How to Remove a Microsoft Account from Windows 11

You can remove a Microsoft account from Windows 11 in a few different ways, depending on what you actually want to happen. You might want to switch your main sign-in to a local account, unlink a second account you added for email or apps, or just clear an old account off the login screen. This guide walks through each option so you pick the right one for your situation.

Quick steps

1. Open Settings and go to Accounts > Your info.
2. Select Sign in with a local account instead.
3. Enter your Microsoft account password to confirm, then create a local username and password.
4. Restart your PC to finish switching away from the Microsoft account.

Before you start

A few things to check before you start removing an account:

• You need administrator rights on the PC to switch account types or remove other accounts.
• If you switch your main sign-in to a local account, you’ll lose automatic access to things tied to the Microsoft account on that device, such as OneDrive syncing, the Microsoft Store, and settings that roam between devices, unless you sign back in to those apps separately.
• Removing a Microsoft account from Windows does not delete the account itself. The account still exists and can still be used to sign in to Outlook, Xbox, or other Microsoft services. To close the account permanently, you’d need to do that from your Microsoft account web page, not from Windows settings.
• If your device is managed by a workplace or school (Microsoft Entra joined), some of these options may be restricted or hidden by your organization’s IT policies.

Switch your main sign-in to a local account

This is what most people mean when they say they want to “remove” a Microsoft account from Windows 11. It swaps the account you use to log in to your PC from a Microsoft account to a local, device-only account.

1. Open Settings (you can press the Windows key and type “Settings,” or click the gear icon in the Start menu).
2. Go to Accounts > Your info.
3. Click Sign in with a local account instead.
4. You’ll be asked to confirm your current password for the Microsoft account.
5. Set up a username, password, and password hint for your new local account.
6. Click Sign out and finish, then restart the computer when prompted.

After the restart, you’ll sign in with your new local username and password instead of your Microsoft account. Apps and files tied to your Windows profile generally stay in place, but anything relying on cloud sync (OneDrive, Settings sync, Store purchases tied to the account) will need you to sign back in separately if you want to keep using those features.

Remove a secondary Microsoft account used for email or apps

If you added a Microsoft account just so apps like Mail, Calendar, or the Microsoft Store could use it, but it isn’t your main sign-in account, you can unlink it without touching your login.

1. Open Settings > Accounts.
2. Select Email & accounts.
3. Under Accounts used by other apps, find the Microsoft account you want to remove.
4. Click the account, then select Remove.
5. Confirm when prompted.

This disconnects the account from apps on your device but leaves your main Windows sign-in untouched.

Remove an account from the Windows 11 login screen

If you see an old Microsoft account listed on the sign-in screen that you no longer use on that PC, you can remove it as a user from the device.

1. Open Settings > Accounts.
2. Select Family & other users.
3. Under Other users, click the account you want to remove.
4. Select Remove, then confirm by selecting Delete account and data if prompted.

Keep in mind this removes the user profile and any local files stored under that profile on this specific PC. It does not delete the Microsoft account itself, and the person can still sign in to it on other devices or on the web.

If it doesn’t work

The “Sign in with a local account instead” option is missing

This usually happens on work or school managed devices where your organization controls sign-in options, or if you’re signed in with a child account that has restrictions. Check with your IT admin if the device is managed, since Microsoft Entra joined devices often limit this option.

You’re asked for a password you don’t remember

If you can’t recall your Microsoft account password, you’ll need to reset it from a separate device or browser using Microsoft’s account recovery page before you can confirm the switch to a local account.

Removing the account also removed apps or files you needed

If you selected “Delete account and data” when removing a user, those files are gone from that local profile. If the files were also saved to OneDrive, check your OneDrive folder online or on another signed-in device, since cloud copies may still be recoverable.

OneDrive keeps asking you to sign back in after switching accounts

This is expected since OneDrive syncing is tied to a Microsoft account. You can either sign back in with the same account just for OneDrive, or turn off OneDrive syncing entirely if you don’t need it on that PC.

Frequently asked questions

Does removing a Microsoft account from Windows 11 delete the account?

No. Removing or unlinking it from your PC only affects that device. The account itself still exists and works normally for email, Xbox, Office, and sign-in on any other device.

Will I lose my files if I switch to a local account?

Your files stay in your user profile on the PC. What you lose is automatic access to cloud-based features like OneDrive sync and Settings sync tied to that Microsoft account, unless you sign back in separately for those apps.

Can I switch back to a Microsoft account later?

Yes. From Settings > Accounts > Your info, you can choose to sign in with a Microsoft account instead of your local one at any time, as long as you have the Microsoft account credentials.

What’s the difference between removing and unlinking a Microsoft account?

Removing usually refers to deleting the user profile from the PC entirely, while unlinking (through Email & accounts) just disconnects the account from apps like Mail or the Store without removing your Windows sign-in.

Do I need admin rights to remove a Microsoft account from Windows 11?

Yes, you need an administrator account on the PC to change your own sign-in type or to remove other user accounts from the device.

Related guides

• How to Disable OneDrive on Windows 10 and 11
• How to Remove OneDrive from Your PC
• How to Activate OneDrive AutoSave
• How To Stop Teams Loading Up After Logging In

Sources

• Manage user account in Windows App (Microsoft Learn)
• Windows client documentation (Microsoft Learn)