Sign in with a local account rather than a Microsoft account
Microsoft doesn’t exactly make this option super accessible to its customers. It’s not in big bold letters, but it can be done. As many of you might have already discovered during the initial setup Windows 10 will ask you to sign in with a Microsoft account, or create a Microsoft account if you do not already have one. If you would prefer not to sign in with a Microsoft account, you can choose a local account. The very tiny “Skip this step” option during setup is the golden ticket. When asked to create a new account in Windows 10 you will see again, a very tiny, “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information” which will allow you to bypass with ease.
*If you have already fallen victim to signing in with your Microsoft account, open settings, click accounts and then “your email accounts“. This will present you with the option to sign in with a local account.
Pull Back on Telemetry Settings
Microsoft sends a hefty amount of telemetry information from your PC. This is not entirely a bad thing, as telemetry information shows how well or poorly your PC is operating, as well as how you use it. The main factor in which is problematic is the amount of information transmitted that ultimately takes your personal information with it. Protect yourself by changing the settings to manage security. The default setting sends the maximum amount of information possible.
In order to get to the settings changed required to perform this action you need to open the Settings app. After you have opened the Settings app you can continue to click Privacy > Feedback & Diagnostics. Click to the right of the Send your device data to Microsoft and you will see the full list of options. Choose Basic, close settings, and sleep better at night.
Please Cortana, give it a rest
Cortana is a great feature, but sometimes her persistent nature gets in the way of your needs. If you would rather use the search box without Cortana’s input, Cortana can be disabled. The search box on the taskbar will focus mainly on local files, settings and apps. I assume if you are annoyed by Cortana, that you missed the opportunity to tell her “No thanks”. If you have changed your mind and would like her to fade into the background, click the search box on the taskbar. This will bring the Cortana pane to you, where you can click the hamburger menu in the upper left corner. Proceed to click Notebook, then click Settings. Slide the top switch to Off, and Cortana won’t make a peep!
If you would like to educate yourself in more detail about the information presented in this blog post please visit: Six Windows 10 annoyances: How to make them go away for good
