How to remove microsoft account from windows 10

Although Windows 10 allows you to choose from a Microsoft account or traditional local account through the out-of-box experience (OOBE) or Settings app, the experience has been designed to lure users into selecting the Microsoft account option.

The reason behind this approach is that using a Microsoft account lets you access additional benefits, including the ability to sync settings, passwords, themes, and files across devices. You can manage various aspects of your computer, such as update personal information, reset the account password, and find a device if it's lost or stolen.

However, this is not an account type that everyone wants to use. If you mistakenly created a Microsoft account on Windows 10, or you just don't want to use one, there's an option within the Settings app to switch to a local account without having to start from scratch.

In this Windows 10 guide, we walk you through the steps to switch to a local account from a Microsoft account using the Settings app.

• How to switch to local account using Settings
• How to remove Microsoft account data from Windows 10

How to switch to local account using Settings

To switch to a local account from a Microsoft account on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Accounts.
3. Click on Your info.
4. Click the Sign in with a local account instead option.

1. Type your current Microsoft account password.

1. Click the Next button.
2. Type a new name for your account.
3. Create a new password.
4. Type a hint that will help you to remember your password in case you forget it.

1. Click the Sign out and finish button.

1. Sign back into your account.Quick tip: If you had a PIN previously configured, you can still use it to sign in without having to enter a complex password.

Once you complete these steps, your Windows 10 account will be disconnected from your Microsoft account, and it will switch to the traditional local account style. Using this method, your Microsoft account credentials will continue to be available on the device to sign you into various services as required automatically.

How to remove Microsoft account data from Windows 10

If you're switching to a local account, and you don't want to keep your Microsoft account information on your computer, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Accounts.
3. Click on Email & accounts.
4. Under the "Accounts used by other apps" section, select the Microsoft account that you want to delete.
5. Click the Remove button.

1. Click the Yes button.

After completing these steps, restart your computer to completely remove your Microsoft account information from your device.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

If you cannot remove your Microsoft Account from Windows 10, because the "Remove" button in account options missing, continue reading below. There are reasons why users would want to remove their Microsoft account from a device. For some users, it could be for work reasons, privacy reasons, or to transfer ownership of their computer to other users.

Some Windows 10 users are complaining that they can't remove their Microsoft account from Windows 10, because the "Remove" button is missing in "Email & accounts" settings.

In this article we have collected some solutions to be able to remove your Microsoft account from Windows 10, when the "REMOVE" button is not available.

How to FIX: Unable to Remove Microsoft Account because 'Remove' button is missing on Windows 10 or Windows 11.

• Method 1: Switch to a Local account.
• Method 2: Unlink Microsoft Account from “Access Work or School”.
• Method 3. Stop Signing Automatically to Microsoft Account from other Apps.
• Method 4: Remove the Device from your Microsoft Account's Settings page.

Method 1: Switch to a Local account.

To remove your Microsoft account from Windows 10 (or Windows 11), you must sign in to Windows with a local account. So, if you sign in to Windows with a Microsoft account and it is the only MS account on Windows,* first switch to a local account, and then remove the MS account.

* Note: If you already use a Local Account in Windows, or if you want to remove a secondary Microsoft Account and you can't, skip to next method.

1. Press Windows

2. At Accounts options, click Your info.

3. Click Sign in with a local account instead

4. When it prompts you to be sure you want to switch to a local account, click Next.

5. Type the current password* of your Microsoft account current password and then click OK.

Note: In prompted to type your PIN enter your login PIN.

6. Then type in a username for the local account, and optionally a password and password hint.* When done, click Next.

* Note: The username is mandatory, while password and password hint are optional.

7. Finally, click Sign out and Finish to sign out of Windows with your Microsoft account.

8. Now, you will be asked to login to the Local account you just created. Click Sign-in.

9. Press Windows

10. Select Accounts, and click Emails and accounts

11. Click the drop-down menu next to your Microsoft account. This time the “Remove” button will be visible. Select Remove.

12. You will be prompted to be sure you want to remove the account, click Yes

Method 2: Remove Microsoft Account from “Access Work or School”

In some cases your cannot remove your Microsoft Account in Windows 10/11, because the account is linked in "Access Work or School" accounts. In that case, proceed to disconnect your MS account in "Access Work or School" options.

1. Press Windows

2. Select Accounts, and click Access work or school

3. Click the drop-down on the work or school MS account linked to your PC, then select Disconnect. *

* Note: If you don't see the Microsoft account here, go back and check if the account is listed at Family and other users group and remove the MS account from there.

4. You will be prompted to confirm if you want to remove this account, click Yes

5. At this point, the Microsoft Account should be removed.

Method 3. Stop Signing Automatically to Microsoft Account from other Apps.

1. Press Windows

2. At Accounts options, click Your info.

3. At 'Your Info' page click Stop signing in to all Microsoft apps automatically.

Method 4: Remove Device from Microsoft Account Settings page.

An alternative way to remove a Microsoft Account from a device, is to to remove the device from your Microsoft Account's settings page in web. To do that:

1. Open your favorite web-browser and sign-in to your Microsoft Account.

2. When your Microsoft account webpage open in your browser, select Devices from the tabs on the top.

3. You will be prompted to verify your identity by typing your password. Type it and click Sign in.

4. You will see your device linked to your Microsoft account. Select Remove device

5. You will get a prompt to confirm that you want to remove the account. Check the box I’m ready to remove this device, then select Remove

6. You will get a confirmation that device has been removed. Click OK.

That's it! Which method worked for you?
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