microsoft password vs windows password - Microsoft Community

i (yesterday) bought 2 in one.  have laptop.  while setting new device, needed sign microsoft account several times.  asked microsoft password , windows password.  there difference?  seem have 2 passwords.  1 works , other.

i confused,

it is confusing! i'll try straighten out you.

your user account on windows computer should password-protected. that's windows password, known user account password.

when create user account on windows computer, can make local account or microsoft account. local account stores account settings , personal files on own computer, known local computer. microsoft account stores many of account settings (but not all) , personal files 'in cloud,' i.e., on internet, on servers owned microsoft.

so far good? okay, here's starts little crazy.

you can have microsoft account though you're not using user account on windows. that's do. windows user account local account. have microsoft account, don't use windows user account. have windows password user account , separate microsoft password microsoft account. if wanted to, make user account on windows microsoft account instead of local account. in case, microsoft account password also windows account password.

clear mud?

now why want have local account user account, instead of microsoft account? because don't want share user account settings , personal data microsoft. more correct, want choose share. that's choice. other people feel differently , respect that.

so sign in local user account on windows , when want use microsoft account service, onedrive or office online, provide microsoft account username , password service, , i'm signed in service.

sometimes when you're using microsoft account services you're asked provide microsoft account username , password several times. that's security. looks 1 continuous thing microsoft account made of several parts , you'll have sign in each 1 separately.

Windows / Windows 10 / Security & privacy / PC