Author: Palla Sridhar

To login to Windows 10 you can either use a local account or Microsoft account. You can sync your device settings. Change the sign-in options. Access work or school to control some settings on your Windows 10 device. Add an account used by Email, calendar, and contacts.

See your account details like the account name, email address, rights and permission. You can manage billing info, family settings, subscriptions, security settings and more using your Microsoft account.

Sync your theme, passwords, language preferences, ease of access, other windows settings with a Microsoft account. Selectively sync individual settings also.

You just need an email account and password for this to work out.

Outlook.com or Hotmail.com accounts are generally used for Microsoft Accounts. But you can add other email accounts like Gmail, Yahoo etc. You can see the different features that can be managed in Windows 10 using a Microsoft account.

To set details and control your Windows 10 account settings, you need to go to Settings > Accounts.

Manage Windows 10 Account

You can do this from the “Your Info” tab on the left hand side. Billing info, family settings, subscriptions, security settings and more can be done by clicking the label “Manage my Microsoft Account” on the right hand-side of the Settings > Accounts Screen.

This will open up the “Microsoft Account” settings page in your web browser. You can make necessary changes to your date of birth, name, location, language, unlink devices, security, privacy etc from the web settings.

You can also change to a “local account” here. This will restrict some access to apps and services like OneDrive, Office 365 and other subscriptions. If you don’t use the services of Microsoft account, then this is best for you.

You can also “Update Info” by verifying your Microsoft Account in Windows 10 with PIN or password.

Email and accounts

You can add a new Microsoft Account using “Accounts > Email & accounts“. To change an account name, delete an account, or sync an account with another device, select your account and then select Manage.

You can do several things like change your Microsoft account email, unblock your account, create email signature, sign into Outlook etc.

This is helpful if you are using too many devices.

If you are using Windows 8.1 and 10 on different devices, but still use the same settings, then you can use the same account.

Work or school accounts can also be added here. You can change settings on your computer, while working from office or college. This is like a remote connection.

But if you have changed jobs and also want to change your Microsoft account, then you can create or add a new account here. This will replicate the settings of your new account.

In another case, you want to use different settings for different devices. In that case also, you would like to maintain multiple Microsoft accounts.

Sign-In options

Password is the primary security for your Microsoft account. But, there is some additional protection. You can login into your Windows 10 computer, tablet, phone and laptop using several authentication methods.

These sign-in options include Windows Hello Face, Windows Hello FingerPrint, Windows Hello Pin, Security Key, Password, Picture Password.

Using any of the above sign-in options, you can login into your Windows 10 with Microsoft account.

This masks your account without any problems. The most convenient method, for personal use, is to use a PIN. Instead of typing a long password, this is more easy to enter.

But if you have confidential information stored in your Windows 10 PC, then its better you use a physical security key.

Hello Face and Hello Finger Print require special devices attached to your all-in-one desktop or laptop. These are not supported by legacy hardware.

Access Work or School

If your Microsoft Account for Windows 10 is being used to access work accounts or school documents, then the administrator will have some control.

You will get access to resources like email, apps and the network. Once you connect your account with your school or work, it can control some settings on your Windows 10 device.

You can export your management log files, set up accounts for taking tests, enroll only in device management etc.

Family Settings Overview

Microsoft Account for Windows 10 can also be used by several members of your family.

You can add your relatives, husband, sisters, brothers.

There are special provisions for your kids who use your Family account. This limits their spending, access to apps, observing their internet usage etc.

You can add someone else who can  be your office colleague to this account. This will not let them add to your Family, but only give some access to your account. You can manage family settings online, using your web browser.

Sync your settings

The best part of using Microsoft Account in Windows 10, is they can sync with many other devices at once. Instead of doing personalization for each device, the same color, screen resolution can be applied to all your devices at once.

Theme is another important aesthetic feature of Windows 10. But if you want to use the default one, instead of a different one for each device, the sync setting can be done here.

Passwords for different web and app accounts are stored in your Microsoft Account. If you shift to another device, then re-entering each password is a big headache.

Just by enabling the sync option for Passwords, all of them are available on your other device.

Language Preferences and Ease of Access sync settings for your Microsoft Account can also be done here.

Microsoft Account also stores your OneDrive and Microsoft Edge favorites.

Microsoft account payment options, family settings, privacy, security can be managed on one page.

Payments & billing, Subscriptions and services, Device history, Xbox and Skype profiles, OneDrive files and folders, Microsoft Office 365 subscription, Mixer, Cortana, MSN are the other settings.

As of Oct 2020, you can view and change payment methods, billing history, download your privacy activity, change ad communication preferences. Also Read – 10 Solutions That’ll Make You Better at Microsoft Account Problem In Windows 10

To manage and subscribe to Office 365 services of Outlook, Word, Excel, Publisher, Note you still need a Microsoft account.

The account creation can be done in a few steps. To use single sign-in process, you need to create an email account . This can be used for many services.

Why you need a Microsoft Account

Microsoft has already managed to provide 5GB free data for OneDrive. To use this, you need an account.

If you want to back up your Windows 10 background settings, themes, personalization, back up etc, you need a Microsoft account.

The best part is that it all comes for free for personal use. If you want to pump up your cloud storage then you need to pay etc.

Azure kind of services come up with business plan and require a corporate structure. But if you are like me, an individual PC user, then you can settle for small things. Also Read – 10 Robust features of Microsoft Defender for Extra Protection of Windows 10

In this Microsoft Account settings review, we are going to see the different services available under the umbrella of one account using the web interface.

How to make a Microsoft Account

1. Go To https://account.microsoft.com/account
2. Click “Create a Microsoft account“.
3. Use your email, phone number to create an account.
4. You can also get a new email address (if you don’t have one).

There are two types of email
1. @outlook.com 2. @hotmail.com

Microsoft Account – Settings

1. Account
2. Your Info
3. Privacy
4. Security
5. Payment & billing
6. Services & subscriptions
7. Devices
8. Family

Account

You can see your account email and name of your account. When you click on any related link you can see that particular item information.

1. Subscriptions
2. Family
3. Devices
4. Discover
5. Payment & billing
6. Privacy 
7. Security

Open OneDrive from here. You can see all the files and folders. Access modifications can also be done.

If you have an Office 365 subscription, it is also mentioned. Otherwise, you can start a free trial.

For security purpose, you can also change the Microsoft account password here.

Get details of Microsoft 365 subscription and services. If you are not a member, you can purchase it from here.

Add a member to the Microsoft family settings. See the list of devices managed under this account.

Access the list of products and services associated with the Microsoft account. Payment and billing order history can also be looked up.

Privacy activity history can be checked. If you forget your password, you can update the security information.

Your Info

In this Microsoft account setting, you can see the following two options.

1. Profile 2. Contact info

See and change your display picture (DP), Edit name, manage how you sign in to Microsoft, edit date of birth, edit country/region, change display language using this option.

Xbox profile and Skype profile details also can be reached from here.

You can add your mobile number or remove it if required. The address book details can also be reached from here.

Microsoft Authenticator is an app which can be used for 2-factor authentication. You can learn more details about it from here.

Change your password and mange your billing, shipping info from this page.

Privacy

The following tabs are available here.

1. Overview
2. My activity
3. Download your data
4. Cortana’s Notebook
5. Ad settings

Under overview, you can view and clear few caches. These include –

1. View and Clear Browsing History
2. View and Clear Search History
3. View and Clear Location History
4. View and Clear Voice Activity
5. View and Clear Media Activity
6. View and Clear Apps and Services Activity
7. Clear Product and Service Performance Data
8. Edit Cortana Data
9. View LinkedIn Connection Settings
10. Manage your HealthVault Account

Under My activity you can explore your data. These include –

1. Apps and services
2. Voice
3. Search
4. Browse
5. Media
6. Locations

Related Reading – For complete details of Microsoft account privacy settings.

Security

You can change password, turn on two-step verification, windows device status etc. from here.

View your sign-in activity, update your contact info, explore other security options from here.

These are two-step verification, identity verification apps, windows hello and security keys, recovery code, trusted devices etc.

Payment & billing

You can see order history, payment options, address book, billing help here. The order history will show the stuff you bought and subscriptions you paid for.

If you have multiple Microsoft accounts, check-in into each account to check your order history.

You can refine your order history on the basis of all, in-progress, returned/refunded, digital, physical, ordered within past 3 months, 6 months, past year etc.

For each setting, your PIN or password may be asked.

You can add payment options like credit and debit cards, PayPal, bank account etc.

The preferred billing info and shipping address also can be set here.

Services and Subscriptions

Under this tab, you can see all the list of services and subscriptions related to your account. These are related to, but not limited, like OneDrive, Xbox Live, Skype, Outlook.com etc. If you have previously subscribed to any services like Office 365, these are listed under Canceled subscriptions.

Devices

This will show the list of devices to which your Microsoft Account is associated to.

The attached devices are listed here. For example, if you have an Android phone attached to this account, you can see it’s details.

You can unlink the phone using the settings.

If you have Your Phone app on your PC and Android, you can switch seamlessly between them. You can also use other Microsoft apps on your Android.

If your desktop or laptop is connected to your Microsoft account, then you can manage it from here.

The default anti-virus is Windows Defender on your Windows 10 PC. You can see it’s security settings from here.

“Find my device” is another option that can be enabled from here. In case you lost the phone or mobile, then you can locate it using this preference.

BitLocker data protection details of your drives can also be seen here. If you have enabled them, it can be seen as ON. Otherwise, it will display as OFF.

Family

You can see the list of family members you have added to this account. You can add a family member from here. For your kids, you can manage use the “manage my child’s profile info” if you have added them. You can add a member as family or child.

Adult permissions

The Manage permissions option for an adult will give your further options. For example, you can allow other adults in your family to check the health and safety of your devices. They can make sure that they’re up-to-date and check device security and status.

Child permissions

You can also add child as your family members. Then you can see their activity, screen time, app and game limits, content restrictions, spending and add money to his account. This will help your set screen time limits, require kids to ask a parent before buying etc.