Want to change Microsoft login account but keep settings, files, programmes etc.

Hi Sally,

Thank you for bringing up your query on Microsoft Community.

Please be assured that we will do our best to help you.

I suggest you to refer to the following suggestions provided by Shawn 'Cmdr' Keene [MVP] replied on May 10, 2014 and check if it helps.

Change Microsoft Account without losing settings and applications

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-security/change-microsoft-account-without-losing-settings/cdef1518-fc22-4e6e-8518-abe1794bbda9

(Applies to Windows 10 as well).

Hope it helps.

Let us know the status, we are glad to assist you further.

Hi there,

Thank you for answering. But the reply you have linked to is one of the replies that I have already looked at and didn't help.

It tells me where to go (Settings>Accounts) but it doesn't tell me what to do when I get there........

"There you can disconnect from the old email account and connect to your new Microsoft Account...."

Great, but how do I do that?

I tried "Adding an account" (the one I need) but it had none of my files, none of my settings, none of my programmes. Do I sign in with a local account? What's one of those, how does it differ from a Microsoft account?

I'm seriously lost here, and in desperate need of a manual! Why doesn't Windows come with help? A manual has to be more efficient than you having to answer the same questions repeatedly.

But thank you for any help you can give.

Sally

Hello Sally,

Thank you for keeping us updated.

I suggest you to covert the Microsoft account into local account. Later login using newly created local account to create a different Microsoft account.

Step 1: To convert the account, you can do the following: 

1. Sign in to your Microsoft account on Windows 10.
2. Click Start and then PC settings.
3. Click Users and accounts and under Your Profile click Disconnect on the right of the screen.
4. Enter your Microsoft account's password, and click on Next.
5. Type in a Username, Password, and Password Hint that you want set for your Local account and click Next. Click on Sign out and Finish button.

Step 2: Create new Microsoft account

Refer: Sign in with a Microsoft account 

Also, see: Microsoft accounts

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/windows-8/microsoft-account-tutorial

Kindly let us know if you have any further query on Windows we are glad to assist you.

Hi,

Which one?

Of the two Microsoft accounts I have. Which do I convert into a local account? The one I want to stop using as the sign in on my computer, or the one I want to start using as the sign in on my computer?

Thanks, sorry to be a pain, I just want to be sure.

Sally

Hello Sally,

Thank you for your reply.

I suggest you to follow the above steps on the account you wish to have the settings same.

Also be informed that, you cannot have two accounts with the same User Id and Password, so you may first delete the other account after taking back up of the files.

Kindly let us know if you need any further assistance, we are happy to assist you.  

Hi,

".................................................. on the account you wish to have the settings same." I'm sorry. What does that mean?

Do you mean on the account I wish to keep?

As I have already mentioned, I already have the two accounts in question. Therefore they are not the User Id or Password. I do not wish to open a third.

Sally