How to Login with a Local Account Instead of Domain Account in Windows 11/10

This guide shows you exactly how to switch from a domain account to a local account in Windows. You’ll learn why you might need to do this, the step-by-step process, what happens to your files, and how to troubleshoot common problems. Whether you’re leaving a corporate network or setting up a personal computer, this article gives you everything you need.

Why Switch From Domain to Local Account?

A domain account connects your computer to a company network. It’s managed by your IT department. A local account is just on your computer. Nobody else controls it.

You might want to switch for several reasons:

• You left your job and don’t need company network access anymore
• You want complete control over your computer settings
• Your IT department won’t support something you need
• You’re disconnecting from your office network permanently
• You had a domain account but now work independently

The key difference: domain accounts sync with a server. Local accounts stay only on your machine. This means you have more freedom but less centralized management.

Understanding the Difference

Let me break down what each type of account actually does.

Domain Account

A domain account is linked to your company’s network server. Here’s what that means in practice:

• Your IT team can push updates to your computer
• You sign in with company credentials
• Your files can be stored on company servers
• Your account settings come from the server
• IT can enforce security policies on your machine
• You can access shared company resources easily
• Your password might be managed by IT

Local Account

A local account exists only on your computer. Nothing syncs with any server.

• You control everything on your machine
• No network requirements to sign in
• Your files stay on your computer by default
• You set your own passwords and rules
• IT cannot enforce policies remotely
• You work independently
• You own your data completely

How to Check What Account Type You Have

Before you make changes, confirm what you’re actually using right now.

Step 1: Open Settings

Click the Windows Start button. Type “settings” and press Enter.

Step 2: Go to Accounts

Look for “Accounts” in the Settings menu. Click it.

Step 3: Check Your Account Info

On the left side, click “Your info”. Look at the top of the screen under your name and picture.

If it says something like “accountname@company.com” or “DOMAIN\username”, you’re on a domain account.

If it just shows your username without an email or domain prefix, it’s probably a local account.

You can also open Command Prompt and type:

whoami

If you see “DOMAIN\username” in the result, you’re on a domain account. If you see just “username” or “COMPUTERNAME\username”, it’s local.

Step-by-Step: How to Login with Local Account Instead of Domain Account

This process takes about 15 to 30 minutes. Follow each step carefully.

Step 1: Create a New Local Account

You need a local account to log into before you can stop using the domain account.

Click the Start button. Type “settings”. Open Settings.

Go to Accounts. You’ll see options on the left side.

Click “Family & other users”. This shows all accounts on your computer.

Click “Add account”. A new window opens.

Select “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information”. This is at the bottom of the window.

Click “Add a user without a Microsoft account”. Another option appears.

Now you’ll create your local account details:

• Type a username (your choice, something you’ll remember)
• Create a strong password (mix letters, numbers, symbols)
• Confirm the password by typing it again
• Add a password hint (something only you understand)
• Click Next and then Finish

Your new local account now exists on this computer.

Step 2: Log Out of Your Domain Account

You’re still signed in as the domain user. You need to switch to the local account.

Click the Start button. Click your name at the top left.

Select “Sign out”. Wait for the sign-out to complete.

You’ll see the login screen.

Step 3: Sign In With Your New Local Account

The login screen shows all available accounts.

Click your new local account. The one you just created.

Type your password. Use the password you set up in Step 1.

Press Enter or click the arrow button.

You’re now logged in as a local user. Congratulations. The domain account still exists on this computer, but you’re not using it right now.

Step 4: Delete the Domain Account (Optional)

If you never want to use the domain account again, you can remove it completely. This is optional. Some people keep it just in case.

Open Settings. Go to Accounts.

Click “Family & other users”.

Find the domain account in the list. It probably shows as “DOMAIN\username”.

Click on it. Then click “Remove”.

A warning appears. It tells you that the account and its data will be deleted. Read it carefully.

Click “Delete account and data” if you’re sure. Or click “Delete account only” if you want to keep the files but remove the account.

If you had files saved specifically in that account’s profile, they’ll be deleted too. Make sure you’ve copied important files to your new local account first.

The domain account is now gone from this computer.

What Happens to Your Files

This is the question that worries most people. Your files won’t automatically disappear, but you need to understand what happens.

Files in Your Profile Folder

Every account has a folder on your C drive. It’s usually at:

C:\Users\YourUsername

This folder contains your Documents, Desktop, Downloads, and other personal folders.

When you switch to a local account, this old profile folder stays there. But you can’t access it from your new local account automatically. You’ll see a separate folder for your new account.

How to Access Your Old Files

You’ll need to copy files from the old account folder to the new one.

Open File Explorer. Click on C: drive.

Open the Users folder.

Find your old domain account folder. It shows as “DOMAIN.username” or similar.

Right-click it. Choose Properties.

Go to the Security tab. Click Edit.

Select your username. Click Full Control. Click Apply. Click OK.

Now you can access that folder. Copy the files you need to your new local account’s Documents folder.

This takes patience if you have lots of files. Take your time. Don’t rush.

Cloud-Stored Files

If your files were saved in OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, or similar services, they’re safe. They’re not stored locally on your computer. You can still access them once you sign into these services from your new local account.

Desktop Files

Check your Desktop. Any shortcuts or files sitting there will also be in the old profile folder. Copy them to your new account’s Desktop if you need them.

Handling Network Access After Switching

Once you’re on a local account, your relationship with the domain network changes.

You Won’t Automatically Connect to Domain Resources

Company shared drives, printers, and other networked resources might not work smoothly anymore. You may need to manually enter credentials each time.

You Might Lose Automatic Updates

If IT was pushing updates through the domain, those stop. You’ll need to manually check for Windows updates. Go to Settings, then Update & Security, then Windows Update. Click “Check for updates” whenever you want to stay current.

VPN Access May Be Different

If you need to access company networks remotely, your VPN connection might work differently. Check with your IT department about setup for local accounts.

Printer Sharing

Network printers usually still work. Windows can find them. But you might need to enter network credentials to print to certain printers.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Problems happen. Here’s how to fix the most common ones.

Can’t Remember Your Local Account Password

You can reset it if you’re signed in as administrator.

Open Settings. Go to Accounts.

Click “Sign-in options” on the left.

Look for “Password”. Click “Change”.

Enter your current password. Click Next.

Create a new password. Type it twice.

Click Next and Finish.

If you’re locked out and can’t sign in at all, you need a password reset disk or administrator account to help you. This is harder to fix.

Can’t Access Files From Old Account

Right-click the file or folder. Choose Properties. Go to Security. Click Edit. Select your current user. Check “Full Control”. Click Apply. Now you can access it.

Sometimes you need to take ownership of the file first. Right-click, Properties, Security, Advanced, Change Owner, then repeat the steps above.

Missing File Associations

Some file types might not open correctly. Right-click a file, choose “Open with”, pick the program you want, and check the box for “Always use this app”. Windows remembers your choice.

Network Printer Not Found

Try adding it manually. Go to Settings, Devices, Printers & Scanners. Click “Add a printer or scanner”. Wait for the search to complete. If your printer appears, click it and choose “Add device”.

Computer Not Finding Shared Drives

You’ll need to reconnect to them. Open File Explorer. Click “This PC”. Click “Map network drive”. Enter the shared drive path (ask your IT department for this). Enter your domain credentials when prompted. Windows saves this for future use.

Slow Performance After Switching

Sometimes removing a domain account causes temporary slowness while Windows rebuilds settings. Restart your computer. Go to Settings, Update & Security, Windows Update, and install any pending updates. This often fixes performance issues.

Best Practices When Switching Accounts

Do these things to make the switch smooth.

Back Up Everything First

Use an external drive. Copy important folders from your old account to this drive. Disconnect the drive when you’re done. This is your safety net.

Take a List of Installed Programs

Open Control Panel, Programs, Programs and Features. Screenshot or write down what you have installed. After switching, you can reinstall anything you need.

Export Your Browser Bookmarks

If you use Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, export your bookmarks before switching. You can import them in your new account.

Save Browser Passwords Somewhere Safe

Your browser passwords are usually locked to your user account. You might lose access to them. Consider using a password manager instead. These work across accounts.

Update Important Usernames and Passwords

If any accounts or services show your domain email as the contact information, update them now. Change to a personal email or new username.

Check Your Email Forwarding

If you have work email forwarding to your personal account, set this up before you lose domain access.

When You Might Want to Keep the Domain Account

Switching isn’t always the right choice. Consider keeping your domain account if:

• You still work for that company
• You need company network access regularly
• IT manages your security and updates
• You access shared company resources daily
• Your contract requires it

You can actually have both accounts on your computer. Use local for personal work. Use domain for company work. Just sign out and sign in when you need to switch.

Local Account vs Domain Account

Feature	Local Account	Domain Account
Password Management	You control it	IT controls it
Network Connection	Optional	Required for full features
Shared Resources	Manual connection	Automatic
Updates	Manual	IT-managed
Security Policies	Your choice	IT enforces
File Ownership	You own everything	Company owns data
Cost to IT	Lower support	Higher support
Flexibility	Maximum	Limited
When to Use	Personal work	Corporate work

Summary

Switching from a domain account to a local account in Windows is straightforward. You create a new local account, log into it, copy your important files, and optionally delete the old account. The whole process takes less than an hour.

The key is doing it slowly and carefully. Back up your files first. Create your local account before deleting the domain one. Test that everything works before you delete anything permanently.

After switching, you’ll have complete control over your computer. You won’t have IT restrictions. But you’ll also handle your own updates and security. It’s a tradeoff between freedom and support.

Most people find the freedom worth it if they don’t need corporate network access anymore. If you do still need company resources, keeping both accounts on your computer is a smart middle ground.

Take your time with this process. There’s no rush. If something goes wrong, you can usually undo it. The worst case is you need to reinstall Windows, which is rare if you follow the steps carefully.