repair a damaged one. For profile corruption, Microsoft’s separate guidance may involve creating a new profile, importing email, reconfiguring or reinstalling apps, and signing back into Store apps to restore purchases or settings.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteWhy does Windows still show Microsoft services after I switch?
The local account changes the Windows sign-in identity, not every Microsoft service account. Apps and services can continue to request or use a Microsoft sign-in independently. Reconnect only the services you need and verify that important files and settings are available.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch back to a Microsoft account later?
Yes. Windows provides the corresponding Microsoft-account option under Settings > Accounts > Your info when you are signed in with a local account. The same page is covered by Microsoft’s account-management guidance: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accounts-billing/manage/change-from-a-local-account-to-a-microsoft-account-in-windows
Does switching remove my Microsoft account or delete cloud files?
The documented procedure changes the Windows sign-in account on this device. It does not state that the Microsoft account itself is deleted. Review important files and app sign-ins before switching, especially when data is stored only in a cloud service.
Do I need administrator rights?
The Microsoft switching procedure requires access to Settings and the account’s sign-in details, but it does not state a separate administrator requirement. Device-management policies or other configuration restrictions can affect what options appear.
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No. Microsoft describes a local account as device-specific and says it does not require internet connectivity to sign in. Connected apps and services may still require internet access.
Will my Windows Hello PIN, fingerprint or face sign-in be removed?
Not automatically. Windows Hello methods are sign-in methods, not account types. Review Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options after the switch if you want to manage them.
Do I need a USB password reset disk before switching?
No. The disk is optional and is created after signing in to the local account. Security questions or another administrator account may also provide recovery, depending on the configuration.
Does switching create a new profile or repair a corrupted profile?
No. The documented workflow changes the sign-in account type. Profile recovery is a separate process that may require importing email, reconfiguring or reinstalling apps, and signing back into Store apps.
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The Bottom Line
Use Settings > Accounts > Your info > Sign in with a local account instead, create a unique username and recovery-ready password, then select Next and Sign out and finish. Choose the local option for device-specific, offline sign-in; keep a Microsoft account when cloud integration and synchronization are more important. Afterward, verify files, review Hello sign-in options and prepare the optional USB password reset disk.
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