If you turn on BitLocker encryption (Pro and Enterprise editions only), your recovery key is stored in OneDrive, allowing you to access your data if you find yourself locked out. On PCs designed for Windows 10 or Windows 11, signing in with a Microsoft account automatically enables full-disk encryption for the system drive, even on systems running Home edition.Signing in to your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC with a Microsoft account offers several distinct benefits: You can also sign up for a new account anytime, choosing a new address at or using your own email address.Īlso: Is Windows 10 too popular for its own good? If you have an email account at or (or, for old-timers, at or msn.com), you already have a Microsoft account.
This is Microsoft's free online account for personal use, required for signing into the company's consumer services, including OneDrive, Xbox Live, Skype, and Microsoft 365 Family and Personal subscriptions, among others.
