Note: This information only applies in certain countries or regions. For a list, see Countries or regions where this applies.
Your important things are ready for you with your Microsoft account
When you sign in with your Microsoft account, the info that's saved to your account—like your calendar info, contacts, passwords, photos and files saved to OneDrive, and recommended files—can be made available for you.
Your data, your choice
One of the places you can choose to use your Microsoft account data is Windows. Windows asks for your permission to sync account data, and if you choose to sync your Microsoft account with Windows, changes you make in Windows will also sync to your account. This means:
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We'll back up your apps, settings, and saved passwords for Windows in the cloud so you can restore them from any PC
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You can sync important info like your preferences, pinned apps, and custom dictionary across devices
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You'll find apps and files more quickly with recommendations based on your activity
It's your choice if you want to share data between your Microsoft account and Windows. If you choose not to sync, some features and functionality in Windows that rely on syncing data to and from your account in order to work, like Windows backup, will be unavailable, but you can still use Windows.
Settings that won't be available if you choose not to sync
Windows backup and restore in Windows 11 and Windows 10
If you choose not to sync your Microsoft account and Windows, it won't be possible for Windows to back up and restore from the cloud, and you'll see that some settings about this are unavailable:
Unavailable settings in Windows 11:
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Backing up your apps: Start > Settings > Accounts > Windows backup > Remember my apps
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Backing up your settings, passwords, and language settings, including your custom dictionary: Start > Settings > Accounts > Windows backup > Remember my preferences
Unavailable settings in Windows 10:
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Backing up your apps, passwords, and settings: Start >Settings > Accounts > Sync your settings
For more about backing up your Windows PC, visit Back up your Windows PC.
Recommended files and apps in Windows 11
If you choose not to sync your Microsoft account with Windows, the file and app recommendations you see in places like File Explorer and Start will only be based on local device info, like which files you opened most recently. Windows won't be able to provide you with richer recommendations from additional data available from your Microsoft account and any other Microsoft products you use, including the activity of other people in shared files.
Where to manage your choice
No matter what you choose about syncing your Microsoft account with Windows, you can change your mind any time.
Sign in to https://account.microsoft.com/privacy with your Microsoft account. Then, under Privacy settings in our products, change the toggle for Sync your Microsoft account with Windows to On or Off.
Countries or regions where this applies
This setting is available in the following countries or regions:
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Austria
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Belgium
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Bulgaria
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Croatia
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Cyprus
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Czech Republic
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Denmark
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Estonia
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Finland
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France
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French Guiana
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Germany
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Greece
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Guadeloupe
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Hungary
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Iceland
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Ireland
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Italy
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Latvia
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Liechtenstein
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Lithuania
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Luxembourg
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Malta
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Martinique
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Mayotte
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Netherlands
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Norway
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Poland
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Portugal
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Reunion
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Romania
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Slovakia
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Slovenia
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Spain
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Sweden
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Switzerland
