When you first set up your Windows 8.1, if the PC has an active internet connection, the installation will force you to sign in or sign up a Windows Live Account by default, which means that you will no longer be able to log into your PC with the local accounts. Instead, you will be forced to use Windows Live account and its corresponding password to log in your computer. This may or may not be the desired behavior, especially when you are upgrading your PC from Windows 7 or previous versions. The reason why Microsoft enforce this is in an effort to make Windows 8.1 more cloud dependent, to provide a more homogeneous user experience across all Windows devices. There are many benefits to have everything integrated with Cloud, after all, the world is moving towards it and you should not fall behind. However, by using Windows Live Accounts, it also means SkyDrive, user settings and apps you download from the Store will be synced, all automatically without you even noticing it.
If you don’t like the way everything all synced, or you just want to go back to your previous local user accounts, here is how you can update or change your Windows Live Accounts into a Local Account in Windows 8.1.
How To Update Windows Live Accounts Into Local Accounts in Windows 8.1
First go to the Start Menu and start typing “Account” you will find the option “Your account settings” Click and launch the setting page.
Go to Your accounts > click “Disconnect”
This will launch a prompt, you will need to confirm your current Windows Live account password. Also note by switching to your local accounts, you will NOT lose the settings or any files, the only advantage you will be missing out is the sync between other devices.
Now, create your local account password and hint.
Windows will tell you in detail of what it means to switch to a local account. Read carefully if you have any concerns.
That’s it, Windows will then log out the current account, and you will be able to log back in with the local accounts you have just created. All the cloud sync services will be disabled, if you changed your mind about going back to have a local account, you can always reconnect this local accounts to a Windows Live accounts.
I had only a local account in Windows 8. On the updating to Windows 8.1, I found it was possible to sign in without creating a Windows Live Account. There is an option to ‘Use existing account’, or some such language. This bypasses the Windows Live Account creation and you are signed in. Thus you are not absolutely required to create a Live Account.
It’s simple, once you upgrade with windows 8.1 and it ask for a creation of a live account to continue, simply click I’m not “whatever your username” and it Windows will finalize your settings and take you to the log on screen where you can log on locally as before the upgrade. MCP