For the best experience on Windows 10, it is recommended to be logged into your computer with a Microsoft account. Although, sometimes for some reason or other, you may want to log into your PC with a local user account – when you want, you may notice the Log in with a local account instead option is missing. In today's article, we will explain the steps to follow to recover this option. This message will also help you see a Configure with a local account instead or Sign in with a Microsoft account instead message or if Log in without a Microsoft account option is missing.
Log in with a local account in place of the missing option
How to effectively solve this problem depends on two scenarios.
First of all, you will need to open Advanced User Accounts Control Panel to check whether the local user account exists or not. Here's how:
- Press Windows key + R.
- In the Run dialog box, type netplwiz and press the Enter key.
- You will receive the output as shown below.
As you can see above, I have three user accounts listed; the first is the built-in administrator account, the second is the Microsoft account, and the third is the local account.
Scenario 1
So, regarding the problem, we have on hand if the local user account is listed, but the "Log in with a local account instead"Is missing, this is most likely a case of corrupt Windows system files. In this case you will have to try an SFC / DISM scan. Proceed as follows:
Copy and paste the command below into Notepad.
@echo off date /t & time /t echo Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup echo ... date /t & time /t echo Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth echo ... date /t & time /t echo SFC /scannow SFC /scannow date /t & time /t pause
Save the file with a name and add it .bat file extension – for example; SFC_DISM_scan.bat
Run the batch file repeatedly with administrator privileges (right click on the saved file and select Run as an administrator from context menu) until it reports no error – in which case you can now restart your PC and see if the option has been restored.
If the "Sign in with a local account instead" option is still not available, you can do an in-place repair upgrade of Windows 10. This procedure will keep all of your installed apps, your custom settings and your personal files / documents, but will replace any corrupt or damaged system files with new copies.
Scenario 2
In case no local user account is listed in the User Accounts applet, it means that the account has not been created. You will therefore need to create a local user account. You can also create a new local user account in Windows 10 via the console of Computer Management snap-in.
Here's how:
- Right click beginning and select Computer management.
- In the window, click on the chevron on Local users and groups to reduce the section. Click on users.
- Now right click on the middle column and select New user.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to provide the new user details.
- Once finished, restart your PC.
The option "Log in with a local account instead" should now be available and you can log in using the newly created local user account.
That's it, friends. I hope this helps you!