Windows 10: Windows 11 Local Accounts

If I upgrade to Windows 11, will I still be able to use purely local "Local Accounts", i.e. ones not linked to a MS Account? When I took an initial look at it, it looked like new accounts must use Windows Hello, and must be linked to online accounts, is this true?

:)

 

Local account installation question

I'm fairly certain that Skip this step was available in 10.0.130 - the workaround in Step 20 (back button) is no longer required.

The currently known, as of 10.0.130, ways to create a Local account sign-in are

• Skip this step at the MS account creation phase
• No Internet connection during the install
• static IP (post# 2 by Fragment) - New (to me anyway)

 

How to create a Local account in Windows 11

Windows 11, the latest Operating system by Microsoft is released on October 5th, 2021. When you set up a device for the first time, the user is strongly recommended to use Microsoft Account as it offers a lot of advantages compared to a Local account. For Home editions, there is no option to create a local account during the first run. Afterwards you have set your primary account as Microsoft Account, you can create a Local account if you need. This article shows how to Create a new Local account in Windows 11.

Microsoft Account vs Local account

A Local account is a kind of Offline account, where the detail is limited to only one PC. No data is synced over to other computers, and for apps that require sign in, need to be signed in separately using a Microsoft Account.

A Microsoft Account is an online account, which uses your email and password to sign in to the computer. It offers more security, provides more recovery options in case you forget your PIN or Password, Sync your themes, apps and settings to the other devices with the same Microsoft account, reduces activation hassle etc etc. One of my personal favorites is OneNote app - If I note something on a notebook, I can quickly access them on another computer as long as I am using the same Microsoft Account. In Windows 11, the start menu has a separate section for the files you recently accessed, provided they are on another computer.

How to Create a Local account in Windows 11

I list 3 methods to Create Local account in Windows 11 apart from the Settings app which is known to all, starting from the UI to the command line.

1. Create a Local account using netplwiz

• Press Win+R Keys to open Run dialog box.
  
• Type netplwiz and press enter.
  
• Click Add button.
  

• Click Sign in without a Microsoft Account. For Windows 10 Home, if you do not see that option, disconnect from the Internet.
  
• Click Local account if prompted.
  
• Type the username you want, and the password. You must also specify a hint. Click Next.
  

• Click Finish.
  
• Log off and log in to the new account.
  

Add a Local account using command Prompt.

Microsoft also offers an option to create a Local account using Command line. To create a Local account using Command Prompt(You can also use Terminal or Windows Powershell), see the steps below:

• Type cmd in the search, right-click it and press enter. Alternatively, press Win+R, type cmd in Run and Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter.
  

• Execute the command in the following format:
  

net user "<Username>" "<Password>" /add

• Replace <Username> with the desired username, and <Password> with the desired password.
  

These steps can show you how to add a new local user account to Windows 11. If you want, you can promote the account from a standard account(by default), to an administrator that can make system wide changes, using the steps below:

• Go to: Settings>Accounts>Family and other users.
  
• Under Other users, click "Change Account type".
  
• Change it to Administrator.
  

Sumit (@_sumitdhiman) / Twitter

 

Local Account password changed to Online Account Password

Hi,

I suggest you to follow the steps on how to switch from Microsoft account to Local account:

• Click on search in taskbar and type account.
• Click on Accounts.
• Now, under Your account, click on Sign in with Local account instead.
• Enter your Microsoft account password for confirmation and then follow the screen instruction.
• Enter User name credentials for your the Local account and click OK.
• Now, login to Local account.

Hope it helps.