All Microsoft products and services are linked to your Microsoft account. Even Windows provides the ability to log in with the same account. So, How to Change Microsoft Account on Windows 10?
However, many users have multiple Microsoft accounts to separate their personal and professional lives. Others prefer to use local accounts. But, if you need to, how do you change your Microsoft account on a Windows 10 computer? How to create/add a new account?
Although a Microsoft account is not required to use a Windows 10 computer, it is still recommended. There may be other reasons to update or change the Microsoft account details on your computer:
- You bought a second-hand computer and the last owner ignored/forgot to format it.
- You are living a double life. There are multiple jobs that require you to log in to different accounts.
- You are an advanced user, hobbyist or developer who likes tinkering.
- You want to use two OneDrive accounts to maximize the available space.
Let’s learn how to change your Microsoft account on a Windows 10 computer and what to watch out for when doing so.
ADD EMAIL ID AND NUMBER TO SAME MICROSOFT ACCOUNT
Many users want to change their Microsoft account login email and phone number. There is no need to create a new account for this. You can add up to 10 email IDs and numbers as “aliases” to the same account without creating a new account for each account. You can also replace the old account information with the new account information or set the new ID to “primary”.
Step 1: Open your Microsoft Account manage area and under Account aliases where you can add a new email ID or number.
Step 2: If you want to create a new Outlook account there, please choose the first option, and if you use a third-party email provider such as Gmail, please choose the second option.
You need to know that you cannot move an alias from one Microsoft account to another. You also cannot restore the alias. If you delete the alias in your Microsoft account, it will be permanently deleted from Microsoft’s servers, and you or anyone else will not be able to use it on another Microsoft account.
CHANGE MICROSOFT ACCOUNT TO LOCAL AND VICE VERSA
Other users want to get rid of their Microsoft account and switch locally, and vice versa.
For beginners, you can create two types of accounts on a Windows computer. You can create a local account or a Microsoft account. Local accounts only require a username and password. You can also delete the password later. None of your Microsoft data will leave your computer or be synchronized with any other Windows devices. It stays offline and on a single device. However, without a Microsoft account, some Microsoft applications (such as Store, Skype, etc.) will not be able to run or download.
On the other hand, a Microsoft account synchronizes all your activities on all devices and stores all data in the cloud on Microsoft servers. The advantages are obvious. Do you want to switch between them?
Step 1: Press Windows key+I to open Settings and click on Accounts.
Step 2: Click on ‘Sign in with a local account instead’ option to begin the process.
Then follow the instructions on the screen. You may need to enter your current Microsoft account password/PIN for verification.
To switch from a local account to a Microsoft account, follow the same steps. This time, select the “Sign in with Microsoft account” option, which should be visible because you are using a local account.
CHANGE TO NEW MICROSOFT ACCOUNT OR ADD NEW MICROSOFT ACCOUNT
You have a new Microsoft account with a different email ID (Outlook.com or Live.com owned by Microsoft), and you want to use this new account on your Windows 10 computer.
Step 1: Open Settings again (Windows key+I) and go to Accounts > Family & other users.
Step 2: Click on ‘Add someone else to this PC’ button.
You will now follow the instructions on the screen to enter your new Microsoft account ID and password to add this account to your computer. The setup guide includes settings such as 2FA and Windows Hello. Just like when you add your first Microsoft account.
With this new Microsoft account, you will create a new user account on your computer. You can switch between these two users or restart the computer via the start menu as usual.
DUAL ACCOUNTING SYSTEM
Microsoft provides a variety of ways to manage Windows 10 computers. Unlike Windows 7 and earlier, you have more options, such as using a local or Microsoft account, which opens up new possibilities. I suggest you take the time to think about what you want to do and how you want to do it. This saves you from having to switch back and forth between settings and accounts. Always use features such as Hello or 2FA to protect your account. One day, any of these methods will save you a lot of trouble.
