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© 2015 Microsoft Page 9
First, though, think about whether any new account you create will be a local account that works
only on this one Surface, or a Microsoft account (an email address and password that you use to
sign in to Windows). A Microsoft account provides the best experience.
Later, you can decide what level of control the account should have. For more info, see Account
types: Administrator, standard, or child.
Microsoft account or local account?
Here are some key differences between a Microsoft account and a local account:
Microsoft account
Local account
An email address and password you use to
sign in on computers running Windows 8.1 or
later, and to sign in to other Microsoft services
like Xbox, Hotmail, Outlook.com, OneDrive,
Skype, or Windows Phone.
A user name and password that works only on
this one computer.
You can keep your personal settings in sync
with any other PC running Windows 8.1 or
Windows RT 8.1 that you sign into with your
Microsoft account.
You need to personalize each computer
individually.
When you sign in to your Surface with your
Microsoft account, you’re also connected to
your OneDrive, Skype, and Windows Store
accounts.
You’ll need to sign on to services like
OneDrive, Skype, or Windows Store each time
you want to access them.
Documents, photos, and other files you create
are saved to your OneDrive by default.
OneDrive is like a local folder that follows you
wherever you sign in with your Microsoft
account.
Your files aren’t automatically saved to the
cloud.
If you forget the password for a Microsoft
account, you can go to
https://account.live.com/password/reset to
reset your password online.
If you forget the password for your local
account, Microsoft can’t help you reset your
password or access your files.