Windows account

A user account is required to use the Windows operating system. It can either be a Windows user account or a Microsoft account.

Windows user account

When you start Windows for the first time, you are prompted to create a Windows user account. This first account you created is of the “Administrator” type. With an Administrator account, you can create additional user accounts or change account types by doing the following:

Open the Start menu and select Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
Follow the on-screen instructions.

Microsoft account

You can also log in to the Windows operating system with a Microsoft account.

To create a Microsoft account, go to the Microsoft sign-up page at https://signup.live.com and follow the on-screen instructions.

With a Microsoft account, you can:

Enjoy one-time signing in if you are using other Microsoft services, such as OneDrive, Skype, and Outlook.com.
Sync personalized settings across other Windows-based devices.