How to prevent questions about Microsoft account

Question

Our company has two Windows 10 Pro PCs which are used as servers and should run continuously. Today, one of them stopped working and displayed a message asking to add a Microsoft account. How can I prevent such questions?

Answer 1

Hello Paul

To prevent Windows 10 Pro PCs from prompting to add a Microsoft account and ensure they run continuously as servers, you can follow these steps:

1.     Local Account: When setting up the Windows 10 Pro PCs, make sure to create and use a local account instead of a Microsoft account. A local account is tied only to the specific PC and does not require online authentication.

2.     Disable Microsoft Account Sign-in Prompt:

o    Go to Settings > Accounts > Your Info.

o    Under "Manage my Microsoft account," click on "Sign in with a local account instead."

o    Follow the on-screen instructions to switch to a local account.

3.     Configure Group Policy:

o    Press Win + R, then type "gpedit.msc" and hit Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.

o    Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Cloud Content.

o    Double-click on the "Turn off Microsoft consumer experiences" policy and set it to Enabled.

4.     Disable Windows 10 Synchronization:

o    Go to Settings > Accounts > Sync your settings.

o    Turn off syncing for different settings like Theme, Passwords, Language Preferences, etc.

5.     Set Autologin:

o    You can set up automatic login to the Windows 10 Pro PCs. To do this, press Win + R, type "netplwiz," and hit Enter.

o    Uncheck "Users must enter a username and password to use this computer."

o    Enter the username and password you want to use for automatic login.

6.     Regular Maintenance:

o    Ensure that the PCs are regularly maintained, updated, and monitored for any issues that could cause interruptions in their operation.

 

Answer 2

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your post. Apart from glebgreenspan’s suggestions, you can also try this :

• Run the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)
• Navigate to : Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Polices > Security Options
• Double-click "Accounts: Block Microsoft accounts"
• Select "Users can't add or log on with Microsoft accounts"
• Click OK
• Reboot

This requires you to always be able to log in with using only local accounts. If you will need in the future to log in to your Microsoft account, you will need to disable this policy.

Best Regards,

Ian Xue

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