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Microsoft account

A Microsoft account (an email address and password) is a new way to sign in to any PC running Windows 8 or Windows RT. When you sign in with a Microsoft account, your PC is connected to the cloud, and many of the settings, preferences, and apps associated with your account can "follow" you between different PCs. For example:

• Your friends’ contact info and status automatically stay up to date from places like Hotmail, Outlook, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn through the "People" app.
• You can get to and share your photos, documents, and other files from places like SkyDrive, Facebook, and Flickr.
• You can buy and download apps from the Windows Store, and use them on up to five PCs running Windows 8 or Windows RT.
• Your personal settings are automatically synced online and between the Windows 8 and Windows RT PCs you use. This includes stuff like your themes, language preferences, browser favorites and history, and content for Microsoft apps and services.

NOTE: CLICK HERE for complete information about Microsoft accounts.

Do I need a Microsoft account?

Technically the answer is no, you can use the computer without one. However to unlock the abilities of Windows 8 functionality as outlined above, you should create a Microsoft account. A Microsoft account is rerquired to use the following preinstalled apps in Windows 8:

• Messaging
• People
• Calendar
• Windows Store

NOTE: Other apps may also require a Microsoft account to use (Mail App shown in the example below).

How do I get a Microsoft account?

• When prompted to sign in using your Microsoft account, click the link "Sign up for a Microsoft account".
• You can also CLICK HERE to sign up for a Microsoft account.

Do I already have a Microsoft account?

You might already have a Microsoft account. If you use other Microsoft services like Messenger, Hotmail or Xbox LIVE, the email address and password you use to sign in are a Microsoft account. If you have an existing Windows Live ID, that's the same thing: "Microsoft account" is the new name for what used to be called a "Windows Live ID.

If you're not sure whether the sign-in info you use elsewhere is a Microsoft account, we can check it for you. Here's how:

1. From the Settings charm, tap or click Change PC settings.
2. In the left pane, tap or click Users. Your account info appears in the right pane.
3. Do one of the following:

• If Local accountappears under your user name, you can create a brand-new Microsoft account or convert your local account to a Microsoft account (shown in this example).
• If an email address appears under your user name, you're all set! You're already signed in with a Microsoft account and can get back to what you were doing.

Converting a local account to a Microsoft account

Even if you haven't used Microsoft services like Hotmail or Xbox LIVE before, you can still convert a local account to a Microsoft account, using any email address you want. It's a good idea to choose the email address you use to communicate with friends and sign in to your favorite websites. Here's how:

1. From the Settings charm, tap or click Change PC settings.
2. In the left pane, tap or click Users.
3. Tap or click "Switch to a Microsoft account" and follow the instructions.

Getting a new email address and Microsoft account

If you don't have an email address, you can create a new one. Here's how:

1. From the Settings charm, tap or click Change PC settings.
2. In the left pane, tap or click Users.
3. Tap or click "Switch to a Microsoft account". 
4. In the Sign in with a Microsoft account dialog box, tap or click Sign up for a new email address, and then follow the instructions.