Local accountĪ local account is about as old school as Windows gets. But if you do use a Microsoft account for services such as Office 365 and OneDrive, it makes sense to sign in to Windows using the same account. Note that Windows telemetry data is tied to your device and isn't associated with a Microsoft account.Īnd, of course, you can create a Microsoft account and use it exclusively for signing in to Windows while keeping your email, cloud storage, and other services elsewhere. You can sync data and settings for preinstalled Windows apps (Mail and Calendar, for example) and easily restore apps you download from the Store.You can sign in automatically to any Microsoft consumer service using your saved Microsoft Account credentials.
(For a full list, see "Windows 10 roaming settings reference.") That includes personalization settings like your desktop background, saved passwords (including Wi-Fi profiles), language and regional settings, and more.
On PCs designed for Windows 10 or Windows 11, signing in with a Microsoft account automatically enables full-disk encryption for the system drive, even on systems running Home edition.
Signing in to your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC with a Microsoft account offers several distinct benefits: You can also sign up for a new account anytime, choosing a new address at or using your own email address. If you have an email account at or (or, for old-timers, at or msn.com), you already have a Microsoft account. This is Microsoft's free online account for personal use, required for signing in to the company's consumer services, including OneDrive, Xbox Live, Skype, and Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) Family and Personal subscriptions, among others.
Windows 11 Home edition gives you only the option for a Microsoft account, although can add a local account (or remove the connection to the Microsoft account) after you've signed in for the first time. The Setup program is extremely persistent about trying to coax you into signing in with a Microsoft account. On Windows 10 Home edition, that choice isn't available, and you're limited to only the personal options: a local account or a Microsoft account.
This choice is only available with Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise If you choose the second option, you can set up the PC using an account in your Windows Active Directory domain or you can sign in using an Azure Active Directory account, such as the one associated with an Office 365 Business or Enterprise subscription. On business editions (Pro, Pro for Workstations, Enterprise, and Education), the Windows Setup program asks you to choose whether you want to set the PC up for personal use or for use on a network managed by your organization, as shown below. Depending on your Windows edition and network setup, you have a choice of up to four separate account types.
When you set up a Windows PC for the first time, you're required to create a user account that will serve as the administrator for the device.