After installing the all-new Windows 11 OS on your system, the first thing it asks for is to log in with a Microsoft Account or create a Local Account. Microsoft recommends using a Microsoft account instead of a local account to log in on Windows 11 system. It is because Microsoft Account gives access to additional features such as OneDrive, Microsoft Store, multi-device syncing, and more. In short, to utilize the full potential of Windows 11, log in with a Microsoft account is a must.
If you have created a local account while beginning with Windows 11 and now want to switch to a Microsoft account, this post will provide you with two ways to do that.
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Switch to Microsoft Account through Windows 11 Settings
The best and quickest way to switch to a Microsoft Account is through Windows 11 Account settings. For that, follow these steps:
Click on Start and select Windows 11 Settings to launch it.
Switch to the Accounts tab and choose the Family & other users option.
Next, click on Add account button.
On the next window, enter the email associated with your Microsoft account, and click next. If you don’t have a Microsoft account, you can create one by clicking on the I don’t have this person’s sign-in information option or through Microsoft’s official website.
Click on Finish to add the Microsoft Account.
The newly added Microsoft account will be, by default, a Standard one. However, you can easily convert a standard account to an Administrator account.
Switch to Microsoft Account using Netplwiz Run Command
Another way to add a Microsoft Account in Windows 11 is using the Netplwiz Run Command. Here are the steps for that:
- Use Windows + R keys combination to open the Run Command window.
- Type netplwiz in the command space and hit the enter key.
- Click on the Add button to continue.
- Next, type the email address associated with the Microsoft account that you want.
- Finally, click on Finish to complete the process.
Bottom Line
Adding a Microsoft account will help you in using Windows 11 at its full strength. With the methods listed in this post, you can easily switch to a Microsoft account from a local account. Use any of the ways that work for you.
YES, you can have both Microsoft and Local Accounts on your Windows 11 and Windows 10 devices. Follow the steps listed in this post to create a Windows 11 local account.
There are several differences between a Microsoft and a local account. The major one is that the local account wouldn’t sync your data with other devices, whereas you can sync your data with other devices connected with the same Microsoft account. Other than that, a Local account does not require any email registration for log-in, whereas you need to register with an email to log in with a Microsoft Account.
Peter is an Electrical Engineer whose primary interest is tinkering with his computer. He is passionate about Windows 10 Platform and enjoys writing tips and tutorials about it.
