transfer my account

Question

transfer Microsoft account to a new account without losing my files

Answer 1

Hi Carmen McAlexander,

If your goal is to start using a new Microsoft account while keeping your personal files, it's helpful to first identify where those files are stored. Files saved locally on your PC are separate from the Microsoft account itself and can typically be accessed after signing in with a different account.

A simple approach is to:

1. Back up any important files to an external drive or another safe location.
2. Verify whether any files are stored in OneDrive under the current account.
3. Sign in to the new Microsoft account and confirm your files are available before removing access to the old account.

If your files are primarily stored in OneDrive, you may need to manually copy or move the data to the OneDrive storage associated with the new account before making the change.

If you can share whether you're trying to transfer local files, OneDrive files, email data, or a Microsoft 365 subscription, the community can provide more specific guidance for your situation.

I hope this helps point you in the right direction. Let me know if you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment" or "Add Answer" if you cannot add comment so your response will be visible. Thanks for your effort.

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Answer 2

A Microsoft account itself cannot be transferred to another Microsoft account. To keep files, the supported approach is to switch Windows to the new Microsoft account or create a new profile, then move the files.

For Windows:

1. Open Settings > Accounts > Your info.
2. If the current Windows profile is using a local account, select Sign in with a Microsoft account instead and follow the prompts for the new Microsoft account.
3. If the current profile is already connected to a Microsoft account, a supported community method is:
   • Go to Settings > Accounts > Your info.
   • Select Sign in with a local account instead.
   • Restart.
   • Go back to Settings > Accounts > Your info.
   • Select Sign in with Microsoft account instead and sign in with the new Microsoft account.
   • Restart again.

File considerations:

• Files stored locally on the PC remain available with the Windows profile.
• Files stored in OneDrive under the old Microsoft account should be downloaded or copied before changing accounts.
• If switching the account does not work cleanly, the safer fallback is to use a new Windows profile and copy data from C:\Users\old profile to C:\Users\new profile. Avoid copying AppData, because it can carry profile problems.

If the goal is a Microsoft 365 subscription move, that cannot be transferred to another Microsoft account. The current subscription must expire or be canceled, and a new subscription must be purchased with the new account.

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• Change From a Local Account to a Microsoft Account in Windows
• Windows sign in - Microsoft Q&A
• How can I change my Windows sign-in email without losing my profile? - Microsoft Q&A
• Transfer a Microsoft 365 subscription to another account