Windows 10 hit the market with unmatched anticipation. From the new start menu to the Cortana integration, this Windows update was indeed a hit through and through. But while it features such advanced options and intelligent controls, it also has its downs. For example, the lacking removing accounts from the PC option.
Unlike other versions, Windows 10 doesn’t offer you the liberty to simply remove your account from settings. Instead, it gives you the option to easily control all your device functions using your Microsoft account. But what if you want to remove this account from your PC? Well, it gets a little tricky then. And today, we will address this exact problem.
If you are having trouble deleting your account from Windows 10, keep reading. We have compiled a list of hacks that will help you go around this issue with basic computer knowledge. They are as follows:
Solution 1: Switch your PC to a local account
Like any smart device, Windows PC also requires a functioning account to keep working. But when you want to delete that account from your computer, Windows 10 software can give you a hard time as it doesn’t give you the remove account features like its predecessors.
In such cases, you need smart solutions for this problem. One such solution includes converting your Microsoft account into a local account. This hack helps you remove a non-functioning Microsoft account from Windows 10 without interrupting your work. Here is a guideline for the process:
Open the settings on your PC. Here, look for the accounts tab and open it. From there, click on the “your info” option. Now, you will have the screen where you can see all your accounts and basic information you added while setting up your PC. Look at the bottom of this page, and you will see an option saying “sign in with a local account”. Click on the tab, and it will take you to a pop-up window. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen and add the essential information. Once you’re done, your account will be all set to use.
Now that you have added an alternative account, we can work on the real problem of removing the previous account. For that, simply go to the accounts settings and open the email and accounts tab. From there, click on the Microsoft account and choose the remove option to get rid of it. And just like that, you can remove any Microsoft account from Windows 10.
Solution 2: Use Your Administrator Account to Delete Extra Ones
Microsoft has designed Windows 10 to provide you with a swift working experience. But while this Windows has everything you can need for a better PC functioning, the account setup can leave you a little confused. And if the local account setting isn’t working for you, here is another method that can help you remove your Microsoft account.
If you are having trouble removing your Microsoft account from Windows 10, you should try changing your account into a local one. The non-removable account settings on Windows are specific for administrator uses. Meaning, if you have an administrator account on the PC, you can’t delete it from the settings. But if you have multiple accounts, you can remove all the local ones by signing into the admin account. Here’s a step by step guide to do it:
Once your PC is started and ready to function, open settings. Now look for the accounts tab and click on the family and other people option to manage these accounts. Here, you will see the list of all the accounts that you have added to your PC. from there, you can remove the ones you don’t need and keep the ones you find useful.
Another possibility here could be that your PC has only one account. In that case, you have to add another account so that you can remove the existing one. For that, go to the settings and open the accounts tab. There, click on the add account option and sign in. once you’re done, make this account the admin one and use it to remove the previous accounts.
Solution 3: Use netplwiz Feature to Remove the Account
If you are an old school PC user, this option can be the best pick for you. To remove your Microsoft accounts, you can use run dialogue to the job. Initiate the run dialogue using Windows and R keys.
Once the dialogue appears on the screen, type “netplwiz” in the tab and click on ok. This will take you to the list of available accounts in your PC. From there, choose the account that you want to delete and select the remove option. This will pop up a confirmation window for the operation. Lastly, click on the yes button on this confirmation window, and it will remove the account from your PC.
Solution 4: Remove the Microsoft Account Online
Above, we discussed some methods you can use to remove any Microsoft account from Windows 10. But all these options require a well functioning PC that is still in your use. So what if you don’t have access to your PC but still want to remove your account from it? Well, you can remove the account remotely through Microsoft web. Here’s a step by step guide for the process:
In any smart device, open the Microsoft website and login to your account. After that, click on the devices option, and you will get the list of all the devices associated with your account. From there, choose your PC and click on the remove device option. And just like that, you can remove your Microsoft account from your PC remotely.
Solution 5: Stop the Automatic Sign-in Option
If the prior solutions didn’t work for you, and you’re still stuck with your Microsoft account, we have another hack for you. Windows 10 uses the automatic sign-in options to give you a smooth PC operation. Whenever you open any app on your device, it automatically signs in using your current Microsoft account. But if you’re struggling to remove your account from the PC, you can use this feature to do this job. Here’s how:
Launch the settings on your PC and click on the accounts tab. From there, select your info option, and it’ll pop up the window we already addressed above. Now look for the option that says “stop signing in to all Microsoft apps automatically”. Click on the icon, and it will convert your Microsoft account into a local one.
After that, you can follow the guideline mentioned above in solution 1 to remove your Microsoft account easily.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I remove my admin account from Windows 10?
If your PC has multiple accounts signed in, you can surely delete the existing admin account by selecting another account for the job. Meaning, all the PCs require at least one functional account for the administrative role. If you have only one account signed in, it becomes the admin account by default. But if you have multiple accounts, you can choose among them and select your administrative account while deleting or removing the unnecessary ones.
2. Can I delete my account if I forget the password?
Yes, you can remove any account from your PC using your administrative account. For example, if you have numerous accounts on your PC, you can delete them without knowing their passwords. But for this feature, you need administrative control of the PC.
3. If I delete my account, will it delete my data too?
Deleting your account from the PC can affect your data if you are not up to date with your backups. That said, if you maintain regular backups and store your important data on the cloud, deleting your account from the PC won’t affect it. Instead, whenever you sign in from that account anywhere, you can access your backed up data without any added hassle.
The Bottom Line
Windows 10 is definitely a step-up as compared to its predecessors. But it can surely leave some users confused with its no “remove your account” option. And to resolve this issue, we discussed some common methods that will help you remove your Microsoft account from Windows 10.
Out of everything we discussed above, switching to local accounts is still our best pick. But if this option doesn’t work for you, we have listed plenty of other solutions as well. Also, if you want to remove an account from a PC you no longer have, you can use online services to remove your account remotely.
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Sarah Durrani 
Bethany Wilson 
