[SOLVED] How to undo associating Windows 10 with my PC?

[aafusc2988]

I followed this advice:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-link-your-windows-10-product-key-microsoft-account ( didn't do anything with PINs )

I went home during lunch and went to Accounts and I'm the Local Administrator, did not have my email above my name. So I linked my product key with my MS account because I read a thread here that made me believe I needed to do it (for future hardware changes - but I just built this PC). How can I unlink what I did? Do I just go to MS account and remove my PC from devices? Does this work?

Does it then go back to just saying "Windows is activated with a digital license " instead of "Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account" ??

Or do I need to do something like this

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-security-winpc/how-do-i-unlink-windows-10-from-my-microsoft/d287425e-8a22-48f7-987b-49403e754d09

Solution:

Settings > Accounts > Family & Other People > Add Someone Else To This PC > I Dont Have This Persons Sign-In Information > Add User Without Microsoft Account.
Create the new account with a new username and password.
So then it takes you back to the Family & Other People window. Click on the new user you just created, change it from standard to administrator, sign off your current account, log in to the newly created account, find your way back to the Family & Other People setting, click on the account you want to delete and click Remove.
Now I have an unlinked account with my prefered log-in name on my windows 10 computer.


Or is this the fix?

https://www.howtogeek.com/230543/how-to-revert-your-windows-10-account-to-a-local-one-after-the-windows-store-hijacks-it/


Do I EVER need to do this if I will always retain my product key? I have the insert that was mailed to me from Amazon. I don't plan to ever use it, but if I ever change motherboards I can just enter the key manually right? But I did buy Home x64 OEM Windows 10 from Amazon so maybe I would have issues? So essentially I want to go back to a Local Account and disassociate my MS account completely from my PC thus unlinking my license from my MS account.

 

[jojesa]

Just switch your Windows 10 PC to a local account.
Go to
Settings>Accounts>Your info.
Select Sign in with a local account instead.
Type a user name, password, and hint for your new account. .
Select Next, then select Sign out and finish. Sign back in with your new local account.
Voila!

 

[aafusc2988]

Just switch your Windows 10 PC to a local account.
Go to
Settings>Accounts>Your info.
Select Sign in with a local account instead.
Type a user name, password, and hint for your new account. .
Select Next, then select Sign out and finish. Sign back in with your new local account.
Voila!

This will effectively unlink my OEM product key from my MS Account correct? Since my PC will no longer be listed in my devices when I log into my MS Account, right?. Can I use the same user name and password? My user name is always just my first name. What does switching back to a local account do to the MS account - does it automatically unlink my Windows 10 digital license?

 

[jojesa]

This will effectively unlink my OEM product key from my MS Account correct? Since my PC will no longer be listed in my devices when I log into my MS Account, right?.

No, it will just unlink your PC from Microsoft. Your information will remain in case you need it.
You could just remove your PC from your Microsoft account if you don't want it there
You may not have plans to use it, until your motherboard dies and then you will have to buy another Windows Product Key...its your choice.

Can I use the same user name and password? My user name is always just my first name.

You could use any user name that is different than any others on the device.

 

[aafusc2988]

This will effectively unlink my OEM product key from my MS Account correct? Since my PC will no longer be listed in my devices when I log into my MS Account, right?.

No, it will just unlink your PC from Microsoft. Your information will remain in case you need it.
You could just remove your PC from your Microsoft account if you don't want it there
You may not have plans to use it, until your motherboard dies and then you will have to buy another Windows Product Key...its your choice.

Can I use the same user name and password? My user name is always just my first name.

You could use any user name that is different than any others on the device.

So I can switch back to a Local Account and still have the effect of having my digital license tied to my MS account from what I did by linking my MS Account? That doesn't sound right from what I have been Googling. So if I did have a mobo failure and got a new one, I could then sign into that new PC with my MS account, and then just switch back to a local account on that new mobo/PC? Is that what you're saying?

 

[jojesa]

So I can switch back to a Local Account and still have the effect of having my digital license tied to my MS account from what I did by linking my MS Account?

Yes.
I always link my Windows 10 PCs to a Microsoft Account, just in case, then switch to a Local Account.

That doesn't sound right from what I have been Googling. So if I did have a mobo failure and got a new one, I could then sign into that new PC with my MS account, and then just switch back to a local account on that new mobo/PC? Is that what you're saying?

Exactly.
I just had a Gigabyte motherboard die on me and when I got the replacement I logged back into the Microsoft Account to activate Windows again.

 

[aafusc2988]

Doesn't seem like there is any harm in just leaving the device (PC) tied to the MS account then, incase I do have a motherboard failure years down the line. It'll just be sitting there until I need to call upon that account I guess. Even still when I build the next PC, and if Windows 10 is still the main OS (sure it will be in 6-7 years time) I would still have use of my OEM digital license on a completely new build. None of that really is my concern right now, however. Guess I am just wondering what if anything leaving my PC linked to my MS account does...

 

[jojesa]

There are Pros and Cons of using a PC linked to a Microsoft account.
The good:
-Having all your devices sync, so logging into a new PC with your Microsoft Account automatically set all customization
and personalizations on the new PC.
-If you have an store app in one PC, it will place a link for that app in the new PC and it will install it when you click on it.
-OneDrive allows you access to all the files saved on your computer remotely from any other computer in the world of course with the Microsoft account.
Also , you can access network locations that you have mapped as drives.
-Cortana only works (at the moment ) when a PC is linked to a Microsoft account

The bad
-Privacy. Have you read Microsoft Privacy Statement while enabling Cortana and their Microsoft Account section.
"...When you sign into your Microsoft account, we create a record of your sign-in, which includes the date and time, information about the service you signed into, your sign-in name, your IP address, your operating system, and browser version.
...If you add your Microsoft account to a Windows device, Windows will automatically sign you into services that use Microsoft account that you access on that device.
...If you sign into a third-party service with your Microsoft account… the third party can use or share your data according to its own practices and policies.
Connecting your personal Microsoft account to your social network accounts: If you choose to [connect your Microsoft account], we will store data about your social network accounts on our servers.
Using work or school accounts: If you sign in to Microsoft services with a work or school account, the owner of the domain associated with your email address may… access and process your data, including the contents of your communications and files."
-Security. If someone gets hold of your Microsoft account, they have access to all your devices and they don't even need physical access to them.

I leave it to each person to decide whether or not is worth it.

 

[aafusc2988]

DO I need to reset or worry about that last step? I literally just did this hours ago to link my account for retaining my product key. Nothing else was signed into or done, and I have already removed my device from my MS Account. Next step is just going home and signing into a local account instead, but I guess I will make sure I click disconnect my MS account first. But I am not doing any resetting.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/51663-microsoft-account-remove-devices.html

 

[jojesa]

You don't need to reset anything. Don't worry

All you need to do to disconnect from Microsoft is sign-in with a local account on your device.
You don't even need to remove your devices for the Microsoft Account.

You could visit Privacy options on your device and disable (Turn off) any option you might not like.

 

[aafusc2988]

Okay I am back on a local account but noticed my MS Account email was listed under Settings --> Account --> Email & Accounts. I simply removed it, but I guess it was a remnant of me having signed in with my MS Account before. Is that the only area of concern I need to fix?

 

[jojesa]

Pretty much...you're set. Nothing else to fix.

 

[aafusc2988]

Would it have changed any of my settings switching to signing in with a MS account? I looked around very briefly and nothing jumped out at me, of course except seeing my gmail account listed under Email & Accounts in the Account section (just under Your Info where I saw my Local Account Administrator info), which I promptly removed.

 

[jojesa]

Since you linked the email account by providing your email, it will be available in some areas in your system but not data will be sync with Microsoft.

 

[aafusc2988]

Since you linked the email account by providing your email, it will be available in some areas in your system but not data will be sync with Microsoft.

Do you know where exactly? I'd like to remove it from any instance in my system.