How do I remove a Microsoft account from a PC?

Question

How do I remove a Microsoft account from a PC?

Gary Shaffer 0

Hi,

I'm gifting an older Win 10 PC, and can't separate it from my Microsoft account. I've gone in and deleted it from the "Devices" list several times (from another PC) and restarted the problem PC several times, but when I boot it up, the administrator user keeps coming up as my personal MS account. How do I get that off the gifted PC?

Thanks

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Answer 1

EmilyS_726 17,355 Volunteer Moderator

Hello

If you are gifting your PC, it is probably best that you perform a factory reset and let the next owner start over with their own account.

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery, reset this PC, and choose the option to delete everything.

Once it is done, you can turn it off. When the next owner turns it on, it will walk them through the process of setting up, like when you first got the computer out of box.

Gary Shaffer 0 Reputation points

2025-10-20T10:58:56.3966667+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll do that if I have to, but I'd prefer to leave the apps and data files intact. Can I do that with this approach? (I don't have access to the PC for the next few days.)
EmilyS_726 17,355 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-10-20T13:19:10.44+00:00

You can go to Settings > Accounts > Your info

Click on Sign in with local user instead. follow the steps and finish the rest.

(If you don't see the "sign in with a local account instead option, click on "Stop signing into Microsoft apps automatically" first, then relaunch this page. )

Restart the computer (Do Not skip)

This will strip your Microsoft account from this Windows user and turn the Windows user a local user without association with your Microsoft account. You would then give the new owner the password that you set up during the above steps.

When the new owner takes over, they would log in

Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info

Click on Sign in with Microsoft account instead. follow the steps and finish the rest. This is where they will sign into their own Microsoft account and associate this Windows user with their Microsoft account.

Restart the computer (Do Not skip)

Keep in mind though - not all apps will remain working properly. For examples, if you have apps that you paid for under your Microsoft account, new owner will have to pay for them in order to keep using them. Paid apps via the Microsoft Store app are Microsoft account specific.
Gary Shaffer 0 Reputation points

2025-11-04T06:17:56.44+00:00

Thank you, but none of those prompts appeared anywhere, so I ended up just doing a full reset. It's a shame that MS is so rigid in its view of how we are to use our PCs; and so determined to enforce that vision. (I may have expressed those sentiments in a somewhat cruder fashion on multiple occasions during this exercise.)

Answer 2

Gary Shaffer 0

Thank you, but I'd prefer to keep the apps and data (long story). I've tried creating another account and removing the PC from my account's list of devices, but the PC won't offer the option of deleting my account.

EmilyS_726 17,355 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-10-28T14:04:02.45+00:00

I am not sure if you have done the instruction in the last comment I shared above. That option doesn't erase files, but paid apps are not kept as it is account specific, so you don't have a choice when it comes to paid apps.
CP 0 Reputation points

2025-10-28T15:05:59.58+00:00

It seems like to remove a default user profile in Windows 10, you must first ensure you are not using it and that at least one other administrator account exists. Then, go to Settings > Accounts > Family and other users, select the profile you want to remove, and click Remove, try that and let us know.

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How do I remove a Microsoft account from a PC?

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