Switch to Local Account in Windows 10  

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  1. Posts : 309
    windows 10 pro 64
       #40

    hi
    for local account , must i add a password ?
    or can i switch to a local account without adding a password
    thanks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #41

    Hello drugo, :)

    A password is optional with a local account.

    If you're only concerned about having to enter a password at startup or wakeup with a Microsoft account, then the tutorials below can solve that so you don't have to.

    Sign in User Account Automatically at Windows 10 Startup

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...dows-10-a.html
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 309
    windows 10 pro 64
       #42

    Brink said:
    Hello drugo, :)

    A password is optional with a local account.

    If you're only concerned about having to enter a password at startup or wakeup with a Microsoft account, then the tutorials below can solve that so you don't have to.

    Sign in User Account Automatically at Windows 10 Startup

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...dows-10-a.html
    thanks Brink!
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #43

    You're most welcome. :)
      My Computers


  5. rjd
    Posts : 10
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       #44

    Brink,
    Thanks for the very articles you have provided for the community. Just upgraded from Windows 7 ultimate to Window 10 Pro (all updates included; build version 10586). No major issues except this one in particular. I cannot switch back from the Microsoft account to my local account (admin account). Any advice/hints would be greatly appreciated. The following is echoed on the "Switch to a local account" screen: "Windows is already using that name. Please enter a different user name."

    It has been stated that this is a bug. I have found no other way to get back to my local account than to do a system restore (works).
    See this:
    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...cd3fa9b?page=1

    Here is a screen capture:
    Switch to Local Account in Windows 10-doc2.png
    Thanks!
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #45

    Hello rjd, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

    Usually that error means that a "C:\Users\(user-name)" folder or another user for that user name already exists. Usually using a different user name should work. What happened when you entered a different name?
      My Computers


  7. rjd
    Posts : 10
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       #46

    Brink said:
    Hello rjd, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

    Usually that error means that a "C:\Users\(user-name)" folder or another user for that user name already exists. Usually using a different user name should work. What happened when you entered a different name?
    Hi Brink,

    Thanks for the quick reply (and thanks for the welcome note).

    Yes that user name exists. But I simply want to revert using my local account with the same user name, which I have used for many years (on Window 7).

    Did not try to use a different user name and I'm afraid if I do I will no longer have access to my files. Do you know what will happen if I use a different user name?

    For example, a list of the users on my desktop using the "control userpasswords2" run command showed "John Doe" as the user for the local account (before I logged in to the Microsoft account) and JohnDoe@hotmail.com for the Microsoft account. (The current login as JohnDoe@hotmail.com now have access to exact the same files as "John Doe" had on the local account.)

    So if I pick another (unused) user name for the local account which file will I have access to?

    Thanks.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #47

    If you use a different user name, it'll only create a new "C:\Windows\(user-name)" folder with that name as the account's profile folder. The other folder will still be there for you to open and access.
      My Computers


  9. rjd
    Posts : 10
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       #48

    Brink said:
    If you use a different user name, it'll only create a new "C:\Windows\(user-name)" folder with that name as the account's profile folder. The other folder will still be there for you to open and access.
    I was "brave" enough to test it. Gave it a different user name and it brought me back to the local account. However both the account name (which appears on the Welcome screen and the Start screen) and the user name were of course changed from the original local account "John Doe" to the new name tested "rjd."

    Tests:
    1) I changed the new account name "rjd" back to "John Doe" using the "Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\User Accounts\Change Your Name" and logged in to the Microsoft account and back to the local account ("John Doe"). No issues this time.

    2) I further changed the the new user name (which was also "rjd") using the "control userpasswords2" using the run command. And then logged out and logged in. (Had issues with the Control Panel and needed to logout and login.) Now the local account login looked the same as before. Did not spend an elaborate amount of time on checking permissions and missed entries in the task scheduler which have been discussed in the link above. However all seemed ok.

    3) My final test was to log in to the Microsoft account again. And then go back to the local account. Exactly the same issue again -- could not go back to the local account because "Windows is already using that name. Please enter a different user name."

    I believe this is the way it is suppose to work. But it is confusing and it has to do with how account profiles are being used/stored. It would be appreciated if you can elaborate on this and explain how it works. By the way you may have done a typo above "C:\Windows\(user-name)" folder does not exist. You probably meant "C:\Users\(user-name)". However, a new folder for the user name "rjd" was never created. It used the folder for user "John Doe."

    I don't intend to use the Microsoft account much. Only reason would be for downloading apps (on occasion) from the Microsoft apps store, which apparently demands a login to such an account.

    Final note, since I messed around with the accounts, I did use a system restore to make sure I did not corrupt any files. The system is now back to "normal" as if I never logged in to the Microsoft account.

    Thanks for all your help and prompt replies. It's appreciated!
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #49

    rjd,

    That's great news. I'm glad to hear you got the account added.

    Yeah, that's how it's suppose to work. Any user names that you have ever used for a user profile in Windows will not be allowed to be used whenever creating a new account unless you have deleted all traces of the old account first.
      My Computers


 

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