

If you ever change your mind and want to use your Microsoft account again, go back to your account settings and click the link to "Connect to a Microsoft account.When Windows 10 license is associated with your Microsoft account, the Windows Activation page displays “Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account” message. You should now be able to log in to your Windows 8.1 PC with the local account you just created. Step 4: Click or tap on the "Sign out and finish" button to complete the switch to a local account. Step 3: Now enter the local username you want to use, your password, and a password hint. Step 2: When prompted, enter your Microsoft account password to verify that it's your account.

Step 1: Go to Settings > Change PC Settings > Accounts > Your Account, then under your name and Microsoft account e-mail address, click on the "Disconnect" link. But if you don't use any of these features and would still prefer to switch to a local account, here's how: Downloading apps from the Microsoft App Store for the Modern interface (Start screen) requires a Microsoft account as well. You can also use Microsoft's integrated cloud storage, OneDrive (formerly SkyDrive). For example, using a Microsoft account log-in lets you sync your settings across different Windows 8.1 PCs. Using a Microsoft account does have some advantages over using a local account. If you used a Microsoft account to set up your Windows 8.1 PC and would like to use a local account instead, you can switch.

When you configure a Windows 8.1 system the very first time, you're asked to use a Microsoft account to log in, and though you don't have to use one, it's not real clear at the time.
