There are differences between Microsoft business and consumer accounts. Here’s what those contrasts mean.
When you set up a new PC in a home or small office, the Windows Setup program encourages you to use a Microsoft account. For most people, that’s the right choice, although you still have the option to sign in with a local account if you prefer.
If your PC is managed by your employer, and if your employer has paid for a Microsoft 365 Business account, you might have another option — signing in to Windows 11 with your business email address. That option might also apply if you’re self-employed, in which case you’re the user and the administrator.
But be warned, the line between Microsoft 365 consumer and business accounts is more like a demilitarized zone. A consumer account is, by definition, unmanaged. You can share your account with up to five additional members of your family, but they get to manage their accounts, and you don’t have any access to their files or email.
