Many users want to remove their Microsoft account from Windows 10 for privacy reasons, but it can get confusing especially if you're trying to avoid data loss. So, how do you safely remove a Microsoft account from Windows 10? In this guide, I’ll show you how to remove a Microsoft account from Windows 10 with simple tools and introduce WPS Office, an all-in-one suite with productivity tools and smart AI features for all your needs.
Remove with Admin Account
I’ve found that there are many different ways to remove your Microsoft Account from your Windows 10 system. If you already have access to an administrator account on your system, removing your Microsoft account is much more straightforward. The first thing I do when removing my Microsoft Account from the system is to ensure that a Local Administrator Account is set up. I’ll walk you through the steps you need to do just that:
Step 1: Firstly, you need to open settings on your computer. To do this, press “Windows” + “I” on your keyboard.
Step 2: When your Settings Window opens, go to “Account” by pressing on it.
Step 3: In Account Settings, go into “Family & other users” and select “Add someone else to this PC”.
Step 4: A new window will open up asking for email, select “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information”.
Step 5: Microsoft will then redirect to the Account Creation Window, select “Add a user without a Microsoft Account”.
Step 6: On the User Creation Window, create a Username and Password, then press “Next”. Your new account will now be created.
Step 7: Go back to Family & other users, under your newly created account press “Change Account Type”.
Step 8: Set your account to administrator by clicking the dropdown menu under Account type, and selecting “Administrator” then press “OK”.
This is a simple and reliable method for setting up an administrator account on your PC if you don’t already have one. I use it every time I set up a new device, and it’s always been reliable. Now that a local administrator account is set up on your device, you can remove your Microsoft Account with ease. I’ll walk you through some easy and simple ways you can use to remove your Account:
Remove via Settings:
The quickest and easiest way to remove your Microsoft Account from your PC is through Settings. This is my go-to whenever I want my account removed without any long steps. I’ll help you remove your Microsoft Account through settings using these simple and easy steps:
Step 1: The first thing you need to do is logging in your administrator account so we can proceed with this method.
Step 2: Open your settings by pressing “Windows” + “I” on your keyboard at the same time.
Step 3: In Windows Settings, select “Accounts” by clicking on it.
Step 4: In Family & other users, select your account and select “Remove”.
Remove via Control Panel:
If you prefer using the Control Panel for managing system settings, you can remove your Microsoft account through it as well. I often rely on this method when I want to avoid navigating the Windows Settings app. Here’s how you can remove your Microsoft account using the Control Panel:
Step 1: The first thing you need to do is open the Control Panel. Simply type “Control Panel” into the Start Menu Search and click on the result.
Step 2: When your Control Panel opens, select “User Accounts” by pressing on it.
Step 3: Under User Accounts, you’ll see an option for “Remove user accounts”, select it.
Step 4: Select the Microsoft Account you would like to remove.
Step 5: When your system asks you to ‘Make changes to your account’, press “Delete the account”.
Remove via netplwiz:
If you're comfortable with advanced tools, netplwiz offers a quick way to manage your user accounts. I often use this method when I want more direct control over my account settings without going through multiple menus. I’ll walk you through how you can remove your Microsoft account using netplwiz:
Step 1: Open the Run Dialog by pressing “Windows” + “R” on your keyboard simultaneously.
Step 2: In the Run Dialog Box, type “netplwiz” and press “Enter”. This will open the User Accounts Window, showing you all your accounts.
Step 3: Select the Microsoft Account you want to delete from your system, then press “Remove”, then press “Yes” on the confirmation window.
Remove via Command Prompt:
If you prefer command-line tools or need a faster method, the Command Prompt is a reliable option. I usually turn to this when I want to remove an account quickly without opening multiple windows. I’ll walk you through the steps you can use to remove your Microsoft Account using Command Prompt:
Step 1: Open Command Prompt by typing ‘cmd’ in the Windows Search Bar and pressing “Enter”.
Step 2: In the Command Prompt Window, type “net user "accountname" /delete” and press “Enter”.
All of these methods have worked reliably for me in different situations, and you can choose whichever one suits your preferences best. With the steps I’ve shared, you’ll be able to remove your Microsoft account easily and without any hassle.
Remove without Admin Account
If you don’t have admin access on your device, you can still remove your Microsoft account by first switching to a local account. I’ve used this method on shared or restricted devices on which I lacked admin access, and found it effective just with a few extra steps.
Switching to Local Account:
The first thing I do before removing my Microsoft account is switch to a local account, so I can remove it without having administrative access. It only takes a few minutes and the process is simple if you follow the steps I’m about to walk you through:
Step 1: The first thing you need to do is to open settings on your computer. To do this, press “Windows” + “I” on your keyboard.
Step 2: On the settings window, go to “Account” by pressing on it.
Step 3: In the ‘Your Info’ section, select “Sign in with a local account instead”.
Step 4: Make sure that this is the account you want to remove, then press “Next” to verify your identity.
Step 5: Enter the username and password you want to set for this local account, then press “Next”.
Step 6: A new window will now open up with your local account details, press “Sign out and finish”, this will sign you out.
Step 7: Sign back into your system using the newly created local account.
Once you've successfully switched to a local account, you can proceed to remove your Microsoft account from the system. In these next steps, I will guide you through that process safely and efficiently.
Removing Microsoft Account:
Now that your local account is set up successfully, you can move on to removing your Microsoft account from the system. These are the steps I use to remove my Microsoft account using a local account, and you can follow them for a quick and easy process:
Step 1: The first thing you need to do is visit Microsoft’s Official Website using your browser.
Step 2: On Microsoft’s website, sign in to the account you want to remove from your device.
Step 3: In the Devices Window you’ll see every device your account is on, select “See details” on your device.
Step 4: On your device details, press the “Remove this device” button to remove your account from your device.
Your Microsoft account is now removed from your device. I always find this step important when I just want to keep things more private. With your local account in place and everything cleaned up, your PC is now exactly how you want it.
Remove without Password
If you’ve forgotten your Microsoft account password, you can still remove the account from your device. I’ll walk you through the steps you need to do to remove your Microsoft Account from your system without requiring your password:
Step 1: Open settings by pressing “Windows” + “I” on your keyboard.
Step 2: In the Windows Settings, press “Update & Security” and select “Recovery”.
Step 3: In recovery settings, under Advanced Startup, click on “Restart now”.
Step 4: After your system restarts it'll ask you to choose an option, select “Troubleshoot”.
Step 5: In the troubleshooting options, select “Advanced options” by pressing it.
Step 6: In the Advanced Options menu, click “Startup Settings” to open it.
Step 7: When Startup Settings open you will see a “Restart” button, press it.
Step 8: After your system restarts, you’ll see a bunch of options on your screen. Press “4” or “F4” to start your system in safe mode.
Step 9: Your system will now boot in safe mode. Log in with a local account, or reset using ‘Forgot Password’ if that option is visible to you.
Now that you're back in your system, you can use any of the earlier methods to remove your Microsoft Account. While this method takes a bit longer, I’ve found it essential whenever I forget my password and still need to remove the account from my device.
WPS Office: A Best Suite for Windows 10/11 Users
Whenever I’m removing my Microsoft account or switching between user profiles, I always make sure my important files are backed up and well-organized so I don’t lose anything. That’s where tools like WPS Office really shine for me. It’s not just another office suite, it’s a free all-in-one toolkit that’s fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats, keeping all my documents and presentations organized and easily accessible.
I use WPS Office regularly to manage my Word documents, spreadsheets, and even PDFs, especially when I’m setting up a local account or restoring my system. It keeps everything exactly where I need it, and the smooth, lightweight experience helps me stay focused on the task without slowing down my system. It offers me a fully-featured productivity suite for all my needs:
Top WPS AI Features:
I’ve found that other than being an all-in-one productivity tool for both work and personal use, WPS Office also includes its own AI Suite, offering smart assistance whenever I need it. Here are some of the notable features provided by WPS AI that stood out to me:
AI Resume Assistant：Quickly generates professional, customized resumes with intelligent formatting and phrasing suggestions.
AI Spell & Grammar Check: Detects and corrects my spelling, grammar, and style errors instantly, plus provides me with paraphrasing suggestions.
Academic Writing Support: Assists me in structuring and refining research papers,, helping me write faster and better.
AI Writing Assistant：Generates high-quality content from prompts for articles, reports, and storytelling.
AI Slides Creator: Automatically creates structured and well-designed presentations from plain text topics.
Smart PDF Tools: Summarize, analyze, and extract key info from my PDF documents with intelligent AI interaction.
WPS AI’s AI Suite has streamlined my workflow, making complex tasks faster and easier while improving the quality of my documents. Whenever I’m drafting a resume, making a report, or creating presentations, its smart features save me a lot of time and reduce my stress. For anyone looking to boost their productivity while streamlining their workflow, WPS AI is an invaluable companion.
FAQs
Q1. Do I need admin rights to remove a Microsoft account?
No you don’t need administrative rights, but it's easier with admin access. Without it, you need to switch to a local account first.
Q2. Will I lose files when I delete the Microsoft account?
You’ll be prompted whether to keep or delete files. Choose 'Keep files' if you don’t want to lose your data..
Q3. What if I forgot the Microsoft account password?
You can reset your password or log in using Safe Mode and create a local account to proceed.
Q4. Is WPS Office free?
Yes, WPS Office is 100% free to use and is fully compatible with Windows 10/11.
Q5. What are some AI tools in WPS Office?
Resume writing, spell checking, academic writing, AI slide creation, and PDF analysis are just some of the tools offered by WPS Office’s AI Suite.
