Skip to main content

How to remove a Microsoft account from Windows 11

While many people love porting their Microsoft account to their new Windows 11 PC, just as many hate the experience. One of the nicest things about having a new computer is how little tabs it has over you, and letting Microsoft in from the beginning — especially in a way that feels required — is a bit letdown for privacy-minded people.

To make matters worse, getting rid of your account feels tricky. It not only feels like it, Microsoft is your direct antagonist in getting the privacy you want. Luckily, you can make a local account that is disconnected from the rest of your life to gain back the personal feel of your computer.

Recommended Videos

Removing a Microsoft account from Windows 11

Removing a Microsoft Account in Windows 11
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you have Windows 11, you’ll need some sort of an account on the computer. But, that account doesn’t need to be cloud connected. You can use a local account, with no ties to your other doings, instead. With this method, you don’t lose any files or your personal information.

Step 1: Go to Windows 11 settings with Windows Key and I keyboard shortcut.

Step 2: Click the Accounts section in the sidebar.

Step 3: Click Your Info and choose Sign in with a local account instead.

Step 4: Click next and enter your password to confirm.

Step 5: Follow the steps on the screen and enter your information.

See our guide on using Windows 11 without setting up a Microsoft account for more information.

Removing a work or school account from Windows 11

Fortunately, your Windows 11 work or school account can be removed completely and it is quite easy:

Step 1: Go to Windows 11 settings with Windows Key and I on the keyboard.

Step 2: Click the Accounts section in the sidebar.

Step 3: Click Access work or school and click the Disconnect button.

Are you making the most from your computer? Check these Windows 11 tips and tricks to make life easier.

Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
Latest Windows 11 update slows Intel’s newest desktop processors
Windows 11 logo on a laptop.

Microsoft's latest Windows 11 24H2 (KB5050094 and KB5051987) updates are causing some serious performance issues, especially for Intel Core Ultra 9 285K users, as Neowin reports. The updates interfere with CPU speeds when a user minimizes a program or the app is out of focus. However, older Intel processors remain unaffected.

It's reported that apps are "massively throttled," causing the CPU's clock rate to drop significantly and deteriorating overall performance. Some users have resorted to using beta BIOS or changing power settings to preserve CPU performance during background processes. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K slowdown is causing some major headaches as the issues occur across various apps, including Prime95 and 7Zip. This suggests that the 24H2 performance issues are not limited to one app but are linked to KB 5050094 and KB5051987 updates.

Read more
The EU is cracking down on labels in Windows 11’s Start menu
The Surface Pro 11 on a white table in front of a window.

To align with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), Microsoft is updating Windows 11's Start Menu Search, but only for users in the European Economic Area, as Tech Radar reports. The software giant is introducing more transparent labels to distinguish between web search results and local ones. This move is part of broader changes that let users uninstall Edge and turn off Bing integration, reinforcing transparency and user choice.

The changes are in a new Windows 11 Insider Preview Build, build 27764. Notably, X user @alex290292 shared a screenshot that shows the new Start menu user interface with the "Windows" and "Web search from Bing" sections. These changes are great news since they give users more control over Windows 11. Specifically, the modifications include adding custom web search providers to Windows Search, letting users remove the Edge browser, and turning off Bing web search.

Read more
Microsoft is cracking down on unsupported Windows 11 installs
A Dell laptop with Windows 10 sitting on a desk.

A support document showing users how to install Windows 11 on unsupported PCs was deleted sometime in the past two months. Its disappearance, noticed by Neowin, echoes Microsoft's recent "year of the Windows 11 PC refresh" rhetoric, encouraging (or forcing) users to buy new PCs that meet Windows 11 hardware requirements.

When Windows 11 launched in 2021, Microsoft announced that it was adding TPM 2.0 as a hardware requirement -- a move that was met with plenty of resistance. To soften the blow, Microsoft also published a support document detailing how users could edit their registry key values to bypass the TPM 2.0 check.

Read more