The account recovery process is one reason I don't want to use a Microsoft account. Anyone who can get Microsoft to disgorge the recovery information (fraud, data breach, subpoena, warrant, NSL) can also "recover" the account. And Microsoft has been known to ban accounts. Bottom line: why would I want Microsoft to control hardware I purchased?
@@MichaelDomer speaking for myself: MS owns the software, the hardware is mine, I paid for it, I want to have a control over it. MS collects my data, it trades with it, they use me as a product, and if I have a Pro version, I pay extra in comparison to just a Home Premium, so MS isn't quite free for me, is it? I pay for that one, too when I buy a PC. I should have rights to control what that software does with my hardware. And if my MS account was hacked, I don't want to lose my access to my PC completely if the MS account was the only one on it. Or do you find it fair to be a hostage of a service I paid for? I don't.
Just bought an inexpensive laptop to MESS around with because I’m lost in Windows 11. I’ll keep my work one(s) separate. My first PC was an IBM XT. So I’m not new to the game. Have used pcs, Mac, Linux, etc etc. I have an MS account and subscribe to 365. The filing system or “file explorer” is driving me insane. I have so many instances of “Documents” in the left panel. Some seem to be mapped to the “onedrive/user/ blah blah. And then some are empty. And then some are “Home” and some are “Personal.” I wanted to play around with signing out and use a local account to see if that would make my life easier. Before I’d just save something and that was it. Now it’s very frustrating. Thanks for this video, and please recommend any other videos you may have uploaded that deal with the maze of filing.
except that you can't use a Microsoft 365 email account or the associated azure account. yes signing in with a Microsoft account is similar as signing in locally, except privileges to your account are very different. Microsoft becomes the domain administrator of your Microsoft account, which means that if you do use Microsoft encryption, they have keys to that data.
Good vid Leo, you understand but you don't talk about the real issue here. Remember the days of no accounts, no users, no passwords, no internet? The days when you turned on your machine and went to work? Like Gates said at a very early CES, "we have a path choice to make"....security or innovation. He chose security for economic reasons and it has been corporate intrusion ever since.
It is my experience that no internet, no login, if you don't also have a Windows Hello Pin. If you have a Windows Hello pin then you can login without internet. I'm sure that is why Leo recommends a local account also.
Or that once to sign in with a MS account that it auto sets up OneDrive and backs up your Desktop, Documents, Picture folders that once you start storing data could soon be out of space with MS wanting money/CC from you. Then you are watching a series a AskLeo videos trying to work out how to untangle the OneDrive mess, Leo doesn't see that as a downside.
@@thomasg.7000 Unfortunately, not every webcam works with Windows Hello. Your laptop webcam needs an infrared (IR) camera to use the feature, which are more common in new laptops and two-in-ones from the past several years, including those from Dell, Lenovo and Asus.3 Dec 2022
Hi Leo and thanks for the video. It seems to me though that here we're seeing a comparison between a local account and a *personal* microsoft account. I encourage (not in the Microsoft sense :) ) to get your own tenant for free (as a developer for example) and test a work/school MS account. You will notice that microsoft puts in place by default some Entra templates that are quite invasive and difficult to change, trying to enforce you to send as telemetry as possible (ex. Office's connected experiences) and enabling bitlocker. One way of MS "strongly encouraging" users to use a MS account is to request if you want to stay signed in in this app or all apps. And answering all implies switching to MS account. What if we just want to stay signed in (for example to switch from sharepoint to outlook to excel) without having to switch to a MS account? (and when I say a MS account that means *any* type of MS account). Thx
Also another hassle with a MS account is I have a PC that the whole family uses, but if I sign in using a Microsoft account the whole family can see my OneDrive, which has sometimes client specific information that's not in an encrypted file
@@raylopez99 You have to program the OneDrive in the right way, by referring each user to a separate directory (with his name), otherwise you will get this kind of weird stuff
NEVER! Probably the most vulnerable OS ever and we're supposed to trust that our online account is secure? Uh, no. BTW, what the hell do you do if you don't have internet access??
If I wanted to use a Microsoft account, my PC would need to be attached to the internet. That's enough of a reason to use a local account. And I don't trust ANY big tech company enough to use the "cloud". Just NO.
For your information, Microsoft has already full access to your computer once you install Windows, you're already on the cloud, having no Microsoft account won't change that.
I currently have 2 local user accounts on my PC -- one Admin, the other standard. So when I update to Windows 11, will both of those local accounts be wiped out?
No real downside? Except maybe security. If I get access to your computer, may be by simply looking over your shoulder to get your 4 digit PIN, I then not only have access to your computer but also ALL of your online data. Everything on your OneDrive, any website you used you MS account to access, etc. The ‘convenience’ of a single sign on comes at the cost of security which can have drastic financial outcomes.
What if you signed into a brand new computer with a gmail account or a yahoo account when first taken out of the box and turned the beast on? Is that still a Microsoft account? What if you have changed the password to a pin instead. Can you get a new pin or do you get a password recovered that would work and then make a new pin?
I was forced to sign into my Microsoft account in the last boot of my Desktop computer. This resulted in the dumping of Microsoft from my house. No more of their funny business and I will use anything else.
I don't mind signing into a Microsoft Account IN Windows, but I absolutely refuse to sign into Windows with a Microsoft Account. There is a difference. For me, it all comes down to one simple fact; whoever controls your login credentials controls your computer. Everyone else supports the idea that you control your device login, and they control the login to their services; Microsoft is the outlier here. When it comes right down to it, logging into the device with their credentials is a necessary step to make Windows a subscription service.
@@brodriguez11000 yep, and that's exactly why I'm replying to this comment on a Linux machine, and have two Macs as well as the one Windows 10 laptop I let the grandkid use.
I use a pin for signing in as Microsoft recommended. Does that mean I have a Microsoft account. I find all of this logging in stuff confusing in win 10.
If it gives you the option to use the password instead of the PIN on the sign in screen, then this will (generally) be a local account (although it is possible to have Microsoft accounts set up like this, where you can use the Microsoft account password) Under the PIN box, there will be buttons to select PIN, Password, Picture Password (if set up), etc… If those buttons do not appear at all, then it will be a Microsoft Account (nowadays by default you can’t use the Microsoft account password to sign in to the computer, however, i suspect you can still use the Microsoft account to reset the PIN)
@@j.oliveira.j I've done it by entering a fake microsoft account email address and a bad password when it asks for an account. On the error screen you then get an option or two more.
@@MichaelDomer Dude, what is with the "defending the honor" of Microsoft. I happened to see your name on multiple instances of this, are you a Microsoft employee?
@@NSJ-ve5pl All I said was that a user is not forced to use a Mirosoft account, and you call that "defending the honor" of Microsoft of Microsoft? You have some seriously issues dear man.
So disappointed to hear a reputable well respected youtuber such as yourself promoting the "virtues" of a MS acct! There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING good that benefits the end user...only MS! I agree 100% with most of the commenters and see a dozen other youtube videos that appear to the right of my screen that all warn against using a MS acct. 95% of my computer repair customers don't even know their MS acct has a pw. They only know their PIN which even limits my ability to repair computers unless I provide the actual pw. And if a hacker steals their acct (which happens regularly), well kiss goodbye those files that MS "moved" to OneDrive and no longer even exist on their harddrive!!
Thank you Leo for explaining the differences beteen local and MS accounts. Enjoyed the video. In a future video you may want to warn people that logging into a MS account can inadvertently at a future date activate Bitlocker encryption and potentially lock someone out of their computer. The BL key is supposedly tied to the MS login account. However, people have found that the correct key is not always tied to the login account. Thanks again for your informative videos!
Yep that happens far too often now PC is encrypted, can't log in and can't recover data, lets hope those MS account recovery options were created and kept up to date.
I think real question should be: What added functionality do I get using a Microsoft account? What circumstances might require it? And, what types information is Microsoft tracking with that account.
There are a lot of registry hacks in gpedit that you can either enable or disable various functions to prevent Microsoft from tracking you as much as possible like telemetry. Britec has a 1 hour video showing step by step where to go to either enable or disable a function, otherwise those functions are "not configured". It's Microsoft's own programming that allows certain functions to operate or not.
I always keep a paper record of passwords. And I never let anyone use my machine. I keep several PCs and each one has one or two functions for that particular machine. Laptops are a dime a dozen. I find windows cluttered with things I never use. Why should I have to de-clutter an OS that is bogged down on day one ??? I find repairing machines a nightmare with customers having them jammed with data that they have trouble getting lost within the maze. There's nothing worst than repairing a PC that the customer has loaded up with software needs of several people and their gaming kids. Microsoft has a bad habit of shuffling and renaming everyday functions from release version to the next version. I'll take linux everytime.
For those who are paranoid about Microsoft seeing their data, why do you think they would care what you have on your computer? If they have nothing better to do than pay an employee to sit and eavesdrop on what you are putting on your computer, I feel sorry for them. Face it, you and your data aren't that interesting.
I have never used a Microsoft account in Windows. Running Win11 Pro now with one local user as admin. I doubt I'll ever forget my password as I use my machine every day as a software engineer. I've had friends that couldn't get into their local account on many versions of Windows. Give me 15 minutes or so and I'll be at their desktop where we can reset password.
If you are going to claim password recovery is an advantage of a MS Account then maybe advise people to use a password manager as the solution to all their forgotten passwords/pins. Also let's not forget with a MS account you need to have/keep the account recovery options up to date rather than OH! I don't have that email address any more and that was the only recovery option provided, you can provide more than one including a phone authenticator app... but most people don't. I rather be recovering a local account forgotton password than a MS account forgotten password with no current valid account recovery options.
There are many ways to lose a password that a vault won't help. Yes, you should use one, but that doesn't mean you'll never want to do a password recovery. And recovery options: KEEP THEM UP TO DATE. It's the #! reason I see people losing accounts permanently - not just Microsoft accounts, but Google and others.
First of all, thank you for the video. Yeah this is fine and dandy. For now it is still completely doable to have a local account at least until the next version which will be completely AI based (which MS has already released that info), Along with every MS app it contains, to which they already have started by consolidating certain apps and infusing Bing AI chat GPT. If you thought it was challenging to have a local account to stay off MS in 11, just wait for the next version. In any case we shall soon see. I do not understand the big push on AI, I am one who does not use it or want it. I know things are changing, some for good and some not so good depending on the user. Currently I am not keen on the direction Microsoft is heading or this AI stuff, but hey who am I, just one user out of many and my opinions mean nothing. Unfortunately for those of us like me will have no choice in the matter if we wish to continue using windows, we must accept Microsoft's demanding terms. It's very sad and disappointing. Se la Vie!
I've still got a few years left on this Dell with Windows 11. Already trying to decide if I want to give Apple another shot or go back to Linux. I currently don't like any of them. I actually prefer FreeBSD, but it's a bit of grief with certain hardware and I don't have as much confidence in finding info circumventing any problems I run into.
Yup … microsoft and google and apple want as much of my data as they can get their hands on … I consider that a very big down side… all so I can have recover my password….not worth it … that’s why I have converted to Linux and open office, etc Ps nice informative videos… thanks
@@NSJ-ve5pl It's a known fact that it's actually Linux users seeing little of the real world, because they're always too busy in their Linux cave trying to fix things.
I didn't realise that you had to be connected to the internet to login to a pc/laptop with a password which is same as your Microsoft account. So if that's true and you've forgotten it how can you access it from another PC? Confused!
Recently, it's very complex to make your first login without internet (you can google how.) But once you have a login it will work without internet. And you can create a local admin login, then delete the one that required internet.
I had to setup a local account and then sign in to my Microsoft account within the local account because setting up smb or local file sharing is near impossible with a microsoft account login. You can't simply use your microsoft account login credentials to login to windows/smb file sharing. There's apparently some odd syntax you have to use with your login in the username field to get this to work but I can't remember what it was and this information is hard to find anyways.
@ScottJPowers: "There's apparently some odd syntax you have to use with your login in the username field to get this to work but I can't remember what it was" try using the exact name of the User account folder the MS account created as it won't be the email address but abbreviated instead, I have found this in the past when people use the rename option on a local account it still requires the name of the user account folder and not the new account name.
I had Microsoft account I don't see any advantage to use a Microsoft account The only differ eds is that they fraud your account and add more accounts what they did to me.
Still didn't see rhe compelling reason to not have a Microsoft account. Local accounts allow me to choose whatever password I want, easy to remember, no rules, no one can use account unless they have access to computer... Nothing, unless this user is new to computers, not likely to forget password. Also,add an administrator account (local or m.s., and even if I forget paaword to the local account, an admin can reset password. If I forget password to a m.s. account, I can't access any pc with that I.d. Yes, there are security questions that can be answered to reset, but same questions for local and m.s. Account, and both let user reset password
No reason to not have a MS account... except that they are watching everything you do, say, type etc and are selling that data to hundreds of partners who take that data and combine it with data from all of your other accounts (twitter/X, facebook, tiktok, linked in, etc) and generate huge profiles on you for commercial and government purposes, but also available for people who want to pay for it (large companies who want to hire you).
@@UncleUncleRj i can think of why not having a microsoft account, which needs strong passwords that can be easily forgotten (unless you use a password manager - which i do). also, some people don't need one more place for email. i have already 4 email accounts. BTW: i do have a microsoft account, but i'm pointing out to the poster that there are reasons for not using a microsoft account, which he says there isn't any reasons - ie: everyone should use them.
3:21 I remember one time in my school days like 20 yrs ago when my classmate ask my help coz he can't remember the password to his old laptop lying in the cabinet. I told him I'll hack that laptop.. but all I did was just put in a bootable disc on the DVD drive and run cmd prompt to reset the password 😂😂😂😂
Where logging in with an MS account really helped me out was upgrading my machine. Something burned up on my main desktop machine (probably a connector) so I began to use my backup machine to get my work done. In the meantime I had bought and installed a new current gen CPU, motherboard, and memory. I downloaded a fresh install of Win 10, installed it and logged in with my MS account and with a few clicks my old product key was transferred to the fresh install of Win 10 running on new hardware without the BS of dealing with customer support to get Windows reactivated again.
you forgot to mention that you can easily remove/reset admin password on local account, but if someone steals your microsoft account you're screwed big time, you will never get it back and won't be able to log in to your computer
wrong, your machine password (pin)is not your Microsoft account password, by default one should startup the machine in safe mode, create an user with admin privileges, to either delete the locked out account or set a new password
When I set up my computer several years ago, I used an email address that I no longer have or can access, but worse is that I used a password that I'll never find or remember. Thus, while I can still log into my Windows OS when I boot my computer using a PIN, I'll never be able to log into my Microsoft account. I'm not sure that's a bad thing.
I was travelling once and i forgot my laptop's alohanumeric pin but thank fully i had a microsoft sign in through which i signed in otherwise i would have been in a big fix
leo , i have windows 10 , i went to account it asked me to sign in which it sent me a code to my email and i did that but i don't see the add a account , is this different on a windows 10?? i was trying to also add a local account as you showed to do . great video by the way i am subscribed and gave a thumb up!
Great job explaining, and I'm still a bit confused! I'm on Windows 10 and sign in to my PC with a local (standard, non-admin) account. But when I'm logged in like that, I still can access everything from my Microsoft 365 susbscription -- One Drive, Outlook, etc. RIghtly or wrongly, I prefer to sign in as a local, non-admin user, so if I get hacked, it's not on an admin account. So how is is that I log in locally, but still can use Microsoft tools?!?
I found that a local account was necessary to swap files between my desktop and laptop via a local network. I think Microsoft is making it harder in order to promote One Drive
What is the difference between using a Microsoft account and a local account? 13 Jan 2023 One of the biggest differences between a local account and a Microsoft account is that the former is exclusive to the Windows PC you created it on. A Microsoft account exists on the internet, and you can access it on a range of devices, including computers, phones, and the Xbox family of consoles.
Does a local account work without Internet? With a local account, you do not need to connect to the Internet to log in to your computer. You can configure Windows 10 to use a local account during the initial setup or after it.
What are the 3 types of local user accounts? How to determine your user account type in Windows ... Standard User accounts are for everyday computing. Administrator accounts provide the most control over a computer, and should only be used when necessary. Guest accounts are intended primarily for people who need temporary use of a computer.
Can I use a local account on Windows 11? ONLY on Windows 11 Pro !! 19 May 2023 Even when disconnected from the internet, the setup screen insists you sign into a Microsoft account. Fortunately, you can get around this restriction. Turns out local accounts are still available during Windows 11 setup if you put in a little bit of keyboard work.
Can you skip Microsoft account for Windows 11? Windows 11 offers users the option to pick a local account instead of a Microsoft one. Here's how to do it: When asked to sign in with a Microsoft account, opt for the “Offline account” selection. Then choose the “Limited experience” option.
In reality, if you are using MS Windows, Microsoft owns your computer (and the data you have in it). There is no such thing as a PC (personal computer) anymore. Unless you completely disconnect from the Internet. I'm going back to my old Radio Shack PC that's not connected to anything, except a 120vac outlet.
