Windows 10 – How to switch from Microsoft to local account (Anniversary Update)

The following steps show how to switch from logging on using a Microsoft account to a local account.

This will disconnect Windows 10 from associating the Microsoft account with the computer and allow you to use another password to log into the computer.

If your steps look different you may not yet have the Windows 10 Anniversary Update installed, see Windows 10 – How to switch from Microsoft to local account .

  1. Click on the Start button at the bottom left of the screen and then on your profile icon (seen above the settings cog icon)
  2. windows10ae-switchtolocalaccount1
  3. Click on ‘Change account settings’
  4. Click on the ‘Sign in with local account instead’ link
  5. windows10ae-switchtolocalaccount2
  6. Enter the password for the currently logged in Microsoft account
  7. Enter a username and password for the local account, as well as a password hint
  8. windows10-switchtolocalaccount4
  9. Click ‘Next’ then ‘Sign out and finish’
  10. When the computer has finished restarting you will need to log in using the new local account login details.
  11. If you want to make Windows log in automatically, see Windows 10 – How to enable auto logon

Tagged in

2 comments on “Windows 10 – How to switch from Microsoft to local account (Anniversary Update)

  1. The option “Sign In with a local account instead” doesn’t exist in Windows 10 Anniversary.
    PLEASE I NEED HELP WITH THIS
    I use my microsoft account just to disable DVR in XBOX app and now my whole account is microsoft connected.
    I WANT LOCAL ACCOUNT AND I CANT FIND WHERE I CAN CHANGE IT!!

    1. Hey – I feel your pain! I registered my Office 2016 install and it did the same thing on me!! I’ve just checked on my Windows 10 Anniversary Update computer – and I’m seeing the option exactly like step 5. Perhaps try checking for windows updates (search “Check for updates”) – maybe you’re version is slightly different? Failing this, perhaps you’ll need to abandon your current account, create a new one and then re-setup all your settings, browser etc. Pain, but better than Microsoft recording your every move against your MS account and storing your stuff on the “cloud”.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *