Windows 10: Sign in to your Microsoft account messages roll out
Windows 10 users who sign in using local accounts may see Sign in to your Microsoft account nags when they open the Settings app. The functionality is rolling out in release preview builds of Windows 10. Soon, it will be released as part of a stable update, likely the May 2024 security update for the operating system.
Microsoft announced the feature on the Windows Insider blog. There, Microsoft writes: "This update starts the rolls out of account-related notifications for Microsoft accounts in Settings > Home".
The message is displayed to users who sign in using local accounts. Microsoft says that signing in to a Microsoft account allows users to back up their device and keep it more secure.
The backup functionality is powered by the Windows Backup app. It is not a full backup app that allows you to back up the entire system. Instead, it supports pushing files from specific folders, Store apps, and some settings to OneDrive.
Focus on Microsoft Account
Microsoft has made it difficult to set up Windows 11 using a local account. There is no obvious way to set up Windows 11 using a local account. While there are ways to bypass the Microsoft account requirement, it may require running commands from the command prompt.
Windows 10 does not have the same restrictions as Windows 11 in this regard, but Microsoft is clearly favoring Microsoft accounts over local accounts.
The option to create local accounts after the initial setup is still available in both operating systems.
The new system is not the first that Microsoft introduced on Windows 10. Back in August 2023, Microsoft rolled out a similar change in the Start Menu. The profile icon of local users shows an error badge that highlights the advantages of a Microsoft account.
The new message in Settings has a close button, but that just closes it for the time being. Microsoft notes that users may manage these notifications under Settings > Privacy & Security > General.
Closing Words
Microsoft has a vetted interest in pushing Microsoft accounts. Main reasons for this are:
- Upsell of subscriptions and other products, which all require a Microsoft account.
- Collect more data about users who use a Microsoft account.
Using a Microsoft account does have benefits. Users get some online storage and the ability to sync some data using that storage. Privacy is one downside to using one.
What about you? Do you use local accounts or a Microsoft account?
As the days go by, I understand Microsoft less than I thought. Thanks for the article! :]
have and will sign in to microsoft accout because microsoft is now a clear danger to all people the core was stole by hackers and each time is when microsoft wants you to go to a new windows that is worst then the last windows windows 10 was great but they have to mess it up and windows 11
first came out it worked great but they have to screwed it up al so microsoft is know for this mess
and they are ripping us off the push ai and then they tell you ai is a clear danger they need to be sued for fraud and putting us in danger if i had the money i would sue they big time
I moved to Linux Mint in March, I am still somewhat if a gamer, I used to tell myself I will move to Linux once I’m done with games, but Windows is becoming unbearable to deal with. I still remember how great XP and 7 were and how much more free, open and customizable they were. You could just patch uxtheme.dll and easily get 3rd party themes. Since Windows 10 this is impossible and they are making Windows more communist, in line with their government.
I managed to get most of my games running in Linux, only my native screen resolution is missing, I can’t get it to remember so I lose it on ever restart, butbI think it’s because I use my monitor through VGA to HDMI cable and this causes issues. On Windows it always gave me hard to read blurry font. Maybe I should just get a new monitor without VGA.
I’m sorry but, anyone still running an ancient VGA monitor does not qualify for the tag “Gamer”.
Why exactly? playing older games is not considered gaming anymore?
Have seen this coming since the forced update fiasco with Win 10. Was able to gut most of Win 10 to make it usable however it took about 10-15 hrs a month to reset workstation / server changes Microsoft pushed as part of their supposed security updates.
The changes to Windows 11 made the platform completely unusable professionally from a security standpoint.
Week or so ago, had to troubleshoot a family member’s Win 10 system that hasn’t been migrated to Linux yet. Web Documentation from Microsoft’s site said to “search for setting X” so opened up start menu and searched for that setting since it wasn’t in control panel and wasn’t ready to start digging through registry yet.
CoPilot decided to intercept the setting search and sent me straight back to the original web documentation… completely circular and useless.
Can’t imagine having to do this with a MS Account enabled. It’s like asking them to monitor everything and have even less control.
What happens when you have a CEO that promotes scamming end users.
Note: If you upgraded to windows 10 for free you need to sign into windows 10 with a microsoft at least once to link your digital activation key with a microsoft account.
Only then can you reactivate windows with your digital activation key if/when you want to move it to new hardware. By signing in with that same microsoft account on the new hardware.
Once activated you can go back to a local account and remove the microsoft account from your pc.
If you get new hardware and do not follow these steps, micropsoft support will insist youneed to buy a new license.
I know all this from personal experience.
Also, it’s very easy to install windows 11 without a microsoft account. Download the ISO and use Rufus to create installation media. You just check a box.
I don’t trust Microsoft, but supposedly you can have a Microsoft account without sync. Just turn off sync.
Go into settings, accounts.
“Using a Microsoft account does have benefits.” So does smoking crack.
Love your sense of humour, Bobo :D
Hey Martin:
You wrote … “Microsoft has made it difficult to set up Windows 11 using a Microsoft account.”
I think you meant to say “local”, no?
Cheers!
Jody, you are right! Thanks.
I have always used a local account for Windows. I do not care to use my Microsoft account to sign into Windows and never will.
At the end if we as individuals and groups do not start to be very careful, the stolen data from all of us will be misused against us and our interests in society. In short, it means to legalislate in such a way that the private property, in this case the MS operating system, becomes a public affair. Todays free for the taking by digital corporations of all our behaviours in front of computer screens is simply theft.
I can assure you that it already is. Once all this data about people is centralized and amassed in one database, it will work as follows.
“Hi there, this is the government here. Query your database and give us information on all users who even so much as visited website X between dates Y and Z.”
Government already does stuff like this with Youtube… demanding information from Youtube about everyone who watched a specific video.
Elon Musk had complained recently about the inability to set up a new PC without creating a Microsoft account:
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1761835728000954654
Myself, I’ll never sign up or sign in!
Elon Musk is THE reason I just bought a Ford Mustang Mach-E instead of a Tesla Model Y.
Elon Musk is the reason I’m never going to space. I’m pretty sure that would also require a Microsoft account, and setting the rocket’s engine to Bing.
If you do not care about money, qualify for all rebates and can charge your car in your garage or driveway, good for you. Currently entry level Mustang Mach-E MSRP is competitive to Tesla Model Y. I would not go into electric car market right now for any brand. Most but not all EVs lose 50% of their resale value in first year and 60-70% of their resale value in two years. Insurance rates on EVs are insane and so are repair costs related to battery (You will be surprised how many EV battery repairs are none-existent or not covered by any insurance or warranty). EVs are truly Wild Wild West of car industry.