Using a Microsoft account on Windows also unlocks the full potential of OneDrive.

The service started out as a cloud-based storage solution, but its feature list has grown exponentially and offers Microsoft Account users many benefits that go beyond directly accessing their files with Microsoft Development Services.

For example, using your account will allow you to access all the files stored on your computer remotely from any other computer in the world, and you can even access network sites if they are in your computer libraries or are mapped to drives.

Additionally, if set up correctly, you can automatically upload a photo you took to your phone in the cloud and then to the OneDrive folder on your computer. This is both convenient and time saving.

Finally, it will also allow you to collaborate in real-time on Office documents.

Native Windows applications

Although it is possible to delete some of the "baked" Windows applications, they are designed to remain part of the operating system and will likely gain significant new features and upgrades over the years. Such applications include Maps, Edge and People.

Unsurprisingly, your experience with all new applications is greatly enhanced if you use them in conjunction with a Microsoft Account. For example, if you use your personal account, your contacts will be accessible and synchronized across all of your Microsoft devices.

Other Microsoft services

The nature of modern computers means that the boundaries between individual services are becoming increasingly blurred.

Previously standalone products, such as Skype, Microsoft Office, Bing and Outlook, are now heavily integrated with Windows and each other.

The result is that connecting to these services with your Microsoft Account leads to a fluid and seamless user experience, with your preferences and data in one application being used to customize your membership to another.

For example, you can interact with your Xbox friends on Windows through the app, synchronize your contacts from your address book with your Skype contacts, or use Bing search history to enhance your Cortana machine learning.

Disadvantages of a Microsoft Account

So far so good. But what about the negatives?

Privacy

One "cons" outweighs the other when people discuss the disadvantage of using a Microsoft account - privacy.

While generally well received by critics, Windows 10 has come under scrutiny from some quarters for its privacy and sensitive personal data. We've covered a wide range of criticisms of Windows personal data, but using a Microsoft Account undoubtedly raises its own concerns.

We mentioned the wording of the Microsoft Cortana Privacy Statement earlier and the wording of the Microsoft Account section is not much better. The following are excerpts from their statement:

Create your Microsoft account: Some of the information you provide, such as your display name, email address, and phone number, may be used to help others find and connect with you to Microsoft products. Sign in to your Microsoft account: When you sign in to your Microsoft account, we create a login of your sign-in, which includes the date and time, information about the product you signed in to, your login name, the unique number assigned to your account, a unique identifier assigned to your device, your IP address and your operating system, and your browser version. Use of work or school accounts: If you use a Microsoft product with an account provided by an organization you are affiliated with, such as your work or school account, that organization may [...] control and manage its product and product account Microsoft, including controlling the product or product account privacy settings [and] accessing and processing your data, including interaction data, diagnostic data, and the contents of your communications and files associated with product accounts; and Microsoft products.

There is clearly a controversy here. While it is obviously true that reading the above may cause chills in your spine, it is important for Microsoft to collect some data in order to provide you with a quality experience in the services you use.

Do they collect too much information? Probably. Only you, as the parent can know for sure. And you can change many of them The default settings of Windows 10 using the privacy tools

Security

Almost as worrying as the aforementioned privacy issues are the potential security pitfalls.

If you use your Microsoft Account on Windows, a thief or hacker could gain access to all of your applications and services simply by knowing your password. Likewise, if you leave yourself logged in and have not set up the various timeout settings correctly, someone could sit in your machine and have free control over all your accounts.

Mac Virtual Machine In Windows 10

Microsoft has tried to circumvent this by allowing users to set a PIN to log on to computers instead of having to use their Microsoft-wide password, but there are clearly still inherent risks.

Remember, you can use a local account

If you do not want to worry about the security implications of using a Windows 10 account, you can use a local account on your operating system.

You can even delete your Microsoft Account completely, though you will lose your data.

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Having privacy concerns about using your Microsoft Account in the cloud? See how to create a local login account in Windows 10.

Read Next Related topics

• Windows
• Microsoft Cortana
• Windows 10
• Microsoft OneDrive
• Microsoft account
• Tips for Windows

About the Author Dan Timi (1578 articles published)

Dan joined MakeUseOf in 2014 and has been Partner Director since July 2020. Contact him for questions about content provided, affiliate agreements, promotions and any other form of collaboration. You can also find him walking every year at CES in Las Vegas, say hello if you go. Prior to his writing career, he was a Financial Advisor.