How to configure Windows 10 with a Microsoft account

You are asked to sign in with your Microsoft account. If you want to do so, enter your credentials and click or tap Next. Otherwise, if you're going to use a local account on your Windows 10 PC, skip to the next section of this guide. If you have selected to set up the PC for an organization during the previous step, you are asked how you want to connect Windows 10 to your organization.

Enter the email for your Microsoft account

If you have enabled two-step verification for your Microsoft account, you may see a number that you need to confirm in the specialized mobile app that you use for such purposes. Otherwise, you are asked to type the password of your Microsoft account. Do so, and press Next.

Enter the password for your Microsoft account

NOTE: You may also be requested to confirm your identity with a sign-in request on your smartphone using the Microsoft Authenticator app.

On the next step, the Windows 10 setup asks whether you want to create a PIN for faster access to your system. Press "Create PIN."

Choose to Create PIN for fast access to Windows 10

Now enter a PIN code for quick access and then confirm it. Press OK to continue.

Enter and confirm the PIN code

On the "Choose privacy settings for your device" screen, select whether you want to enable or disable features like Location, Diagnostic data, Find my device, Online speech recognition, Inking & typing, and Tailored experiences. We recommend that you carefully read what each option does and only turn on those you feel comfortable with. When you are finished changing settings, press Accept.

Customize your privacy settings

You are asked to customize your Windows 10 PC or device by choosing the kind of activities you do on it: Gaming, Schoolwork, Entertainment, Business, and so on. Depending on what activities you choose, Windows 10 will provide personalized tips and recommendations for features, products, and services relevant to you. When you are done selecting things, press Accept.

Select the types of activities you perform in Windows 10

You are recommended to link your phone and PC to take calls from your PC, send text messages, or use your mobile apps. To continue, press “Skip for now” or “Remind me later.”

Windows 10 recommends to use your phone from your PC

If you want to use OneDrive to save your valuable files in the cloud, you can choose to enable it by pressing Next. You can also opt-out and not use this feature by clicking on "Only save files to this PC" in the bottom-left corner.

Do you want to use OneDrive?

If earlier you choose Gaming as an activity, Microsoft might recommend you to buy a month of Xbox Game Pass for PC. If you don’t want it, or you want to decide later, press “No thanks.”

Do you want to buy an Xbox Game Pass for PC?

If you want to get help from Cortana, Microsoft's virtual assistant, you can Accept to enable her. However, you should know that Microsoft needs to collect information about you and your device for Cortana to work well. That includes your location history, contacts, voice input, speech and handwriting patterns, typing history, search history, calendar details, and others. If you don’t want Cortana, press Not now.

Do you want to enable Cortana?

Windows 10 takes a while to prepare your computer or device, apps, and settings. This process may take some time, so be patient.

Wait for Windows 10 to finish everything

When it is done, you are logged in, and you can view the Windows 10 desktop. Congratulations, you have finished installing Windows 10 on your PC, all by yourself!

How to configure Windows 10 to use a local account

If you do not want to use a Microsoft account, you can install Windows 10 without it. When the Windows 10 installation asks about adding an account, click or tap on the "Offline account" link.

Choose Offline account

Microsoft tries to convince you that an online account is better. If you still want the offline account, click or tap Limited experience.

Choose Limited experience

We noticed that, on some Windows 10 PCs, the "Offline account" option highlighted earlier is missing. It seems random because we used the same Windows 10 setup disc on multiple PCs with different results. If you don't see this option, you can create a local account during the Windows 10 setup only if you disconnect your PC from the internet before starting the installation process. Then, you are taken directly to a screen where you can choose a name for your local user account. Insert your desired username and press Next.

Enter the name of your local account

Enter the password that you want to use for your offline account and press Next, confirm it, and press Next once more.

Enter and confirm the password for your local account

For offline accounts, Windows 10 asks you to answer three security questions. Choose the questions you prefer, enter their answers, and press Next for each question.

Choose and answer the security questions

Now you're asked about choosing the privacy settings for your device. Select whether you want to enable or disable features like Location, Diagnostic data, Find my device, Tailored experiences, or Advertising ID. We recommend that you carefully read what all options do and turn on only those you feel comfortable with. Press Accept when you are done.

Choose privacy settings for your device

Choose whether you want to use Cortana as your digital assistant. To enable her, press Accept. To disable her press Not now.

Do you want to enable Cortana?

Windows 10 takes a while to prepare everything and be ready for use. Wait for a bit.

Wait a few moments before you can use Windows 10

When it finishes, you are logged in, and you can view the desktop.

Did you encounter problems doing a clean Windows 10 install?

As you can see, the setup process for Windows 10 is lengthy. Furthermore, there are quite a few things you can configure about the way it works, even before you finish installing it. We hope that our guide was complete enough to guide you through all the steps. If you have any questions or problems, do not hesitate to ask below. Also, we want to know your first impressions of Windows 10. Do you like this operating system? Would you recommend it to others? Comment below, and let's discuss.