How to transfer my primary desktop account from one existing Microsoft account to another.

Eric Buhrer 0 Reputation points
2026-10-17T03:40:34.46+00:00

Microsoft refuses my attempt to create the necessary alias because it says the account I want to move to already exists.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Accounts, profiles, and login
0 comments No comments

1 answer

Sort by: Oldest
  1. GsN5034 - IA 78,875 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-17T04:38:25.4866667+00:00

    Hello,

    Could you please clarify whether you want to switch the Microsoft account you use to sign in to Windows, or transfer your existing Windows user profile, files, and settings to another Microsoft account?

    Please note that you cannot merge two Microsoft accounts.

    If you want to switch the Microsoft account used to sign in to Windows,

    1. Click Windows + R key, type netplwiz, and click ok.
    2. Click Add > Sign in without a Microsoft Account (Not recommended).
    3. Click Local account.
    4. Create a temporary local user account.
    5. Once created, select the new local account created in the netplwiz window and click Properties.
    6. In the Group Membership tab, give the administrator permissions.

    Once done,

    • Sign out and sign in to the newly created local account (Profile).
    • Go to Local disk C :/Users/Your old user profile.
    • Copy all the data from your old user profile to the new profile.
    • Now, all of your data will be transferred to the new local admin profile.

    If you want to remove your old User profile,

    • Open the netplwiz window from the local admin profile.
    • Remove the old user profile.

    Now, sign in with the Microsoft account you want to use on your PC.

    • Go to Start > Settings > Accounts > Your info > Sign in with your Microsoft account instead.

    So, you have now changed your Microsoft account on the Windows PC that has all of your previous profile data.

    Let me know if you still need more help.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.