Local Accounts Vs. Microsoft Accounts: Which Is Better?

❓ Local and Microsoft accounts both have pros and cons. I'll cover those so you can decide which is right for you.

❓ Local accounts vs. Microsoft accounts
A Local Account offers more privacy, reduced data sharing, and increased independence from Microsoft’s ecosystem, making it ideal for those prioritizing security and control. Conversely, a Microsoft Account provides convenience, cloud integration, and easier access to Microsoft services. The choice depends on your needs and your comfort with Microsoft’s services.

Chapters
0:00 Local Accounts or Microsoft Accounts
0:30 Local Accounts
1:00 Microsoft accounts
1:35 Privacy
2:30 Security pros and cons
3:40 Freedom(?) from Microsoft
5:55 Which one's better?

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[gjoseph]

Which? Microsoft account or Local account? Answer: LOCAL Account! But then as you indicated, this is for someone who does not use more than maybe one MS Service. We never needed a MS account in the past and still do not want or need one today!

[Thomas-pe]

I detest OneDrive with the burning hatred of 10, 000 suns. If you log into a MS account, you will get all the OneDrive you can stand. Even if you unlink it and tell it to stop backing up to the cloud, and uninstall it, it still makes a onedrive folder and crams semi-duplicates of your libraries into it. It also makes relocating those libraries, which should be fairly straightforward, much more difficult. I wouldn't have an issue with using my MS account, if there were a "purge onedrive and everything it represents from my new W11 install, and never ever touch my libraries with your filthy little digital fingers again" button.

[I_Immortalzen]

Thanks Leo. Last week I set up a local account. Just found out, as you confirmed in this video, you can't use the passkey for sign in to websites etc.. I am wondering what will happen to the dozen or so websites and apps I use the passkey to sigh in with. I watched your previous video explaining passkeys and how wonderful they are, and they are. But... can't use em unless you sign in with a Microsoft account. Rock and a hard-place. The passkey is rock solid secure, but Microsoft is not honest (therefore not secure) in handling our security and privacy. Looking into Recall it is a hackers delight and the recall info on your computer is not secure at all. I just brought a new PC with all the hardware that would make microsoft put Recall on the PC. But there was no section in the settings that gave options for recall. I did a cmd prompt, and Recall was there and active. So it looks like Microsoft is trying to hide that it has Recall on your machine.

[joesterlife]

A Microsoft Account is only good for saving your encryption key (or you can reset your password easily). Other than that.. LOCAL!

[harveybc]

I use only local accounts when using windows, which is pretty rare actually. On the other hand when my wife got her new PC she set it up by logging in with a MS account. I set up an account, local, for myself on her machine with full admin rights since I often have to jump in and play techie. One problem I've encountered many times is when she asks me to put some files on her PC. I can easily transfer those files from one of my PC's but only into her local folders, which makes it very hard for her to find when she needs them. Having two documents or picture folders for example creates confusion. She's not very tech savvy. Just last night she asked me to pull some files off of a CD since she doesn't have a drive. I got the files using one of my boxes that has a drive and then copied them across the network to her documents folder, the local folder which is all I have access to with my local login. Ended up having to get her to log in and create a desktop shortcut for her. What a PITA.

[philipfirks]

An interesting and informative video. I usually just set up a new laptop with a MS account (since I already have one), but after getting the lappy set up how I want it, it never goes on line again, so MS or Local doesn't really bother me.

[svanterunewahlstrom]

Excellent information as usual. Thanks!

[robertbaker]

I saw a you tube post that said Microsoft is disabling the option to us to a local account.

[s.e.v.]

I have multiple Microsoft accounts on my Windows 10 laptop. Each account has a little difference in them. One has Windows 365 on it and another doesn't. I want to clean up my machine. Is there a way to move files to use one account ? I also have a new windows 11 laptop and I want to get rid of junk before putting files on it. Do you have a idea what I can do?

[iceManSwag]

I use Cloud services on my local accounts.

[quantumjim]

Sounds like if I 1) don't want to use the cloud and 2) don't want to use other MS svcs, local is the way to go.

[ThomasThornhill]

My computer has 2 drives. I have 1 set up for Microsoft OneDrive (and it has more on it than I like - consuming excessive space). The other drive is set to local.

[JohnMarston-loqk]

My only problem with Microsoft account is their insistence on compulsory passkeys. If you want passkeys then Microsoft Account is an obvious winner. But for me, hard to cunage username and compulsory bootup passkey makes it an absolute no-go for me.

[LauraKnotek]

I dual boot my PC and use a Microsoft account for Windows and Linux Mint when I don't want anything Microsoft.

[darrinkl]

microsoft works with the fbi and other law enforcement agency's and thats why microsoft trying to make it hard for people to have a local account as a fact its not even microsoft behind it but 3 letter law enforcement agency's pushing them to do this because they want to know who everybody is dont blame microsoft

[USAF_MEDIC]

I dumped my MSFT acct because of Msft Authenticator. Every time is switched iPhones, authenticator took days to get authorized back into the account. It wants to send a code to the progarm you are running, it gets in end endless loop and you have to do multiple resets. I HATE IT!!

[waboosje]

Is it for sure that microsoft won't be able to get all your pc-info when you have both a microsoft and a localacct and login with your local acct? Thanks for this video, it is exactly what I needed to know now I got myself a new laptop

[ReapWithRick]

I set up my new laptop earlier this year with the regular Microsoft account. After watching a few videos I decided to create a local account and have been using it ever since. Can I delete the local account? If not, how do I log into the Microsoft account ? Thanks.

[cosmicfxx]

If one uses local and an online Microsoft account ... does one have to login and logout each time to use both at same time?

[csabamagyar]

Can OneDrive work using a local account? Some experts say yes, but not the way to do it.
For me syncing and using Office is essential. Using a local account would make my life a lot more difficult. I would lose the benefits I pay for.