Removing a Microsoft Account from Windows 10

T

TW_AXS_PRIME

I will be answering my own question and am hopeful it helps others.


BACKGROUND:

While setting up a new PC with Windows 10 Enterprise, I created a local account and did not add a Microsoft Account. I then installed Office 2019 Professional Plus, which is a perpetual, non-office 365, version of Microsoft Office via Office Deployment Tool. All of this in hopes of finding the most secure way to use Microsoft OS and Office WITHOUT exposing the system to privacy challenges that Office 365 and any connected Microsoft account will pose. However, there were issues with activating the Microsoft Office software. A ticket has been opened. In desperation of trying to get the software activated, I signed into the Office apps, and only Office, with my email address that owns the Volume Licenses. This apparently created a fully connected account in the OS.


FOUND A PROPOSED ANSWER:




THE ANSWER WAS MISSING THIS:

Difference from above is in red.

Go to Start Menu > Settings > Access Work or School > Remove the account there


The earlier proposed answer actually wasn't answering a follow on question of "What if you dont [sic] see a remove button". The answer following that question would not fix my issue, since I already have, and was logged in with, a local account with administrator privileges. I believe the fact that I am on an Enterprise version of Windows may be the reason it does not apply for my issue. The same would likely be true for Edu and Pro versions of Win 10.


NOT RECOMMENDED FOR BEGINNERS:

I also went into regedit and deleted all references to the email address used.


I still cannot activate the Volume Licensed Office and the attempts to have a privacy centric Windows 10 experience is still a rather difficult adventure that is still in progress.

Continue reading...
 
Back
Top Bottom