A Microsoft account is required for most things you do in the Microsoft ecosystem—signing into their various services and apps, and even into Windows itself. Here’s how to create one.

You Might Already Have a Microsoft Account

If you’ve used Outlook.com, Microsoft OneDrive, Office 365, Skype, or Xbox Live, the chances are good that you already have a Microsoft account. You might not have noticed it because a Microsoft account can be associated with any email address. Just from Microsoft itself, you might have an address at outlook.com, hotmail.com, live.com, or even skype.com. Also, you can use a completly non-Microsoft email address (like Gmail, or whatever) for your Microsoft account, so it’s even possible you’ve already got one tied to your regular email address.

And if you’ve set up a new PC (or reinstalled Windows) since the Windows 8 days and didn’t take the extra step of just setting up a local account, then whatever address you’re using to sign into your PC is your Microsoft account.

How to Create a Microsoft Account

If you don’t already have a Microsoft account (or you just want to create a new one because of that weird live.com address you created back in the day), it’s super easy. In fact, if you’re installing Windows (or setting up a new PC), or if you’re setting up a Microsoft app or service, it will usually walk you through setting up a Microsoft account.

Otherwise, if you want to set up a new account, head over to the Microsoft Windows Account Page. Once you’re on the page, click the Sign In button on the top right.

You’ll reach the account sign-in page. If you suspect that you might already have a Microsoft Account, try entering your email address and hitting the “Next” button.

If you see an error, then you probably don’t have an account (at least, not with that address). Click the “Create One” link to get started making a new one.

Note: Microsoft will also suggest using the same email (the one you tested) to create your account with. If you prefer to use another email, then hit Back in your browser, and click the “Create One” link again.

On the Create Account page, you have a couple of options. First up, you can create your new account using any existing email address, whether is one issued by Microsoft or not. Just type the address, and then hit the “Next” button. If you don’t have an email address you want to use, or if you want to set up a new one just for your Microsoft account, click that “Get a new email address” link instead. It will walk you through creating one.

On the next screen, create a password to protect your account with, and then hit the “Next” button.

Microsoft will email you a security code to verify that you’re the owner of the email account. Open your email and click the “Verify your email address” link or copy the security code from the email.

If you clicked the link in the message, then you’re done. If you want to paste the security code instead, do so on the Verify Email page, and then click the “Next” button.

Solve the Captcha on the next screen, and then click “Next” again.

Congratulations! You just created your Microsoft Account.

Microsoft account is an excellent shortcut to access mostly all the services that Microsoft provides at one go. Like Hotmail, Skype, Outlook.com, Office 365, OneDrive, Xbox, etc. Not only that your Windows operating system also functions on an elevated mode if you had signed-in to your Microsoft account while set up your Windows 10. Moreover you don’t need to create separate accounts for Hotmail, Skype, OneDrive, etc. Your Microsoft account username and password will be enough to sign-in to all these services and access them.

So we would demonstrate you here the different ways to create Microsoft Account for Windows 10 in few simple steps.

Continue reading to know more about the methods.

Method #1: Create Microsoft Account from Microsoft Official Site

The official website of Microsoft provides you the platform to create your own Microsoft account. All that you have to do is to provide your personal details in the personal information page that follows. The email address and the password that you will set will be operational for all the Microsoft services that are one account for all services. To know the method in details, read the steps keenly as given below:

Step 1.Visit the website: This is the official website of Microsoft where you will be asked to enter your Microsoft account and respective password.

Step 2.Since you don’t have one currently, click on “Create one” option at the bottom.

Step 3.You will be directed to a page where you have to fill in the form with all your personal information. The page would somewhat look like what is given below.

Step 4.Enter your First Name, Last Name, Email Address, and Password in their respective fields.

Step 5.Re-enter the password to confirm the password you have set.

Step 6.Down the page, type in the Captcha code to verify you are real.

Step 7.Once you are done with filling all your details, click on “Create Account” button.

Step 8.Now; open your email account and select verify on the new email you receive to complete the verification process.

If you forgot Microsoft account password, follow this tutorial to reset Microsoft password.

Method #2: Create Microsoft Account on Windows 10 with Skype

Since the Email ID and password you enter for Skype is exactly the same you enter for your Microsoft account, you can create a Microsoft account by simply creating a Skype account too because Skype is a service provided by Microsoft itself. Though you can log-in to Skype via other services as well, but here we are only concerned for the Microsoft Account. So read the guidelines below to know how to create the Skype account in steps:

Step 1. Go to the Skype homepage, and click on “join us” option which and you will be directed to the “Create an account” page.

Step 2. From the three log-in options: Facebook, Microsoft account, Create an account, choose “Create an account”.

Step 3. In the personal information page, provide your personal details, like First name, Last name, Email ID, with additional details of birthday, gender, mobile number, country name, etc.

Step 4. Then Enter your password and re-enter it to confirm the password. Choose a name of yours to display on Skype and enter the Captcha to verify you are real.

And there you go, your Skype is ready to be used and so is your Microsoft account which was the main purpose for creating the Skype account.

Method #3: Create Microsoft Account Using Hotmail Service

Just like it has been previously discussed about Skype, Hotmail is another such service of Microsoft. The email ID and passwords you enter while signing-in to Hotmail account is the same Microsoft Account email ID and password. So if you create a new Hotmail account, that will do the work as a Microsoft Account as well. The method is simple involving providing personal information which is demonstrated as follows:

Step 1.Go to the Hotmail homepage: and click on “Create an account” option.

Step 2.You will be asked to fill out the sign-up page that you will do by filling-in personal details like First name, Last name, Username, Create Password and Reenter Password, Country name, ZIP code, birthday, etc.

Step 3.From the “Help us Protect your info” page, input your Country code, and mobile number followed by Captcha option which you have to fulfill to verify you are genuine.

Step 4.Click “I agree” option at the bottom of the page and then click on “Create account”.

There you go, your Hotmail account is created, and so is your simultaneous Microsoft account. So you can now log-in to your Microsoft account with this newly created hotmail account email ID and password.

Conclusion:

Microsoft account can help you get many of your multiple tasks done with a single username and password. Since it can sync with all the devices configured with Microsoft account, you don’t need to personalize your new device as all previous settings will be synced automatically once logged-in with your Microsoft account.

Just by installing a single app on a single device would make it display on all the devices logged-in with the same Microsoft account. Not only that, all the services that Microsoft provides can be accessed with the Microsoft account username and password. Besides, if you ever forget your windows admin account, you can enter your system using Microsoft account as well. So you can see, how many of your complicated tasks can be pulled off so easily just by creating a single account.

These tips can help keep your Microsoft account safe, make it easier to recover if it’s compromised, and strengthen it against attacks.

Notes: If you’re having password or security code issues, try these links:

It’s especially important to have a strong password if you use a Microsoft email address (like Outlook.com or Hotmail). This is because many services now use your email address to check your identity. If someone gets access to your Microsoft account, they may be able to use your email to reset the passwords for your other accounts, like banking and online shopping.

You can change your password on the Security basics page at any time.

Do make the new password significantly different from previous passwords.

Don’t use the same password for different accounts.

Do use a sentence or phrase converted into a string of initials, numbers, and symbols.

Don’t use a single word for your password like “password,” “monkey,” or “sunshine.”

Do make your password hard to guess even if someone knows a lot about you (avoid names and birthdays of your family or your favorite band).

Don’t use common passwords like “password,” “iloveyou,” or “12345678.”

The Microsoft Authenticator phone app not only adds another security layer to your Microsoft account, but it also lets you sign in to your account from your phone without a password.

Download the phone app and then learn how to use it in the How to use the Microsoft Authenticator app videos and article.

Add security info to your account to make it easier to recover your account if it’s hacked. Because this info can help keep your account safe, it’s important to keep it up to date. Add or update your security info on the Security basics page. Or, learn more about Security info & security codes and get steps to help protect your account today.

Most operating systems have free software updates to enhance security and performance. Because updates help keep your PC safer, we strongly recommend that you set up your PC to get these updates automatically. You can set up your PC to get the latest updates automatically for Windows 10.

Microsoft will never ask for your password in email, so never reply to any email asking for any personal information, even if it claims to be from Outlook.com or Microsoft.

Read about Outlook security for more information on email safety.

If you receive an email notifying you of unusual activity, you can see when and where your account has been accessed—including successful sign-ins and security challenges—on the Recent activity page. Microsoft learns how you usually sign in to your account and flags events that are suspicious.

If you lose or give away a device that you use to sign in to your Microsoft account, or if you know that someone else has access to your devices for whatever reason, be proactive and remove the trusted status from your devices. To remove trusted devices, go to the Security basics page, select more security options, scroll down to Trusted Devices, and then select Remove all the trusted devices associated with my account. For more information, see how to add a trusted device to your Microsoft account.

Adding a family member to your user accounts in Windows 10 adds an important distinction to the account. If you add a child, the child’s activity will be curtailed according to the limits you set. And if you add an adult, that person will also have the ability to monitor the activity of any added children.

If you want to add an account that’s not involved in these family matters, choose the other option, called Adding an Account for Someone Else. There, you can create an account for a roommate or long-term guest.

Administrator account holders can create either type of account by following these steps:

Click the Start button and click the Settings button.

When the Settings app appears, click the Accounts icon.

The Accounts screen appears, as shown in the following figure, offering ways to change your own account, as well as how to add accounts for other people.

While you’re here, you can tweak your own account by clicking Your Account on the left pane. You can change the password of a Local account, for example, or even switch form a Microsoft account to a Local account.

Click the words Family & Other Users from the left pane. (If you’re adding somebody who’s not a family member, jump to Step 5.)

The right pane of the Family & Other Users screen, shown here, lets you create either of two accounts: One for a family member, or one for someone else. If you’re creating an account for a family member, move to Step 4. If you’re not adding a relative, jump ahead to Step 5.

Choose Add a Family Member, and follow the steps to send the person an invitation.

A window appears, shown in the following figure, asking if you’re adding a child or an adult. Click the appropriate checkbox, then decide which e-mail address to use for that person. You have several options:

If you already know the person’s e‐mail address, type it into the Enter Their E‐mail Address box and click the Next button. (If the e‐mail address isn’t already a Microsoft account, it will be turned into one.)

If you don’t know the person’s e‐mail address, click the words, The Person I Want to Invite Doesn’t Have an E‐mail Address. That takes you to a page where you can sign them up for an e‐mail address that also serves as a Microsoft account.

No matter which option you choose, your invited family member, either a child or adult, will receive an e‐mail saying they’ve been invited to have a family account on your computer. Once they accept the offer, they automatically appear as an account on your computer.

If they ignore the offer, or don’t respond within two weeks, the offer becomes invalid. (If they still want an account after two weeks, you need to send them another invitation.)

At this point, you’ve finished adding a family member. To add somebody who’s not a relative, move to Step 5.

Choose Add Someone Else to Your PC.

Microsoft immediately complicates matters, as shown in the How Will This Person Sign In? window, by asking for the new account holder’s e‐mail address.

Microsoft is trying to say is that you can choose either of two types of accounts for your new account holder:

Microsoft account: A Microsoft account is required for many Windows 10 features. A Microsoft account is simply an e‐mail address that links to Microsoft, its computers, and its billing department. Only Microsoft account holders can download apps from the Windows Store app, store files on an Internet storage space called OneDrive, and access other perks offered by a Microsoft account. To create a Microsoft account, go to the Step 6.

Local account: Select this option for people not interested in Microsoft accounts and their privileges. It lets the person use your computer with an account specific to your computer. To create a Local account, click the words Sign in Without a Microsoft Account (Not Recommended) and then jump to Step 7.

Can’t decide which type of account to create? Creating a Local account is always a safe bet. (Local account holders who want or need the advantages of a Microsoft account can upgrade to one at any time.)

Type the e-mail address of the new account holder’s Microsoft account into the Email Address text box, click Next, and then click Finish.

The account will be waiting on the Sign In screen.

When the person wants to use the computer, he chooses the account bearing his e‐mail address and then types in his Microsoft account password. Windows visits the Internet, and if e‐mail address and password match, the account is ready for action. You’ve finished.

Click the words Sign In without a Microsoft account (Not Recommended), shown at the bottom of the last figure.

Alarmed that you’d consider choosing a lowly Local account over the wondrous Microsoft account, Microsoft displays a confirmation page with two buttons: Microsoft Account and Local Account.

Click the Local Account button.

This tells Microsoft that yes, you really do want a Local account. (After all, Local account holders can always turn their account into a Microsoft account at any time.)

A new screen appears, asking for a name for the account (username), the account’s password, and a password hint in case you forget the password.

Enter a username, password, and password hint and then click Next.

Use the person’s first name or nickname for the username. Choose a simple password and hint; the user can change them after he signs in.

Tell the person his new username and password. His username will be waiting at the Sign In screen’s bottom-left corner for him to begin using the computer.

Windows normally creates Standard accounts for all new users whether or not they’ve signed in with a Microsoft or Local account. You can upgrade that later to an Administrator account if you want by changing the account.

Applies to

• WindowsВ 10
• WindowsВ 10 Mobile

Before you sign up for Microsoft Store for Business or Microsoft Store for Education, you’ll need an Azure Active Directory (AD) or Office 365 account for your organization, and you’ll need to be the global administrator for your organization. If your organization is already using Azure AD, you can go ahead and sign up for Microsoft Store for Business or Microsoft Store for Education. If not, we’ll help you create an Azure AD or Office 365 account and directory as part of the sign up process.