Many users link their Microsoft account when setting up Windows 11 to access features like OneDrive, Microsoft Store, and synchronization services. However, there are instances where you might want to remove your Microsoft account from your Windows 11 PC. This guide will walk you through the detailed steps to remove a Microsoft account from Windows 11.

Create a Local Account on Windows 11

Before you can remove a Microsoft account, you need to ensure that you are not signed into it. Therefore, the first step is to create a local account with administrative privileges.

Open the Settings app by searching for it in the Start Menu or by pressing the WINDOWS + I keyboard shortcut.

In the Settings window, select the Accounts tab from the left pane.

On the right side, click on Family & other users or Other users.

Under the Other users section, click on Add account next to Add other user.

In the Microsoft account window that appears, select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.

Choose Add a user without a Microsoft account on the next screen.

Enter a username and, if desired, a password for the new local account. Fill in the required fields and click on Next to create the account.

Note: If you prefer not to set a password, you can leave the password fields blank and proceed by clicking Next.

The local account is now created but is a standard user by default. To assign administrative privileges, click on the newly created account under Other users.

Click on Change account type next to Account options.

In the Change account type window, open the drop-down menu under Account type and select Administrator. Click on OK to save the changes.

You now have a local account with administrative rights. Sign out of your Microsoft account and sign in with this local account to proceed with removing the Microsoft account from your system.

Removing Microsoft Account on Windows 11

Once you’re signed in with the local administrator account, you can remove the Microsoft account from your system. There are several methods to accomplish this. Below are the steps for the most effective methods.

Remove Microsoft Account via Settings

Open the Settings app by pressing WINDOWS + I or searching for it in the Start Menu.

Go to the Accounts tab on the left pane.

Click on Family & other users or Other users on the right side.

Under the Other users section, locate the Microsoft account you want to remove and click on it.

Click on the Remove button next to Account and data.

In the confirmation dialog, click on Delete account and data to confirm the removal.

The Microsoft account will now be removed from your Windows 11 computer.

Remove Microsoft Account via User Accounts Panel

Press WINDOWS + R to open the Run dialog box. Type netplwiz and press ENTER or click OK.

In the User Accounts window, select the Microsoft account you wish to remove from the list.

Click on the Remove button.

Confirm the action by clicking Yes in the prompt that appears.

The selected Microsoft account will be removed from your system.

Remove Microsoft Account via Control Panel

Open the Control Panel by searching for it in the Start Menu.

In the Control Panel, click on User Accounts.

Click on Remove user accounts under the User Accounts section.

Select the Microsoft account you want to remove from the list of user accounts.

Click on Delete the account.

Choose whether you want to Delete Files or Keep Files. Selecting Keep Files will save certain files associated with the account to your desktop. Make your selection to proceed.

Note: Opting to Keep Files will save limited files from the account. If you wish to delete them later, you can do so manually.

The Microsoft account has now been removed using the Control Panel.

By following these steps, you can successfully remove a Microsoft account from your Windows 11 PC. This can help you maintain your privacy or simplify your user accounts on the system.