When you installed Windows 8, one of
the steps had you create a Microsoft account, if you didn’t have one
already. You can create a new Microsoft account at login.live.com.
Microsoft account is a single sign-on
validation service that allows you to log on once and gain access to
many websites and services. Microsoft account has been known as Wallet,
Passport, .NET Passport, Passport Network, and, most recently, Windows
Live ID. Microsoft account consolidates accounts from Windows Live ID,
Hotmail, Zune, and Xbox Live.
The service ties a user name to an email
account and a password and is backed up by a system of Microsoft
account authorization servers. You can use your personal email address
or a Hotmail or Live.com
address. Once you log in to this service over a secure SSL (HTTPS)
connection, your credentials are passed to any of the Microsoft digital
properties you might visit; a “digital property” can be a website, a
domain, or a service. Your Microsoft account stores your credentials,
settings, and data in the cloud so that the information is available to
any device that is signed in to your Microsoft account and connected to
the Internet.
You can have your login stored on your
device. Once your login is authenticated, a time-limited cookie is
stored on your system and an encrypted ID tag is created that you can
use as your ticket to other websites. The authentication server
validates you to the site or service you are trying to gain access to.
The following information is stored with your Microsoft account:
• User information, like your name and address
• User preferences, such as your language and email settings
• Billing and transactions
You can log in to Windows 8 using a local
account, a domain account, or your Microsoft account. When you use your
Microsoft account, you are cloud-connected to services such as backup
and synchronization. When you log in to your device with a local
account, you lose access to all the cloud-connected apps and their
data. However, you can convert your local account to a Microsoft
account.
When you log in to a Windows 8 device with a
Microsoft account, your settings are pushed to your current device from
the cloud. You can sync settings for personalization, passwords, Ease
of Access, certain apps, browsers, Windows Explorer, your mouse, and
more.
To convert a local account to a Microsoft account
1. Sign in to Windows, press 
+C to open the Charms bar, and then tap or click the Change PC settings link.
2. Tap or click the Users link.
3. Tap or click the Switch to a Microsoft account button .
The current account login
4. Confirm your local account password . Tap or click Next.
Provide your local account password.
5. Provide your Microsoft account email address . Tap or click Next.
Provide your Microsoft account email address.
6. Enter your Microsoft account email address and password . Tap or click Next.
Enter the Microsoft account email address and password here.
7. The Add Security Info screen appears. Enter your country code and phone number, and tap or click Next.
Enter your country code and phone number.
The final Sign In screen appears .
The final screen linking your Microsoft account to your local account
8. Tap or click Finish to link the local account to your Microsoft account.
When you link your local and Microsoft accounts, they share the same settings.
When you log in again, use your Microsoft account .
Your user settings now show that you are logged in to a Microsoft account.
Notice the More account settings online link . That link opens Internet Explorer and displays (and allows you to change) your Microsoft account settings ; the first time you visit this site, you may be asked to supply a verification code that is sent to your phone.
Figure 1 shows the billing and payments screen for a Microsoft account. Other
screens let you change personal information and perform other tasks.
The Managed Linked Accounts screen
Figure 1. The billing and payments screen for your Microsoft account lets you view your online purchases and transactions.
