Windows 10: Switching sign-in from Local to Microsoft account; impact on settings, installed programs,...

Dell XPS 13 with Windows 10 Home edition. During the out of box setup I elected to create a Local user. I then spent considerable time getting all the settings set the way I want them. I have installed a licensed copy of Microsoft Office Pro, as well as some photo/video editing software. A number of personal files, documents, photos, etc. now exist on the Desktop and in the various folders associated with the Local user. I now want to use the "Sign in with a Microsoft account instead" option to switch the sign in from the Local account to my Microsoft account. Will this action result in any setting changes, or loss of access to the installed apps or access to the personal files? To be clear, I am NOT talking about adding a second user. I'm talking about changing the properties of the one existing user. Note: I do know there are some settings that only apply if you sign in with a Microsoft account. I'm not concerned with those settings, just the local settings. Thanks!

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Windows 10 - Wrong Microsoft Account linked to local admin account - no Sign in with local account instead link available

Thanks for the response. What I suggest you do is to switch to a local account and then switch back to your Microsoft account.

Here's how:

• Sign in using the Microsoft account.
• Go to Settings.
• Click Accounts.
• Under Your email and accounts, click Sign in with a local account instead.
• Type the password of the Microsoft account and click Next.
• Under Switch to a local account, click Next.
• Click Sign out and finish.

Once you're done switching to a local account, you can now set your new Microsoft account to associate on your Windows 10 computer. Make sure to type in the correct email address you want to associate to your PC. Follow the steps provided above and click
Sign in with a Microsoft account instead to set up your new account.

Should you have further questions, let me know.

 

Switch laptop sign in from MS account to Local Account questions


Hi, Ive just switched from signing in to my laptop with a Microsoft Account to signing in with a Local Account instead. My laptop was always listed as a Device on the opening screen along with a map showing its location when I looked in my Microsoft Account. Under Devices I could also view my laptop along with other bits of various information about the device and its location was always shown on a map there too. After signing into my laptop with my Local Account ..If I sign in separately to my Microsoft Account afterwards Ive just noticed that having switched to a Local Account my laptop isnt shown on the opening Microsoft Account screen anymore and its not listed in devices either. Is this normal behaviour? I was expecting to still find my laptop listed in Devices. Also...Under Update and Security/Activation..it used to say Digital Licence linked to a Microsoft Account. Now it just says Windows is Activated with a digital licence. Is all this normal behaviour if you sign into a laptop with a Local Account instead of a Microsoft Account?

 

Switch Back to Existing Local Account from Microsoft Account

I already identified that I had tried this, and that it did not allow me to switch back to the original Local Account. The Microsoft Account hijacked the User Name of the original Local Account. When I click "Sign in With a Local Account instead" and enter
the original User Name, Windows 10 won't proceed. The only way to get back to a Local Account is enter a new User Name.