Javier Pastor
Senior WriterComputer scientist turned tech journalist. I've written about almost everything related to technology, but I specialize in hardware, operating systems and cryptocurrencies. I like writing about tech so much that I do it both for Xataka and Incognitosis, my personal blog.
In the past, it was possible to install Windows and use it with a local account without any issues. However, Microsoft has changed its approach and now encourages users to create a user account associated with a Microsoft account (e.g., user@outlook.com) when installing Windows 11 for the first time.
The company’s emphasis on using a Microsoft account has led to an unusual move: the removal of information on how to convert a local account to a Microsoft account.
Initially, the information only covered the process of converting a local account to a Microsoft account. Later, Microsoft included information about the reverse process, but with constant warnings that using a local account wasn’t recommended.
You can see an old version of the page captured on June 12 and stored by the Wayback Machine, part of the Internet Archive, which allows users to access to old versions of web pages and websites.
The current version of Microsoft’s guide no longer includes instructions on how to convert a Microsoft account into a local account. However, this doesn’t mean that the process can no longer be carried out.
Microsoft recommends using a Microsoft account to log in to Windows because it provides integration with various Microsoft services, device synchronization, and improved security.
Nonetheless, there are scenarios where using Windows with a local account is preferable, such as for privacy reasons. These decisions indicate that Microsoft may be making this option less accessible to the average user who may not know they can continue using local accounts.