Windows 10: Unable to convert local account to Microsoft account and previously activate Windows

This is a complex post, so bear with me.This is a machine on Windows 10 for a few years now, currently on the 2009 edition, fully updated. It was a free upgrade from a paid Windows 7 Professional version, which I believe I used to upgrade my old XP machine. After my old PC died, I built a new machine entirely, since it was 10 years old too, and moved my hard drives across to it. Windows wants to be activated again due to hardware changes.So far, so normal.I followed all the steps as shown, and when I click the 'I changed hardware on this device recently', a windows pops up and dies immediately

:)

 

Unable to convert Microsoft account to Local account

Hi Luke,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



I appreciate your efforts on this. I understand that you have converted a Local account to a Microsoft account and want to convert the Microsoft account back to Local account.



Since the Microsoft account is a Child account that is the reason, you are unable to convert the Microsoft account to a Local account. If you delete the Child account from the computer, it will remove the Child account permanently from the computer.
If you have access to any other account on the computer, you can create a new local account on the computer. Please refer the steps in the article

Create a local user or administrator account in Windows 10.



To remove the Child account from the computer, please follow the steps mentioned below:

1. Press Windows key + R, type
   control and click on OK.
   
2. Select Large icons from the drop down for
   view by.
   
3. Click on User Accounts.
   
4. Click on Manager User account.
   
5. Select the Child account and click on
   Delete account.
   
6. If you have important files saved in the account, click on
   Keep files to save the files, else click on Delete files.
   
7. Click on Delete account to delete the account.
   

As you have mentioned, you have removed the Child account from the Family I suggest you to check if the child account still reflects under the Family. If the Child account reflects under the Family, please remove the child account from the Family using
the Adult account, restart the computer and check if you get the option to convert the Microsoft account as a Local account.



For more information on removing the child account from Family, you can refer the article

Remove members from your family group.



Please reply with the status of the issue, we will be glad to help you further.



Regards,

Nikhar Khare

Microsoft Community - Moderator

 

Windows 10 - Trying to convert local to Microsoft account - getting "account already exists" error

Hello James,

To convert local account to Microsoft account follow the steps below.

• Logout from your existing Microsoft account, login using local account.
• Make sure your connected to internet.
• click Start and then Settings.
• Click Accounts and click on Sign in with a Microsoft account instead.
• Follow onscreen instructions.

[*]This will help you to convert local account to Microsoft account.
[*]Get back to us if you are still unable to convert the account so we can further troubleshoot the issue.
[*]

 

Convert online Microsoft Azure account to local account?

Unfortunately, you cannot switch an Azure AD account to a local or Microsoft account. You need to create a new user account first, make it an admin account, then disconnect from your organizational account, restart and sign in to new local account.

All software remains installed and intact but all user specific customizations and settings are lost, new local user starting from scratch with default settings.

The whole process step by step:

1.) Copy your personal data (documents, images etc.) from current Azure AD user profile folder to respective folders in C:\Users\Public

2.) In Settings > Accounts > Other people, add a new local user (see Option One in this tutorial) and change it's account type to Administrator (tutorial)

3.) Check that everything is correct, that you will see your Azure AD account under Work or school users (yellow highlight), and your new local admin account under Other people (blue highlight):





4.) Select Access work or school on left pane, select the connected Azure AD domain, click Disconnect:





5.) Click Yes:





6.) Click Disconnect:





7.) Enter the username and password for your new local admin account, click OK:





8.) Click Restart now:





9.) When back on desktop with your new local admin account, move personal data from Public folder and its subfolders you backed up in step 1 above to respective subfolders on new user profile folder. If the old Azure AD user profile folder is still present in Users folder, it can be deleted now.

That's it.