Switch laptop sign in from MS account to Local Account questions

Hi, Ive just switched from signing in to my laptop with a Microsoft Account to signing in with a Local Account instead. My laptop was always listed as a Device on the opening screen along with a map showing its location when I looked in my Microsoft Account. Under Devices I could also view my laptop along with other bits of various information about the device and its location was always shown on a map there too. After signing into my laptop with my Local Account ..If I sign in separately to my Microsoft Account afterwards Ive just noticed that having switched to a Local Account my laptop isnt shown on the opening Microsoft Account screen anymore and its not listed in devices either. Is this normal behaviour? I was expecting to still find my laptop listed in Devices. Also...Under Update and Security/Activation..it used to say Digital Licence linked to a Microsoft Account. Now it just says Windows is Activated with a digital licence. Is all this normal behaviour if you sign into a laptop with a Local Account instead of a Microsoft Account?

Yes, that is all normal. How is the computer supposed to know which Microsoft Account to send all that info to when you are signed into a local account?

NavyLCDR said:

Yes, that is all normal. How is the computer supposed to know which Microsoft Account to send all that info to when you are signed into a local account?

Thanks for reply mate. I was thinking that even though I was signed into my laptop with a local account..that when I signed into my Microsoft Account from the Local Account that at that point my laptop device ID would be recognised and visible in my Microsoft Account

cereberus said:

Correct. When you change the linked account to local, it removes the digital link.

The workaround is to create a second local user account and use that instead of the MS account (leaving MS account untouched). This way the digital link is retained.

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Mind you I told somebody this recently on another forum and got 2 pages of crap why you should NEVER use an MS account for even a brief period as nefarious agencies will insert code into the OS to get full access to your whole life including measuring your inside leg (kidding on this last bit ).

He could not see why he ever had to login with an MS account but still wanted ability to reactivate by troubleshooter if it failed. I asked him how that was possible if not using an MS account, at which point he got rude and not far of abusive saying I was a fanboi clearly in the pay of MS (I wish I was - I could retire then!).

I fell for the oldest trolling trick and basically had to remind myself of the wisdom of the greatest fictional office worker of all time - Dilbert:-

1) You cannot discuss or argue with stupid

2) Never argue with idiots, they bring you down to their level, then beat you with experience.

Thanks for the feedback Cereberus...its appreciated. At least I know now its normal procedure and nothing to be concerned about. Regarding the guy who gave you the abuse. I bet you thought to yourself "Why the hell do I bother helping some people..to just get a load of crap back!!". If it wasn't for people like you on the forums..people like me would find it much harder to learn. I'm new to Windows 10 so I'm a novice having to keep posting on here to find things out.

I recommend that most users maintain a local account with administrator privileges even if they routinely use a Microsoft Account login (which can be set as a standard user, if desired, and the local account used as the only administrator). A lot of people have found themselves locked out of their Microsoft Account for some reason and then they also find themselves locked out of their computers. Maintaining a local account as administrator (and remembering the password to it!) is the easy way to get back into the computer to fix it.

NavyLCDR said:

I recommend that most users maintain a local account with administrator privileges even if they routinely use a Microsoft Account login (which can be set as a standard user, if desired, and the local account used as the only administrator). A lot of people have found themselves locked out of their Microsoft Account for some reason and then they also find themselves locked out of their computers. Maintaining a local account as administrator (and remembering the password to it!) is the easy way to get back into the computer to fix it.

That sounds like a great idea. Ive had a bit of a rethink on this. I'm thinking now about sticking with a Microsoft account sign-in on my PC (obviously this is administrator account). Bearing in mind what you said about people getting locked out of their accounts/PC's I will create a Local Account in my name and make that an Administrator Account as well. Is there any harm in leaving them both as Administrator Accounts? I don't plan on using the Local User Account at all unless I ever have an emergency and get locked out of my Microsoft Account and cant log into my PC. Then I can use the Local account as a way of signing into my PC. Have I understood what you suggested correctly?..is that the reason you suggest creating a Local Account as well as the Microsoft Account that is used to log in to the PC?

There's no real harm in having both accounts as administrator. Some people just don't like to use an administrator account for everyday stuff - but I do. Yes, the local account would just be the backup in case the Microsoft Account goes whacky for some reason.

NavyLCDR said:

There's no real harm in having both accounts as administrator. Some people just don't like to use an administrator account for everyday stuff - but I do. Yes, the local account would just be the backup in case the Microsoft Account goes whacky for some reason.

Do you mind if I ask you another question? I have alternate devices to be able to get on the internet and access my Microsoft Account online so is it really necessary to set up a Local account as an emergency backup on my PC to be able to sign in if the Microsoft Account was ever compromised? I'm now trying to think of how the process works for regaining access to a Microsoft Account.

I'm going to go down the route of setting up a local account as well as a Microsoft Account so that I can have a separate administrator account from the account I use regularly to sign in and use my PC with. Ive read a lot of reports saying* that has always been good practice.