While setting up my new Windows PC, I chose a local account for privacy. The idea was simple: no Microsoft account tracking and full control over my device. But once I started using the PC, the cracks began to show, and I realized just how different a local account is from a Microsoft account.
Features I took for granted, like Copilot, cloud backups, and automatic syncing of settings, suddenly disappeared. Even using my favorite Microsoft apps became unnecessarily complicated. What felt like freedom at first slowly turned into a series of small frustrations and ultimately forced me to revert to a Microsoft account.
Limited access to Microsoft apps and AI-powered features
Apps you love don’t work unless you sign in
One of the first things you notice after switching to a local account is how limited the Microsoft Store suddenly feels. Without a Microsoft account signed in, you can’t simply hit the download button on any app or game and have it install seamlessly.
Apps and games with mature content or region restrictions require a Microsoft account to verify your age or location. Plus, if you want to purchase a paid app or game, you need to sign in, which makes sense for payment and licensing reasons.
Likewise, if you use Microsoft’s built-in apps like Phone Link, Clipchamp, or the Office suite, a Microsoft account is required. On top of that, nearly all AI-powered features in Windows 11 stop working when you switch to a local account. So, it makes little sense to go fully local, especially if you depend on these tools and features every day.
Can’t sync data across devices or use passkeys
Say goodbye to seamless setup and easy logins
Another major trade-off with using a local account is losing the seamless syncing you probably take for granted. When you sign in with a Microsoft account, your settings, themes, passwords, and even language preferences quietly travel with you from one Windows device to another. This means any time you switch to a different PC, all you have to do is sign in, and everything feels familiar, like you never left your old machine.
With a local account, that convenience disappears. Since everything is stored locally on that single device, switching to another PC or even reinstalling Windows becomes a tedious reset process. You have to manually copy over settings, reinstall apps, and rebuild your workflow from scratch.
On top of that, features like passkeys—which simplify logging into websites and apps securely—are tied to a Microsoft account. Without it, you’ll have to remember and enter passwords for all your favorite services manually, which means more friction every time you log in. All of this makes using a local account a lot more cumbersome.
Find My Device and Windows Backup stop working
When safety nets disappear, panic sets in
Going local also means losing access to some of Windows’ safety nets. Features like Find My Device and Windows Backup rely on your Microsoft account to function, so when you switch to a local account, they stop working.
Find My Device is one of those features you don’t pay attention to, but you’ll be glad it’s there when you need it. If your laptop ever goes missing, you can track its location, lock it remotely, or even erase it to protect your data. Without a Microsoft account, you can’t do any of that.
Another headache that comes with losing your device is the potential loss of precious data. With Windows Backup, you can save everything, from apps and settings to login credentials. That way, even if your laptop is gone, you can still access your data, but only if you’re signed in to a Microsoft account and have set up a backup in advance.
A local account might give you a sense of independence, but it comes at the cost of critical safety and convenience features that make you feel secure.
Fewer account recovery options
Forget your password and hope for the best
With a Microsoft account, forgetting your login PIN or password is usually a minor hiccup. You can easily reset it by signing in to your Microsoft account or receiving verification codes on your phone or email.
A local account, by contrast, puts all the responsibility squarely on you. Forget your password, and you’re left with the security questions you set up when you first created the account. Fail to remember those, and regaining access becomes nearly impossible.
Now, this scenario is rare, but if your PC holds important files and data without any backup, the stakes suddenly feel much higher. Losing access could mean losing everything, from personal documents to work files, with no convenient way to recover it.
Switching to a local account on Windows might sound appealing at first. After all, more privacy, less tracking, and a sense of control are hard to resist. However, it’s not practical for everyone. A better approach is to use a Microsoft account while manually adjusting key privacy settings on Windows to strike a balance between convenience and control.
