Microsoft brings local accounts to Windows 11

Last month, Microsoft quietly removed the official instructions for switching to a local account on Windows 11 devices. The company is pushing hard to get its users to sign into its Windows machines with a Microsoft account. However, Microsoft has now reinstated Windows 11’s official guide to switch to a local account. Besides, the company has also added a new set of instructions for creating a password reset disk for local accounts.

Microsoft has reinstated local accounts on Windows 11

According to Tom’s Hardware, Microsoft silently removed the guide to opt for a local account sign-in for Windows 11 on June 17. Before that date, these instructions were earlier listed below the guide to “Change from a local account to a Microsoft account”. Now, the tab for “Change from a Microsoft account to a local account” is back in the same place.

If you want to switch to a local account from a Microsoft account on Windows 11, first go to the Settings app. Then, head to the Accounts tab in the left navigation pane and click on the Your info section on the right. Here, select the “Sign in with a local account instead” option to proceed further. Then, type your username, password, and the password hint. Finally, click on “Next” and select “Sign out and finish”.

Microsoft already removed the bypass that allowed setting up a Windows 11 PC locally

This is not the first time Microsoft has made it difficult for users to switch to a local account. Last month, Microsoft removed a simple bypass, which allowed users to set up Windows 11 by typing a blocked email address. When a user typed a “bad” email address during the installation process, Windows 11 offered the local account option, instead.

Earlier, you could simply bypass this sign-in requirement by selecting “Offline Account” or “Sign in with a local account instead” options. However, the Redmond-based tech giant already removed these options in recent years. That said, it’s good that Microsoft has at least brought back the official guide to switch to a local account via the Settings app.