Windows 10: Change email account for Windows 10 Local profile to allow Family monitoring of child use of PC

I have a PC that is running Windows 10. I set up a local user account for my child to use the device under my Microsoft account email. Since they have been using this login locally for several years, the profile and desktop have all of their apps and files. I want to take advantage of the family share services to monitor use and limit screen time, but cannot because the device is linked to my Microsoft account. I want to switch the local user account to use my child's Microsoft account.


I had a Family Share account setup with my child's email and account, but have since removed them from the "Family" so it would not conflict with any permissions on the local device.


I have gone to Settings, Accounts, Email & Accounts and have added my child's Microsoft account email to the "Accounts Used by Other Apps" successfully. For this local user, there is NO email set under the "Accounts Used by email, calendar, and Contacts" section. When I click to "add an account" and attempt to login using the child's email account name and password, I get an error code 0x80004005. Search results say this has to do with permissions.

I need assistance to do the following:

- Associate the local account with my child's Microsoft Account

- Maintain control over ADMIN account by my Microsoft account

- Manage screen time and activity over my child's account via my MS account.


Any help is greatly appreciated, as I've hit a wall on this.

Thanks.

:)

 

Bypass Family Settings by conversion to Local Account

I assumed that you had created a child (family) account, not creating a local normal account then converting it.

In your case I would simply copy his personal stuff to an external backup drive, remove his account and start from scratch. Takes a few minutes but in doing so you get better control.

When you have removed his account, this is Phase 1 in recreating a controlled child account to him: Child Account - Add or Remove from Your Family in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums. When done, restore his personal content to respective folders under his user profile folder.

Doing this he has no way to switch to a local account.

Then, the more you have patience to read, the more practical tips you will get:

• Family Settings - Manage for Child in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
• Family Member - Allow or Block using a PC in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
• Family Child - Manage Screen Time Settings - Windows 10 Forums
• Family Child - Manage Activity Reporting Settings - Windows 10 Forums
• Find Your Child in Microsoft Family on a Map - Windows 10 Forums
• Family Child - Add Money to Account for Windows Store - Windows 10 Forums
• Family Child - Manage Apps, Games Media Settings - Windows 10 Forums
• Family Child - Manage Web Browsing Restriction Settings - Windows 10 Forums

 

Bypass Family Settings by conversion to Local Account


It was faster as I expected, the test confirmed my theory was right. Doing this your kid has absolutely no way to switch to a local account and leave the MS Family:

1.) Start as told earlier, creating the Child account as a Family account
2.) Sign the Child once in to Windows, sign out and back in to your admin account
3.) Press Win + R to open the Run dialog, type netplwiz and hit Enter to launch the advanced user control panel
4.) Select the Child account, click Properties:




5.) Change the Child account's user group from Users to Guests:




6.) Close the Properties, close advanced user control panel

That's it. Users in Guest group cannot open and use the Settings app, therefore they cannot change the account type (switch to a local account).

Pros:

• User cannot change any settings, not even open the Settings app
• User can still download and install desktop software but when doing so, the PC admin credentials will be asked

Cons:

• To change any settings, an admin user must first change the Child's usergroup back to Users, sign in to Child account, change the required setting, sign out from the Child account, and finally set the user back to Guests group
• To download and install anything from the Windows Store, an admin user must first change the Child's usergroup back to Users, sign in to Child account, download and install software from the Windows Store, sign out from the Child account, and finally set the user back to Guests group
• OneDrive Desktop sync does not work on Guest accounts. To download, open or upload files in Onedrive the user must use a browser

 

Changes to Family features in Windows 10

Source: Microsoft account | Whats new for family




Tip

• How to Add or Remove a Child Account for Your Microsoft Family in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove an Adult Account for Your Microsoft Family in Windows 10
• How to Manage Family Settings for a Child in Windows 10
• How to Manage Activity Reporting Settings for Child in your Microsoft Family
• How to Allow or Block Family Member from using a PC in Windows 10
• How to Find Your Child in Microsoft Family on a Map
• How to Add Money to Account of Family Child for Purchase & Spending in Windows Store
• How to Manage Web Browsing Restriction Settings for Child in your Microsoft Family
• How to Manage Apps, Games & Media Settings for Child in your Microsoft Family
• How to Manage Screen Time Settings for Child in your Microsoft Family