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Most Windows 11 account controls are in Settings > Accounts. From there, you can identify the type of account you use, change sign-in methods, add or remove users, connect work accounts, and configure backup preferences.
The labels and options can differ depending on whether the PC uses a Microsoft account, local account, or work-or-school account. Windows edition, device hardware, and organization policy also affect what appears.
Open Windows 11 account settings
Press Windows key + I, then select Accounts. The main sections are:
| Section | What it controls |
|---|---|
| Your info | Microsoft or local account status, account picture, and switching account type |
| Sign-in options | PIN, password, Windows Hello, security keys, and Dynamic Lock |
| Email & accounts | Accounts used by email, calendar, contacts, and other apps |
| Family | Microsoft Family group members and child-account management |
| Other users | Additional Windows users and their administrator status |
| Access work or school | Work or school account connections and device registration |
| Windows backup | Settings, preferences, app information, and selected OneDrive backup options |
Check whether your account is local or Microsoft
- Open Settings > Accounts > Your info.
- Look for the account-type link beneath your account details.
If you see Sign in with a Microsoft account instead, you are currently using a local account. If you see Sign in with a local account instead, you are signed in with a Microsoft account.
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A local account belongs only to that PC and can be used without an internet connection. A Microsoft account uses an email address and can connect Windows to Microsoft services and synchronization across devices.
Switch from a local account to a Microsoft account
- Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info.
- Select Sign in with a Microsoft account instead.
- Complete the verification and account prompts.
- Select Next, then Sign out and finish.
- Sign in again with the Microsoft account.
If the link is missing, the current Windows sign-in is probably already a Microsoft account.
Switch from a Microsoft account to a local account
- Open Settings > Accounts > Your info.
- Select Sign in with a local account instead.
- Enter a new local username, password, and password hint.
- Select Next, then Sign out and finish.
- Sign in with the new local account.
The local username cannot duplicate another username on the PC. Make sure you have a recovery plan before switching: a forgotten local-account password may not be recoverable unless you created a password-reset disk or another recovery method.
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Change the account picture
- Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info.
- Under Adjust your photo, select Choose a file > Browse files.
- Select the image you want to use.
On a PC with a camera, select Open camera to take a new picture. Windows keeps the last three account pictures available on the Your info page.
To remove an older stored picture, open File Explorer and browse to:
C:Users<yourname>AppDataRoamingMicrosoftWindowsAccountPicturesReplace <yourname> with the profile-folder name. If you cannot see AppData, select View > Show > Hidden items, then delete the unwanted picture file.
Configure Windows sign-in methods
Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Depending on the hardware and policy settings, Windows may offer:
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- Facial recognition and fingerprint recognition through Windows Hello
- PIN (Windows Hello)
- Security key
- Password
- Dynamic Lock
A Windows Hello PIN is separate from your Microsoft-account password. The PIN is normally used to unlock that particular device; it is not your online Microsoft-account password.
Change or reset the Windows Hello PIN
- While signed in, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Expand PIN (Windows Hello).
- Select Change PIN.
- Enter the current PIN and create a new one.
If you forgot the PIN, select I forgot my PIN when that option is shown and complete the verification prompts. Microsoft-account users can use this recovery option. For a local account, sign in with the account password first, then reset the PIN from Settings. The I forgot my PIN option is not available for local accounts.
Require Windows Hello instead of a password
Under Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, turn on Only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device. Windows then disables password sign-in for that Microsoft account on the PC. This setting applies to Microsoft accounts, not local accounts.
Set up Dynamic Lock
- Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Expand Dynamic lock.
- Turn on the Dynamic Lock option.
- Pair a phone with the PC through Bluetooth if Windows requests it.
Dynamic Lock locks the PC when the paired phone leaves Bluetooth range. The lock normally occurs within about one minute, so it should not be treated as an immediate security guarantee.
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Control account details shown at sign-in
In Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, find Show account details on the sign-in screen. When enabled, Windows displays the account email address on the sign-in screen. Disable it on shared, public-facing, or unattended devices if displaying the address is undesirable.
Use an external camera or fingerprint reader
Some compatible PCs show Sign in with an external camera or fingerprint reader under Sign-in options. Enabling this setting disables Enhanced Sign-in Security, which protects Windows Hello biometric data with specialized hardware and software. The setting is available only on supported hardware.
Add another Windows user
- Go to Settings > Accounts > Other users.
- Under Add other user, select Add account.
- Enter the person’s Microsoft-account email address.
To create a Microsoft account for that person, select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information and follow the prompts. To create a local Windows account, select Add a user without a Microsoft account.
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Family and Other users are different
Use Settings > Accounts > Family for people managed through a Microsoft Family group, particularly children whose screen time, apps, and activity may be managed with Microsoft Family Safety. Use Settings > Accounts > Other users for ordinary additional accounts on the PC.
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- Open Settings > Accounts > Other users.
- Select the account’s expand or flyout control.
- Next to Account options, select Change account type.
- Choose Administrator or Standard User.
- Select OK.
Use administrator accounts sparingly. An administrator can change system settings, install software, and access files belonging to other users. A standard account is safer for everyday work. A child’s account should generally be a Standard user; Family Safety controls may not work correctly when the child’s Windows account is an administrator.
Remove a user from the PC
- Go to Settings > Accounts > Other users.
- Expand the account you want to remove.
- Next to Account and data, select Remove.
- Confirm the removal.
Back up that user’s Desktop, Documents, Downloads, and other files first. Removing the Windows user deletes its sign-in information and local profile data from the PC. It does not delete the person’s online Microsoft account.
Manage accounts used by apps
Accounts added for apps are not necessarily Windows sign-in accounts.
Add an email, calendar, or contacts account
- Open Settings > Accounts > Email & accounts.
- Under Accounts used by email, calendar, and contacts, select Add an account.
- Complete the provider’s sign-in prompts.
Other sections on the page may provide Add a Microsoft account or Add a work or school account for apps that support those connections. Adding an account here does not automatically create another Windows user profile.
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Connect the account
- Go to Settings > Accounts > Access work or school.
- Next to Add a work or school account, select Connect.
- Enter the organization’s account information.
- Select the applicable account type, then select Add.
This option may depend on whether the organization allows personal-device or BYOD enrollment.
If an Entra account-registration screen offers No, this app only, choosing it signs the account into only the current application. It does not add the account to Windows Settings, register the device in the organization’s directory, or automatically sign the account into other apps.
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Disconnect the account
- Open Settings > Accounts > Access work or school.
- Expand the work or school account.
- Select Disconnect.
- Select Yes to confirm.
Disconnecting removes the account’s sign-in information and device-associated data from that PC. It does not close or delete the organization’s account.
Back up account-related Windows settings
- Go to Settings > Accounts > Windows backup.
- Turn on Remember my apps if you want Windows to remember app information.
- Under Remember my preferences, select the categories you want to synchronize.
Depending on the account and device, Windows Backup can remember accessibility settings, accounts, Wi-Fi networks and passwords, personalization, language preferences and dictionary, and other Windows settings. Folder backup to OneDrive is configured through the Windows Backup app or OneDrive folder-sync controls.
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Windows Backup is not a complete disk image. It does not preserve every installed desktop application, the entire system state, or all application data. Microsoft Store apps may be restored through their pins; non-Store apps may require downloading their installers again. Work and school accounts do not support every Windows Backup feature, and organization policy may hide or restrict some options.
Sign out, lock, or switch users
| Action | How to do it | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Sign out | Start > your user picture or Accounts icon > Sign out | Closes the user’s applications. Unsaved work may be lost. |
| Lock | Press Windows key + L, or choose Start > your user picture or Accounts icon > Lock | Keeps applications open but requires authentication to resume. |
| Switch user | Select Start, select the current account name or picture, then choose another user | Keeps the previous user’s session active rather than signing it out. |
The Switch user option may be unavailable on some configurations. Managed PCs may also show additional account-switching options.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Manage local accounts from Command Prompt
Use an elevated Command Prompt or another administrator-authorized shell for commands that add, modify, or remove accounts. The commands below manage local accounts on the PC; they do not delete online Microsoft accounts.
List local users
net userDisplay one user’s details
net user <UserName>Add a local user
This form places the password in the command line:
net user <UserName> <Password> /addFor an interactive password prompt, use:
net user <UserName> *Microsoft documents a maximum of 20 characters for the username and 127 characters for the password in this command’s syntax.
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net user <UserName> /deleteIdentify the currently signed-in account
whoami
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whoami /groups
whoami /allwhoami displays the current domain and username. The extended forms show the account SID, group memberships, and complete access-token information.
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Windows 11 Home limitations
Windows 11 Home does not include the Local Users and Groups MMC snap-in, so lusrmgr.msc will not provide the same management interface available in supported higher editions such as Pro. On Home, use:
- Settings > Accounts > Other users
net userandnet localgroup- PowerShell local-account cmdlets
Windows 11 Home and Pro for personal use require an internet connection and Microsoft account during initial device setup. That does not prevent an existing installation from being changed to a local account later through Settings > Accounts > Your info.
Common account-setting problems
| Problem | Likely explanation and fix |
|---|---|
| “Sign in with a Microsoft account instead” is missing | The PC is already using a Microsoft account. Look for Sign in with a local account instead. |
| “I forgot my PIN” is missing | This is expected for a local account. Sign in with the account password, then reset the PIN in Sign-in options. |
| A local-account password was forgotten | Microsoft-account password recovery does not apply. Use a previously prepared password-reset disk or another available recovery method; otherwise the password may be unrecoverable. |
| Family Safety controls do not work | Check that the child’s Windows account is a Standard user, not an Administrator. |
| Removing a Windows user is confused with deleting a Microsoft account | Removing the user deletes local profile data and sign-in information only. The online Microsoft account remains. |
| Disconnecting a work account is confused with closing it | Disconnect removes the account from the PC but does not delete the organization account. |
| Password sign-in is unavailable | Only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device may be enabled, or an organization policy may restrict password sign-in. |
| A work account is not listed in Windows Accounts | The user may have chosen No, this app only, which signs in only to the current application. |
| Instructions mention “Family & other users” | Current Windows 11 separates these into Accounts > Family and Accounts > Other users. |
FAQ
Can I use a local account in Windows 11?
Yes. Open Settings > Accounts > Your info and select Sign in with a local account instead. Create the local username, password, and hint, then sign out and sign in again.
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No. It removes that user’s Windows sign-in information and local profile data from the PC. The person’s online Microsoft account is not deleted.
Is a Windows Hello PIN the same as my Microsoft-account password?
No. The PIN is a separate device sign-in credential. Your Microsoft-account password remains a different credential used for online account access and recovery.
Why can’t I find Local Users and Groups in Windows 11 Home?
The Local Users and Groups MMC snap-in is not included in Windows 11 Home. Use Settings > Accounts > Other users, net user, net localgroup, or PowerShell local-account commands instead.
What is the difference between Family and Other users?
Family is for members managed through a Microsoft Family group, such as children using Family Safety. Other users is for ordinary additional Windows accounts on the PC.
Does switching users sign out the previous user?
No. Switching users leaves the previous session active, including its open applications. Use Sign out when you need to close the session.
The Bottom Line
Use Settings > Accounts as the central location for Windows 11 account management. Check Your info before changing credentials, keep routine users on Standard accounts, back up files before removing a profile, and distinguish device actions such as Remove or Disconnect from deleting the underlying online account.
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