Source : Internet
How to log out of your Microsoft account and log in with a local account on Windows 10/11 (including solutions for not finding options)
Supported systems: Windows 10 / Windows 11 (including 22H2, 23H2, 24H2)
Difficulty: ★★ ☆☆☆
It is recommended to back up important data before operation
Preface
Many people accidentally log into their Microsoft account while installing or using Windows, or later want to switch back to their local account. Microsoft officially provides an entry for "log in with a local account," but many users report being unable to find this option------ which is the main issue this article aims to address.
This article introduces the scenarios step by step in the order of "normal → situations where no options are found, → nuclear power scheme," covering the vast majority of scenarios.
1. Standard method: Switch directly from "Settings" (highly recommended)
Suitable for most users, simple and secure operation, with no data loss.
The steps are as follows:
- Click to open [Settings]
Win + I - Click [Account] on the left→ Click [Your Information] on the right.
- Find the "Log in with a Local Account" link on the page and click it
- The system will ask you to enter your current Microsoft account PIN or password for verification
- Fill in a new local account username, password (you can leave it blank), and a password prompt
- Click [Next] → [Cancel and Complete]
- After restarting, log in with your local account
Verify success: After logging in, go to [Set → Account → Your Information]. If "Local Account" is displayed at the top instead of an email address, the switch is successful.
2. Can't find the "Log in with a local account" option? Causes and solutions
This is the most common confusion. The following situations may cause the option to disappear or become unclickable:
Case 1: The option names are different, but the functions are the same
In some system versions, the text for this option is not "Log in with a local account," but rather:
- "Stop auto-login to all Microsoft apps"
Both options have the same effect and can unbind your Microsoft account to system login. Find any one and follow the process to complete it.
Scenario 2: The current account is a built-in Administrator account
If your account name shows as , it belongs to the Windows built-in administrator account, which cannot be directly unbound from the Microsoft account and will not show the switch option.Administrator
Solution: Create a new local administrator account to use
- Open [Settings → Account → Family and Other Users] → click "Add Others to This Computer.""
- In the pop-up window, select "I don't have this person's login information" → then select "Add a user without a Microsoft account.""
- Enter the new username and password to complete the creation
- Click the newly created account → select "Change Account Type" → set it to "Administrator.""
- Log in using the newly created local account
- Copy the files from the original account to the new account directory
C:\Users\旧用户名
Scenario 3: Use netplwiz to bypass operations
If you can't find the entry point in the settings interface, you can use this method:
- Press , enter, press Enter
Win + Rnetplwiz - Double-click the target account → enter the "Group Member Identity" tab and confirm that it is an administrator
- Here you can see the account's binding status, which can be switched after creating a new local account
3. Advanced solution: Forcibly unbind via the registry
Suitable for: extreme cases such as complete removal of options in the settings interface, errors after clicking, or strong binding of accounts to Administrator.
⚠️ Warning: Operating the registry carries risks. It is recommended to create a system restore point or back up the registry first.
Steps:
Press , enter , press Enter to open the Registry Editor
Win + RregeditDelete items in the following two paths that share the same name as your Microsoft account email:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\IdentityCRL\UserExtendedProperties\【你的微软邮箱】 HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\IdentityCRL\StoredIdentities\【你的微软邮箱】Close the registry editor, log out of your account, and log in again
Go back to [Set → Account → Your Information], and the option "Log in with a local account" should reappear
After completing the account switch, you can also find any remaining Microsoft account email entries in [Settings → Account → Email & Account], and click "Delete" to completely remove them.
4. Thoroughly Clean Up Microsoft Account Traces (Optional)
If you want to clear all login statuses of all Microsoft accounts on your computer:
- Edge browser: Open Edge → Settings → Profile → Log out of your account, clear your history, and save passwords
- OneDrive: Right-click the taskbar on the OneDrive icon → Settings → Account → Unlink this computer
- Office / Microsoft Store: Open the corresponding app and manually exit in account settings
- Global registry cleanup: Open the Registry Editor → Edit → Find, enter your Microsoft email address, and delete the items you find one by one (press F3 to continue searching for the next item)
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
Q: Will the original files be lost after switching to a local account?
A: No, it won't. The switch is the login account type, and all data in the user folder remains unchanged.
Q: Can I switch back to my Microsoft account after switching?
A: Yes, you can. In [Set → Account → Your Information], after changing to your local account, the "Log in with Microsoft Account" entry will appear in the same location.
Q: Can OneDrive still be used after switching?
A: OneDrive does not rely on a system account; you can continue using the OneDrive app by logging into the OneDrive app with your local account.
Q: Are there any special restrictions for Windows 11 Home Edition?
A: The Home Edition requires internet connection and Microsoft account login during the initial installation (OOBE) phase. However, after installation is complete and the system is entered, you can still switch to a local account using the method described in this article.
Summary
| Scene | Recommended method |
|---|---|
| You can find options in the settings | Method 1: Set up → account → log in with a local account |
| The option text is different | Find "Stop auto-login to all Microsoft apps" |
| Administrator account binding | Create a new local administrator account and switch to use it |
| The options completely disappeared | Delete the IdentityCRL related item from the registry and try again |
| He wanted to completely erase all traces | Manually exit all apps + global registry search and cleanup |
I hope this article helps you resolve the issue smoothly. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below!
References: Microsoft Q&A Community, Zhihu, CSDN User Testing Experience
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