Difference Between Microsoft Account and Local Account in Windows 10

If you were Windows XP or Windows 7 user, you may know the local account better. Technically, local account is not an account but a privilege that allows users to access the computer locally. And a local account only works on the specific computer.

Microsoft account generally applies to Windows services. You have already got a Microsoft account if you have ever used Xbox Live, Hotmail, Outlook.com, OneDrive, Windows Messenger, etc. Microsoft account has already been associated with all of Microsoft’s services. You are allowed to access them with a Microsoft account that includes one email address and password.

Similar to Android’s Google Play and Apple’s iTunes App Store, Microsoft also has its own Micorsoft Store. You can sign in Microsoft Store with a Microsoft account then download the latest applications on your PC.

Once you create a Microsoft account, you will get 5GB of free cloud storage. OneDrive is a built-in tool in Windows 10 allowing you to store your files in the cloud. You can access them from other devices. Besides, you can also use OneDrive to share any files stored in the cloud with others.

You are allowed to sync your account settings stored in Windows 10. All changes or settings will be stored in OneDrive. When you sign in another Windows device with your Microsoft account, account settings also follow you.

Press “Win” + “I” key to enter “Windows settings” and then click “Accounts” in the pop-up Settings interface.

Click “Your info”, you will find out “Local Account Administrator” if you are using local account. Please click “sign in with a Microsoft account instead” if you intend to change it to a Microsoft account.

When you are using a Microsoft account, your email address usually displays in the screen. If you don’t have a Microsoft account, you can create one with your existing email such as MSN, Hotmail, Outlook.com, Gmail, etc. Besides, click “Manage my Microsoft account” then you can manage your account’s information. Please click “sign in with a local account instead” if you intend to change Microsoft account to a local account.

It’s necessary to sign in with Microsoft account if you want to try all of Microsoft service in Windows 10. However, using a Microsoft account to sign in, it’s tiring to enter its password in the login screen every time. If the password is forgotten and cannot sign in to Windows 10, it’s suggested to use Renee PassNow to solve this problem.

Here are detailed steps on how to reset login password with Renee PassNow.

Step 1: Download and install Renee PassNow in any workable Windows computer. 

Step 2: Choose creation method, USB or CD/DVD.

Step 3: Boot the target PC from the created password reset USB/CD/DVD.

You will boot the target computer via a new created reset disk. Firstly, please hold a hot key to enter the BIOS menu and put CD-ROM or Removable Devices as the first choice. Please click here to know about how to change the boot order of your computer. After changing it successfully, please remember to save your setting and then restart your PC.

Step 4: Select “PassNow!”.

Step 5: Choose target account and then click “Clear Password”.

You can also recover Microsoft account in Windows 10/8.1/8. That is, Renee PassNow will convert the Microsoft account to a local account and the data or files inside it will still exist. After the software says that password is reset successfully, you can directly press “Enter” key to access Windows.

Besides, you can also create a new administrator to quickly access your PC. Please click “Create new account”.