Using Windows 8.1: Return of the Start Button (2014)

Chapter 3. Setting Up Users

Adding a New User

On the Start screen activate the Charms Bar and select Settings.

From the Settings charm select "Change PC settings." Then click "Accounts," followed by "Other accounts."

In the screen that appears click "Add an account."

Once on the "Create a Microsoft account" page, enter the required information: first and last name, email address, password, and country/region. Then click Next.

On the "Add security info" page add your date of birth and gender, country code, a phone number (optional at time of writing), and an alternate email address. Then click Next.

Finally, type the random characters displayed on the screen. This is done to stop Internet robots from creating email accounts and sending out unsolicited email. Click Next.

Once the account is confirmed, click Finish.

Set Up a Microsoft Account Online

You can also sign up online if you prefer by going to http://signup.live.com.

Fill out the form and click "I accept."

Change to Microsoft Account on Your PC

If you set up your PC without a Microsoft account, you can change it to either a Microsoft account or a local account.

A Microsoft account is set up on Microsoft’s servers and allows you access to SkyDrive, email, Microsoft Office, and the app store. A local account is only accessible on your PC—and nowhere else—so you wouldn’t be able to use SkyDrive or email on another computer.

To set up your Microsoft account, activate the Charms Bar by moving your mouse to the top right corner of your screen. Click Settings.

On the screen that appears, click "Change PC settings," as in shown the following pane on the left.

In the middle pane, click Accounts, then click "Your account" in the right pane.

Then click "Connect to a Microsoft account" in the following screen.

In the "Sign in with a Microsoft account" dialog box, type in your Windows Live ID and Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail email address, and then click Next.

Note If you don’t have a Microsoft account already, tap or click "Don’t have an account?" and then follow the instructions. Or sign up online if you prefer (see "Setting Up Microsoft Account Online" section).

As a security precaution, you will be asked for a security code, which will be emailed to the email address you used when you created your Microsoft account, as shown in the following screen.

Click Next. This will send an email to your address.

Go check your email and copy the code. The email will look like the following message.

Once you have the code, enter it on the Microsoft account screen and click Next.

Click Next until you're done. You can now log in with the email address and password you entered in the above procedure.