Disconnect Windows 10 PC from Azure AD

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Are you looking to switch your workplace or separate your PC from Microsoft Azure Active Directory (from hereon called just Azure AD) for personal reasons? Whether you’ve changed jobs or simply prefer a different setup, disconnecting your PC from Azure AD on Windows 10 is a crucial step. In this article, I will do my best to guide you through the necessary steps to successfully disconnect from Azure AD.

Before delving into the details, it’s important to emphasize that this article is intended for my personal use only and may not cover every intricate step. As such, unfamiliar users should proceed with care to avoid unintended data loss or complications during the disconnection process.

Rest assured, if you need professional assistance or guidance throughout the disconnection process, I am here to help. Feel free to reach out via a call or drop me an email request, and I would be more than happy to assist you remotely.

 

Remove Azure AD from Windows 10 PC

To switch your PC from an Azure AD account to an existing local or Microsoft account, you must first “disconnect” it from Azure AD. If your PC already has an existing local or Microsoft administrator account, you can skip to step 3. However, if you lack such an account, follow these steps:

Step 1: Add a New Local Administrator Account

  1. Navigate to Settings > Accounts > Other people.
  2. Click on “Add someone else to this PC” to create a new local user account.
  3. Ensure that you change the account type to Administrator to grant administrative privileges.

Before proceeding further, back up essential data, including browser bookmarks, application settings, and any other files you wish to retain from the current profile you are logged in as. Keep in mind that disconnecting your Windows 10 PC from Azure AD will retain software installations but reset user-specific customizations and settings to default.

Step 2: Backup Your Data

  1. Create a comprehensive data backup on an external USB device, cloud storage service, or network location.
  2. Back up your browser passwords, history, settings, and any other user-specific configurations you wish to retain.

Step 3: Disconnect from Azure AD

  1. Click on the Start menu, then select the gear icon to open Settings.
  2. Navigate to Accounts > Access work or school.
  3. Locate your Azure AD account and select the connected domain.
  4. Click on “Disconnect” and confirm your action when prompted.

Step 4: Restart Your PC

After disconnecting from Azure AD, you will be prompted to restart your PC. Enter the username and password for an existing local/Microsoft administrator account to ensure you don’t get locked out.

Step 5: Sign in and Restore Data

  1. After the restart, sign into your PC using the existing or new local administrator or Microsoft account.
  2. Restore your backed-up personal data from the external backup or other backup locations back to their original or desired destinations.
  3. Double-check that you haven’t overlooked any crucial data before considering the deletion of the old Azure AD user profile folder from the “Users” directory.

With these steps carefully followed, you should seamlessly switch your PC from Azure AD to a local or Microsoft account, retaining your data and customizations intact. If you encounter any challenges during the process or require further assistance, feel free to reach out to me for remote support. I’m always here to help make your transition as smooth as possible.

 

Conclusion

As always, I welcome your thoughts, questions or suggestions on my article on removing a Windows 10 PC from Microsoft Azure Active Directory.

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Let me know if you found any errors within my article or if I may further assist you by answering any additional questions you may have.