How to change the underlying local account

Paul Barlow 0 Reputation points
2026-11-10T09:33:49.9333333+00:00

Hello, I have a problem with the user accounts on my W11 PC, I migrated them from my previous W10 PC using PC Mover, and they appeared to come over, however, when I first went into my wife's I noticed the 365 account wasn't registering on Word and logged in with mine, now even though the account is using her username and password, the underlying account is mine and is reflected in the OneDrive being mine not hers.  Her account was a local one rather than online one, though she has one of those too. 

How do I detach her's from mine? (this has been a problem for months, so rolling back is not really practicable)? 

How can I check whether the accounts on the PC are local or Online? 

  1. How do I map the accounts to their own OneDrive's rather than mine? Hello, I have a problem with the user accounts on my W11 PC, I migrated them from my previous W10 PC using PC Mover, and they appeared to come over, however, when I first went into my wife's I noticed the 365 account wasn't registering on Word and logged in with mine, now even though the account is using her username and password, the underlying account is mine and is reflected in the OneDrive being mine not hers.  Her account was a local one rather than online one, though she has one of those too. 
    1. How do I detach her's from mine? (this has been a problem for months, so rolling back is not really practicable)? 
    2. How can I check whether the accounts on the PC are local or Online? 
    3. How do I map the accounts to their own OneDrive's rather than mine? 
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Accounts, profiles, and login
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  1. EmilyS_726 34,280 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-11-11T04:24:07.7133333+00:00

    Can you go to Settings > Accounts > Your info, take a screenshot, and share it here please so I can review the current set up.

    Please edit to mask email address to protect your privacy.

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  2. Bulldog 5,520 Reputation points
    2026-11-10T12:29:45.1266667+00:00

    Your 'mistake' was in using software to move your user accounts. But not to worry, it's not too late to do things the right way.

    The right way was to re-create your accounts on the new PC, because user accounts can't be moved to a new PC. Rather than trying to fix what you have, better to start over. Once your are setup correctly, you can get rid of the old accounts.

    A Microsoft account doesn't need to be moved, because a Microsoft account is an Internet account - you can access it from any computer or tablet in the world. To use your Microsoft account on your new computer, simply create a new user account, make it a Microsoft account, and sign in with your existing username and password.

    Recreating your local accounts takes more work. The first thing you should do is to backup all your personal files to a portable hard drive or a USB flash drive. That way, you won't lose anything. Make sure you've backed up everything.

    Next uninstall all your software ( not Windows itself) and then delete all user accounts except for the Administrator account and your Microsoft account.

    Now create new user accounts and set them up as you like. Finally, restore all your personal files from backup and reinstall your software

    The advantage of doing it this way is that there's nothing to try to fix and hope it's right. Instead, you're starting over and getting it right from the very beginning.

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  3. nobuko c 125.3K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-11-10T10:41:44.74+00:00

    Hello,

    There are three different account configurations involved here:

    1. The account used to sign in to Windows.
    2. The Microsoft account used by Microsoft 365 (Office).
    3. The Microsoft account used by OneDrive.

    Before changing any settings, could you please check the following while signed in to your wife's Windows profile?

    1. Open Settings → Accounts → Your info and check whether it shows a local account or a Microsoft account. If you see "Sign in with a local account instead" under Account settings, you are currently signed in with a Microsoft account.
    2. Open Word and go to File → Account. Which email address is displayed under User Information?
    3. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area, then open Settings → Account. Which email address is displayed there?

    Could you please let us know the results?

    Thank you.

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  4. AI answer

    2026-11-10T09:34:53.0333333+00:00

    Correct the three separate identities—Windows sign-in, Microsoft 365 activation, and OneDrive synchronization—from inside your wife’s existing Windows profile; replacing or renaming that profile is not required.

    1. Identify the Windows sign-in account

    Sign out of your Windows profile and sign in to your wife’s profile, then open:

    Settings → Accounts → Your info

    The link shown there identifies the account type:

    • “Sign in with a Microsoft account instead” means the current Windows sign-in is a local account.
    • “Sign in with a local account instead” means Windows is currently signed in with a Microsoft account.

    A local Windows account can still use a separate Microsoft account in Word and OneDrive. It does not need to be converted merely to correct those applications. If your wife prefers her Microsoft account as the Windows sign-in, select Sign in with a Microsoft account instead and enter her account credentials. Windows documents both account types and switching procedures here ^1^.

    2. Remove your cached account from her Windows profile

    While still signed in to your wife’s Windows profile:

    1. Close Word, Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, and other Microsoft 365 applications.
    2. Open Settings → Accounts → Email & accounts.
    3. Under Accounts used by other apps, look for your Microsoft account.
    4. If your account is present and your wife does not need it in her profile, select it and choose Remove.
    5. Also check Settings → Accounts → Access work or school. If your account appears there, select it and choose Disconnect.

    Removing an unintended account from Accounts used by other apps is the relevant correction when Office presents another Windows user’s identity ^2^. Disconnecting an account removes its sign-in information from the device; it does not delete the underlying online account ^3^.

    Do not remove your wife’s Windows user under Accounts → Other users—that would remove her device sign-in and local profile data.

    3. Correct the account used by Microsoft 365

    In your wife’s profile:

    1. Open Word.
    2. Select File → Account.
    3. Sign out of your account.
    4. Close all Microsoft 365 applications; this is required to complete the sign-out.
    5. Reopen Word and sign in with your wife’s Microsoft account.

    Signing out of Office disconnects Office services but does not sign out the separate OneDrive synchronization app ^4^.

    The account she uses must have the Microsoft 365 entitlement. If you own a Microsoft 365 Family subscription, share it with her Microsoft account first; each person should then use their own account so their documents, settings, and OneDrive storage remain separate ^5^.

    Still within your wife’s Windows profile:

    1. Select the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area.
    2. Select Help & Settings → Settings → Account.
    3. Verify the email currently shown.
    4. If it is yours, select Unlink this PC → Unlink account. Unlinking does not delete the cloud files ^6^.
    5. Start OneDrive again from the Start menu.
    6. Sign in with your wife’s Microsoft account.
    7. When prompted for a folder:
      • Choose a new folder associated with her account if the existing folder contains your files.
      • Use an existing folder only when certain it contains her OneDrive content.

    OneDrive will reconnect and synchronize her files; placeholders may appear first while synchronization completes ^7^.

    Do not delete or move the old OneDrive folder until both online accounts have been checked and all locally stored files have been identified. Your former OneDrive folder may remain in File Explorer after unlinking, but it will no longer synchronize.

    Afterward, the expected arrangement is:

    • Windows: your wife’s existing local account, or her Microsoft account if she intentionally converts it.
    • Microsoft 365: activated with her licensed Microsoft account.
    • OneDrive: synchronized only with her Microsoft account.
    • Your Windows profile: Office and OneDrive remain associated with your own account independently.

    References

    1. Change From a Local Account to a Microsoft Account in Windows | Microsoft Support
    2. Office 365 Asks for Wrong Credentials ("Choose a way to sign in") - Microsoft Q&A
    3. Manage User Accounts in Windows | Microsoft Support
    4. Sign out of Office | Microsoft Support
    5. how to get word and excel when i have a local account. - Microsoft Q&A
    6. Turn off, disable, or uninstall OneDrive | Microsoft Support
    7. Windows
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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