Will switching from my locked Microsoft OHS account to my Microsoft 365 account affect my Windows license?

Question

I have a Microsoft Office and Home account, and currently, that account is experiencing issues and is locked. If I sign out of that account and switch to my Microsoft 365 account, will my Windows license be affected?

Answer 1

Switching from your Microsoft Office and Home account to your Microsoft 365 account on Windows will not directly affect your Windows license. Your Windows license is tied to your device, not your Microsoft account.

However, consider the following:

1. Office applications: If your Microsoft Office and Home account is locked, you may lose access to Office applications (like Word, Excel) that are associated with that account. Switching to your Microsoft 365 account might require you to reinstall or reactivate Office using your new account credentials.
2. OneDrive storage: If you're using OneDrive with your locked account, switching accounts might affect your access to stored files. Ensure you have synced or backed up important files before switching.
3. Settings and preferences: Some Windows settings and preferences might be tied to your Microsoft account. Switching accounts could reset some of these settings.

To minimize potential disruptions:

1. Sync or back up important files from OneDrive.
2. Make note of your Windows settings and preferences.
3. Consider reaching out to Microsoft support to resolve the issues with your locked account.

Then, sign out of the locked account and switch to your Microsoft 365 account. Your Windows license should remain unaffected.