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Windows 11 does not convert a domain account into a local account through Settings > Accounts > Your info. The Sign in with a local account instead link is intended for people currently signing in with a Microsoft account.
On a domain-joined computer, the reliable approach is to create a separate local user and sign in to it. Windows creates a new profile for that user, so the domain profile, files, mapped drives, certificates, and organization-managed settings remain separate.
What changes when you use a local account?
A local account exists only on the Windows 11 computer. It is not authenticated by your organization’s domain and can be used without an Internet connection. A domain account, by contrast, is managed by the organization and normally appears in a form such as DOMAINusername.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →| Account | Where it exists | Typical sign-in identity | What it accesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local account | Only on this PC | COMPUTERNAMELocalUser |
Local files and settings permitted to that user |
| Domain account | In the organization’s domain | DOMAINusername |
Resources allowed by domain permissions and policies |
| Microsoft account | Microsoft’s online account service | Your Microsoft account address | Windows and Microsoft services connected to that account |
Creating the local account does not copy your domain profile. The first time you use it, Windows creates a new folder such as C:UsersLocalUser. Your existing domain files usually remain under C:UsersOld_Username.
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Method 1: Create a local account in Settings
- Open Settings with
Windows + I. - Select Accounts.
- Select Other users. Some Microsoft documentation labels this area Other user.
- Under Add other user, select Add account.
- When Windows asks for the person’s Microsoft account, select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
- On the next screen, select Add a user without a Microsoft account.
- Enter a username, password, and password hint, then complete the prompts.
Choose a username that is not already used by another account on the computer. For example, LocalUser or OfflineAdmin may work, provided those names do not already exist.
Method 2: Create the account from an elevated Command Prompt
This method is useful when Settings is restricted or when you want a quick, repeatable command.
- Open Start and type Command Prompt.
- Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
- Run the following command, replacing
LocalUserwith the account name you want:
net user LocalUser * /addThe asterisk makes Windows prompt for the password without displaying it as you type. You can also use the generic form:
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net user <UserName> * /addWindows applies the local password policy to the new account. The documented command supports passwords of up to 127 characters, although the computer’s policy may require a minimum length or other complexity.
You can put the password directly in the command, but this is less private because it can remain in command history or be visible to someone nearby:
net user LocalUser "PasswordHere" /addDo not add /domain. That switch tells Windows to target the domain controller rather than create the account on the local computer.
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To list accounts known to the local computer, run:
net userMake the local account an administrator
A standard local account is generally safer for everyday work. You may need administrator privileges, however, to install software or change system-wide settings.
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- Open Settings > Accounts > Other users.
- Select the account’s options button or flyout.
- Select Change account type.
- Choose Administrator from the account-type dropdown.
- Select OK.
Administrators can change settings, install software, and access files that standard users cannot. If the account is only for routine use, leave it as a Standard User and approve administrative prompts with an administrator account when necessary.
Sign in to the local account
- Save your work.
- Select Start > your user picture or account icon > Sign out. Signing out closes your applications, and unsaved changes can be lost.
- At the sign-in screen, select the local account you created.
- Enter its local password, PIN, fingerprint, or facial-recognition credential if you configured one.
A PIN or other Windows Hello method belongs to the specific Windows account where it was configured. Your domain account’s PIN does not automatically work for the new local account. If you have not configured Windows Hello for the local account, use its local password.
If the local account is not shown
Select Other user on the sign-in screen and enter the local identity explicitly:
.LocalUserYou can also use the computer name:
COMPUTERNAMELocalUserThe . prefix means “use this computer,” rather than the domain. Replace LocalUser with the actual username.
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After signing in, open Command Prompt or Windows Terminal and run:
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whoamiA domain session normally returns something similar to:
DOMAINusernameA local session commonly returns:
COMPUTERNAMELocalUserThe exact computer-name format can vary, but the result identifies the authority that authenticated the current session.
Switch between the domain and local accounts without signing out
Fast user switching leaves the existing session and its applications open.
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- Select your user picture or account icon.
- Select More.
- Select the other user account.
On some organization-managed computers, Windows also displays a Switch user option. It is not guaranteed to appear on every Windows 11 installation or configuration.
Switching users is different from locking the computer. In current Windows 11 documentation, the lock command is under Start > Power > Lock. Locking protects the current session; it does not change accounts.
Move files to the new profile
Because the local account is separate, its Desktop, Documents, browser settings, application data, certificates, mapped drives, and permissions start out independently. If you need files from the domain profile, copy them deliberately from the old profile folder, for example:
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C:UsersOld_UsernameCopy ordinary personal files such as Documents, Pictures, and Desktop content only after checking their permissions and ownership. Do not blindly copy the entire profile or hidden application-data folders: doing so can transfer broken settings, credentials, or domain-specific configuration.
Network shares and mapped drives may also need to be configured again. A local account does not automatically receive the domain permissions associated with the old account.
Do not confuse these operations
| Operation | What it actually does |
|---|---|
| Create a local user | Adds a new Windows account and profile on the PC. |
| Sign in with a local account instead | Changes a current Microsoft-account sign-in to a local sign-in; Microsoft documents this for Microsoft-account users, not domain users. |
| Disconnect work or school account | Removes that work-or-school account’s sign-in information and data from the device. It does not convert the current domain profile into a local account. |
| Switch user | Changes to another account while leaving the current session open. |
To disconnect a connected work or school account, the path is Settings > Accounts > Access work or school, select the account dropdown, and choose Disconnect. Do this only when you understand the effect on organizational access. It is not required merely to use a separate local account.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Problems you may encounter
The Add account option is unavailable
A domain administrator or organizational policy may prevent local-account creation, local sign-in, or account-type changes. There is no single universal Windows 11 command that overrides every such restriction. Contact the organization’s IT administrator instead of attempting to bypass its policy.
The local password is rejected
Check that you are entering the local account’s password, not the domain password. If you created the account with net user, remember that the command did not include /domain.
You forgot the local password
At the sign-in screen:
- Select the arrow next to the password field.
- Select OK if prompted.
- Select Reset password.
- Answer the security questions configured when the account was created.
If the security-question recovery method is unavailable, Microsoft Support cannot retrieve or circumvent the local password. An administrator account may be able to change the password, but that depends on the accounts and permissions available on the computer.
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The new account cannot access domain resources
That is expected. A local account does not inherit the domain user’s permissions, certificates, mapped drives, or organization-managed settings. A domain resource may require domain authentication or explicit permission for the local account.
FAQ
Can I convert my existing domain account to a local account in Windows 11?
Not through the Microsoft-account conversion page. The Sign in with a local account instead workflow applies when the current Windows sign-in is a Microsoft account. For a domain account, create a separate local user and sign in to it.
Will creating a local account delete my domain profile?
No. It creates another profile. Your existing profile remains under C:Users<Old_Username>, subject to the organization’s permissions and policies.
Do I need to disconnect the work or school account first?
No. Disconnecting it is a separate operation and is not required to create or use a local Windows account. Disconnecting removes work-or-school sign-in information and data from the device; it does not convert a domain profile.
Should the local account be an administrator?
Only if it needs to install software or change system-wide settings. A standard account is safer for routine use. You can change the account type later under Settings > Accounts > Other users.
Why does my domain PIN not work for the local account?
Windows Hello credentials are associated with individual Windows accounts. Configure a new PIN, fingerprint, or facial-recognition sign-in for the local account, or use the local account’s password.
How do I know whether I signed in locally or with the domain?
Open Command Prompt or Windows Terminal and run whoami. A result such as DOMAINusername is a domain session; a result such as COMPUTERNAMELocalUser is a local session.
The Bottom Line
For a domain-joined Windows 11 PC, create a separate account through Settings > Accounts > Other users > Add account, choose I don’t have this person’s sign-in information, then choose Add a user without a Microsoft account. Sign out or switch users, select the new account, and verify it with whoami. Expect a new profile and separate permissions; this process does not convert or copy the domain account.
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