Install or Signin to Windows 8 and 10 Store Apps without Switching to Microsoft Account

With the launch of Windows 8, Microsoft introduced Windows Store, a store showcasing and letting users install touch friendly modern apps on their PC. In early days, Microsoft used to call them Metro Apps. Like other app-stores like iTunes and Google Play, Windows Store requires you sign in into Microsoft account to access and install store apps. For you information, Microsoft accounts has extensions like @outlook.com, @hotmail.com or @live.com in case you don’t know.

The case is, to sign to Windows store or apps from Microsoft (like Maps, People, Mail, Calendar, etc.), you need to switch to Microsoft Account leaving your local Windows account behind. Switching to Microsoft account makes it easy both for Windows and you to seamlessly install store apps, sync data and using the same account across multiple devices consistently. But the problem is, once you have switched to Microsoft account, you will be asked to use your Microsoft account’s password to log in to the Windows machine every time you start you PC. And yes many of us don’t really like this scenario.

You can Sign in to Apps without Switching from Local Account

If you don’t switch to Microsoft Account from your local account, you don’t need to log in to online account (once set up, it works in offline too) to use Windows when the system boot up. Hopefully, Microsoft didn’t snatch your choice. You can sign in to store, install apps, use most of Microsoft services without switching from the local account, but signing to those apps individually.

How to Sign in to Windows Store and Apps without Switching to Microsoft Account

1. In the sign in window of any modern Windows 8 or 10 app, such as Store or Mail app, where you are asked to switch to a Microsoft account, look at the bottom. There you find an option Sign into each app separately. Click on it.
   
2. This will bring you to individual sign in screen where you can sign in specifically for the app you want to use.
   
3. Once you fill up the credentials, click Save. That’s it. This way you can sign in individually into an app from Windows store.

Note: As for OneDrive app (formerly known as SkyDrive), you need to switch to Microsoft account as it requires syncing your settings.

If you have already switched to Microsoft account, you can switch back to local account without loosing anything. BTW, if you are using OneDrive to keep multiple Windows systems in sync, switching to local account will terminate your synchronization.

Already Switched to Microsoft Account? How to Switch back to Local Account

1. Click on the Start menu and search for PC Settings. Click on PC Settings.
   
2. In PC Settings page, click Users and accounts.
   
3. Under Profile tab, click on Disconnect near the account name and email address.
   
4. You will be asked to reenter your account password. Enter the password and click Next.
   
5. Then it may ask for local account configuration. Enter it then click Next.
   
6. Your PC will log out of the Microsoft account and then ask you to log in to local account. That’s it.

Closing Words

It’s not so pleasing to sign in to Microsoft account every time you log on to PC. If we can use store apps without switching to Microsoft account, why we should do it unless we really need it. However I don’t recommend it to sign in to apps individually – as it prevents Windows apps running optimally.