How to Switch Between a Microsoft Account and Local User Account

Windows guides you towards signing in with a Microsoft account, whether you’re creating a new account when setting up a PC for the first time or you’re adding a secondary account later.

For example, to add an account on Windows 10, you have to head to Settings > Accounts > Family & Other People > Add Someone Else to This PC. The first screen will ask you for the email address or phone number associated with the other person’s Microsoft account.

To bypass this screen, you have to click “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information”. You’ll be taken to a screen that prompts you to create a new Microsoft account.

To skip creating a Microsoft account, you have to click “Add a user without a Microsoft account”. You’ll then be able to create a local account.

Whatever type of user account you create, you can head to Settings > Accounts > Your Info and use the “Sign in with a local account instead” or “Sign in with a Microsoft account instead” option to switch between types of user accounts.

On Windows 8, you’d have to use the PC Settings > Users > Add a User option and click “Sign in without a Microsoft account”. By default, Windows 8 also encourages you to use Microsoft accounts.