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How do I completely and permanently sign out of Windows 10 on a laptop I bought that I now have to return?

Anonymous
2020-07-10T15:30:56+00:00

I bought a reconditioned laptop, but it's faulty. When I set it up, I signed in with my Microsoft account. Now that I have to return it, I want all connection to my Microsoft account removed. How do I sign out of my account totally securely, so that there's no way anyone can use my account after I return the laptop, if they decide to sell the laptop again to someone else?

Thank you very much.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Security and privacy

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  1. DaveM121 871.3K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2020-07-10T16:44:13+00:00

    Hi Mina

    Sorry I was offline

    To log out of your own old account, on the Start menu, click the user icon and choose to sign out, then log into that new account . . .

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  1. DaveM121 871.3K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2020-07-10T15:46:51+00:00

    Hi Mina

    Log into your Microsoft Account in a web browser - https://account.microsoft.com/account

    At the top of that page, click Devices, find that PC and remove that PC form your Account

    Close the Browser

    Open the Settings App

    Go to Accounts - Family and other People

    Click 'Add someone else to this PC'

    Follow the prompts to create a new account, do not provide an Email Address, choose 'I do not know this persons details' - that will create a Local Account, not linked to any Microsoft Account

    Give that account a generic name

    Close the settings app

    Log out of that user account

    Log into your new account

    Click the Start Button, type netplwiz and hit Enter

    In the resulting dialog, select the old account and click 'Remove'

    That's It, that new Admin Account will replace the old account and remove all reference to your Microsoft Account

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  1. Brink 16,560 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2020-07-10T16:42:35+00:00

    Hello Mina, 

    Since you are returning the laptop, I would recommend to reset Windows 10 like in option 2 of the tutorial below to wipe the computer. You can stop at step 15 using the note under this step to leave the PC ready for the next new owner to pick up at this point to finish setting up Windows 10.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/4130-reset-windows-10-a.html

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-07-10T16:14:53+00:00

    Thank you so much for your answer -- it's just the last part I'm having trouble with:

    Log out of that user account

    Log into your new account

    Do I do this by going back into settings, and clicking "sign in with a local account instead"? Thank you again.

    I'm really sorry if this is a stupid question -- it's just that I have my payment information associated with my Microsoft account, plus I'd be really upset if the people I bought the laptop from still had access to my OneDrive after I've returned it (it's very personal). I just want to make sure I do it absolutely right. Thank you.

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