Trying to switch to Microsoft account from local, unable to...

Charliedog · 28 Sep 2021

I have a laptop that should be Windows 11 compatible, and I'm trying to switch from a local account to a Microsoft account-which according to what I've read so far, is required. I've tried several times following to the tutorial.
Everything looks good until the final step. I'm supposed to key in the 'Windows password' one final time..
I was guessing it wants the password I key in now to go from the lock screen to my desktop.
Well, that doesn't work, Microsoft thinks that invalid. So I tried my Microsoft account password, and Microsoft doesn't like that either.
What other number should I key in?

Windows 10 Home
Version 21H1
OS build: 19043.1237

AddRAM · 28 Sep 2021

Click forgot password.

Charliedog · 28 Sep 2021

I tried that, more than once. I go thru the complete procedure of getting a new Microsoft account password, then when I reach the final step to key in the Windows password, I try my NEW Microsoft account password, and I get the same message-invalid password. No luck.

Any other suggestions.

AddRAM · 28 Sep 2021

I take it you are creating a Microsoft Account for the 1st time ?

Charliedog · 29 Sep 2021

No, I've had a Microsoft account for years. I just chose to log into my laptop with a local account.

- - - Updated - - -

Got lucky. THe password Microsoft wanted was not my Microsoft account password, nor my local account password but a totally separate on. I tried all the passwords I could think of ever using, and one happened to work. i was able to complete the process of switching to a Microsoft account on this laptop.

Bree · 29 Sep 2021

Charliedog said:

I have a laptop that should be Windows 11 compatible, and I'm trying to switch from a local account to a Microsoft account-which according to what I've read so far, is required....

No, a Microsoft account isn't required for Windows 11, any more than it is required for Windows 10. It does allow you to use things like OneDrive, but you can still have a local account as your only account in Windows 11.

What you may have read is that a clean install of Windows 11 Home (or a new PC supplied with Windows 11 Home preinstalled) will not allow you to create anything other than a MS account as the first account you set up. Actually, Windows 10 Home does that too, but a simple workaround is to disconnect from the internet before setting up. That workaround gets more complicated with Windows 11 Home, as it does not allow you to skip the 'let's get you connected' page.

However, there's nothing to stop you creating a second local account once you have Windows 11 Home running (do remember to make it an administrator) then delete the original MS account.

Windows 11 Pro continues to offer the option of setting up an offline account, same as Windows 10 Pro does. It also allows you to say 'I don't have internet' and skip connecting.

There are none of these restriction in Home if you are upgrading an existing install of Windows 10 Home. If you just have a local account in 10 Home, you'll still just have one after upgrading to 11 Home.