Windows 10: How to use OneNote without signing into a Windows account?

I had a hard enough time trying to figure out how to use my laptop without logging into a Microsoft account, and I am realizing now that I am being forced to log into my account in order to use OneNote. Why can't they let people just use software on a local account without having to know everything I do? It makes me really mad.

If anyone knows a way to do this, PLEASE let me know.

submitted by /u/lessadessa
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:)

 

Signing into Onenote app converts local account to microsoft account

Steps:

• Sign into a local account
• Open the OneNote app (tablet not desktop app)
• Sign in to this app with a Microsoft account

The local account is then converted into a Microsoft account with that identity.

This is wrong and unexpected behaviour as no indication is given that the sign in is for the whole of windows rather than just OneNote.

It is also hard to revert.

I am guessing that other apps may exhibit the same behaviour.

In fact I don't understand how an app (which is supposed to be sandboxed and secure) can change user account information.

 

Signing into Onenote app converts local account to microsoft account

The Onenote app also has broader account-related issues:

• Sign in with Microsoft account, and Onenote syncs to that.
• Remove this account from Onenote only, and add a different Microsoft account.

OneNote does not sync the new account's OneNote files, only sees the old account's files, and gives an error "OneNote needs a password to sync this notebook -> Sign In" where the "Sign In" button does nothing.

 

Import OneNote 2010 into Windows 10 OneNote


Having moved to Office 2016, I had to first install Office 2010 to a virtual test machine to get screenshots. Here we go, this is the the process which you have to repeat for each notebook you want to open in Windows 10 built-in OneNote app.

1.) If your notebooks are already stored in OneDrive, jump to step 7. If they are stored locally, open OneNote 2010.

I created a simple Sample Notebook to show this process:


(Click screenshots to enlarge)
2.) Open the File menu, select Info > Share on Web or Network:




3.) Select Web, click Sign In:




4.) Enter your MS account credentials:



Note If you have enabled two-step authentication on your MS account, you need first create an app password and use it here instead of the MS account password.



5.) Select in which OneDrive folder you want to save the notebook, click Share Notebook:




6.) Close OneNote 2010

7.) Open Windows 10 OneNote app. If you sign in to Windows with a Microsoft (MS) account, jump to step 11. If you sign in with a local account click Personal Microsoft Account:




8.) Sign in to your MS account:
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9.) Enter your Windows password, click Sign in to just this app instead:



Note This is important! Do not click Next here, it will convert your local Windows user account to an MS account!




10.) Click Start using OneNote:




11.) You can now start using Windows 10 OneNote app, having access to your notebooks:




Remember that you can also use, access and edit your notebooks stored in OneDrive online at outlook.com: