Hey there, friends! Uncle Marv here with some exciting news from the world of Windows.
Remember when Microsoft made it super tricky to set up Windows without using a Microsoft Account? Well, it looks like they've had a change of heart. Microsoft has officially reinstated its guide for switching from a Microsoft Account to a local account in Windows.
This is big news for those of us who prefer to keep things local. As Tom's Hardware reports,
"We are happy to see Microsoft has reinstated its official step-by-step guide explaining how to switch from a Microsoft Account to a local account."
So, what's the deal?
- The guide was originally published on June 12, 2023, but mysteriously vanished on June 17.
- Now it's back, and it works with the latest versions of Windows.
- You can find the instructions in Microsoft's support article titled "Change from a local account to a Microsoft account".
But wait, there's more! Microsoft has also published a new guide for creating a password reset disk for local account users. This is crucial because, as Microsoft warns, "if you don't do this and then forget your password, you won't be able to recover it."
Now, I know what some of you are thinking - "Why would Microsoft make this change?" Well, while Microsoft still prefers users to sign in with online accounts (hello, data collection!), they're responding to user demand. It's a step towards giving us more control over our account preferences in Windows.
For those visual learners out there, I'd suggest including a simple flowchart or infographic showing the steps to switch to a local account. We could also add a screenshot of the reinstated guide on Microsoft's support page to give folks an idea of what to look for.
Remember, if you're having trouble finding the option to switch back to a local account, don't panic! There are workarounds, which we'll cover in our next podcast episode. Stay tuned!
What do you think about this move from Microsoft? Are you team local account or team Microsoft Account? Let us know in the comments below!
Until next time, Holla!
Citations:
https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/1dn7lmz/microsoft_account_to_local_account_conversion/
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/sign-in-with-local-account-instead-missing
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-set-up-microsoft-windows-with-local-account
