Creating Local Accounts in Windows 10

All About the Microsoft Account

If you're not interested in any of those features, however, a local account might be a better option. Local accounts are also handy if you want to create a simplified account for another user on your PC.

First, I'll show you how to switch the account you sign-in with to a local account, and then we'll look at creating local accounts for other users.

Creating a Local Account

To begin, click on the Start button and select the Settings app from the menu. Then go to Accounts > Your email and accounts. Just above the sub-heading that says "Your picture," click on Sign in with a local account instead.

Password Check

Now, you'll see a blue sign-in window asking for your password to confirm it's really you asking for the switch. Enter your password and click Next.

Go Local

Next, you'll be asked to create the local account credentials by choosing a ​username and password. There's also an option to create a password hint in case you forget your login. Try to choose a password that is not easy to guess and has a string of random characters and numbers. For more password tips check out About's tutorial on How to Make a Strong Password.

Once you've got everything ready, click Next.

Sign Out and Finish

We're almost at the last step. All you have to do here is click Sign out and finish. This is your last chance to rethink things. After you click that button you'll have to go through the process of switching back to a Microsoft account--which honestly isn't that hard.

All Done

After you've signed out, sign back in. If you have a PIN set-up you can use that again. If you're using a password, use the new one to sign-in. Once you get back to your desktop, open the Settings app again and go to Accounts > Your email and accounts.

If everything went smoothly, you should now see that you're logging in to Windows with a local account. If you ever want to switch back to a Microsoft account go to Settings > Accounts > Your email and accounts and click on Sign in with a Microsoft account instead to start the process.

Local for Other Users

Now let's create a local account for someone who will not be a PC administrator. Again, we'll open the Settings app, this time going to Accounts > Family & Other users. Now, under the sub-heading "Other users" click Add someone else to this PC.

Sign-in Options

This is where Microsoft gets a little tricky. Microsoft would prefer it if people didn't use a local account so we'll have to be careful about what we click. On this screen click the link that says I don't have this person's sign-in information. Don't click anything else or enter an email or phone number. Just click that link.

Not There Yet

Now we're almost at the point where we can create a local account, but not quite. Microsoft adds one more tricky screen that could fool some into creating a regular Microsoft account by beginning to fill out the form pictured here. To avoid all this only click the blue link at the bottom that says Add a user without a Microsoft account.

Finally

Now we've made it to the right screen. Here you fill out the username, password, and password hint for the new account. When everything is set-up how you'd like it ​click Next.