How Do I Create a Local Account in Windows 10?

[@askleonotenboom]

When a Microsoft account won’t do.

[@pessie83]

But do you also have to install your software that you previously installed under your Microsoft account?

[@askleonotenboom]

Depends on the software, and how it was originally installed, but generally yes.

[@Hadrian-w9c]

So helpful. Thanks a lot. 👍👍

[@kencominsky803]

Hi Leo, I found this video while searching for answers to another topic (which I'll get to shortly). Although I agree with you 99.9% of the time, I have to respectfully disagree with your assertion that you should only use your MS account to avoid confusion and here's why: in the past, it was clearly stated by most security experts that one of the best ways to protect yourself from malware was to NOT surf the internet as a user with ADMIN privileges. Seems obvious why. I therefore have always created a local account that is defined as a STANDARD user to limit damage if I do catch a virus. Is this reasoning no longer valid? Have things changed to the point where it's okay to surf the web as an administrator? Please advise if there's a better way of working versus my approach. If it's okay with you, I'll hold off on my other topic to wait for your reply to this one. Thank you so much for your thoughts and insights.

[@askleonotenboom]

Even when you're signed into an account that is administrator-capable (as your Microsoft account would likely be) you're not actually running AS the administrator. If something comes up that requires administrative access, you'll be prompted with a UAC dialog and can then take action accordingly. Check out the section "Besides, you’re already limited" here; askleo.com/windows-limited-user-accounts/

[@darkalligator]

I just have an account to install Windows to any pc, then just switch to local.

[@JimE6243]

Thanks Leo. I had issues with logging in with my Microsoft account a couple of months ago. The issue was I could not get it to login automatically at startup no matter what I did after researching the issue. It would always stop and want me to enter a password. Annoying to me. I kept seeing solutions telling me to go to a screen and click login without a password but that screen would not show on my computer. I finally got it to work with a local account and no password but it is not like it use to be. I believe this all started right after a Win10 update. I really wish they would quit screwing with settings during updates. Can you have more than one local account? Thanks for the info. JimE

[@askleonotenboom]

Yes. You can have many local accounts.

[@JimE6243]

@@askleonotenboom 👍

[@PurpleWarlock]

I was stuck on a Safe mode loop as it didn't load up the wifi for the Microsoft login. Had to make a USB bootable drive and enable an admin account. It was a nightmare.

[@coke4274]

Hi Leo, I have a question regarding this topic. I decided to create a disk backup using a program and wiped the drive to fresh install Windows. Unfortunately, I was unable to transfer my old files to the new installation. Firstly, my original installation was under my Microsoft account, and I wanted to create a local account instead. When trying to transfer files, it would freeze halfway through, stuck at 0 bytes and unable to proceed without showing an error. And then, when trying to transfer the folder under C:\Users\MyUsername, it would not let me access it at all, saying I had to have permission. And when going through to add "Administrators" it would pop up that certain files were write protected, and it would be hundreds or thousands of files I had to click "OK" to. Is there a way to remove this limitation so that I can access the files on a new local account? Or do I need to fresh insteall Windows and sign in to the same Microsoft account to access the files?

[@askleonotenboom]

I'd start you here: askleo.com/how-do-i-gain-access-to-files-windows-says-i-dont-have-permission-to-access/

[@reddawn5297]

I legit searched this several days ago

[@marcfazon]

I did this however my local account is not an option to be clicked. Can anyone help?

[@marshmallowbunni1052]

ik this was like a year ago but if you're still looking for an answer or still care at all there's another button that said something like "don't automatically sign me into microsoft services" or something that's in the same place that the "sign in with local account" button was and it does basically the exact same thing. (I just figured that out yesterday and wanted to spread the info cause i couldn't find it anywhere). I did it a day ago and thought it did nothing, but then a day later I checked again and now it says my account is a local account so yeah I hope this helps you out. (p.s. idk if it takes a day to work or not that's just the time that I checked it) oh and btw it just does it automatically it doesn't give you the whole "are you sure" and the windows security screen. my password stayed the same, too. This is just how it worked for me btw, and I have a windows 10 PC that is unable to update to windows 11 so ya. I tried to include all the info you may need about this.

[@Jon-lp6en]

Does it apply to Windows 11?

[@askleonotenboom]

As far as I know it does today, but I've heard rumors that a Microsoft account will be required in some versions of Windows 11 in the future. Exactly what that means here is unclear.

[@skaboosh]

This is because i don't want to be attached to those devils all the time, it's not for the reasons given, why should they be in our lives ENDLESSLY?

[@johnmccune1233]

👍🏽👍🏽