Microsoft Account is all you need to make your life simpler. Just like that. This single account allows you to access all Microsoft Services, including Windows and all its components, with one easy access.
Released with Windows 8 and formerly known as MSA or Microsoft Passport, this single account integrates all sites and services that support this service using only one set of credentials. You can use and access Office Online, Skype, OneDrive, Windows Services, Xbox, Bing, and much, much more. This translates to: accessing your Microsoft Account once, and have everything integrated automatically!
Creating your account is free, and you can even use an existing email address or create a new one. This is particularly useful if you want to keep things apart, such as your personal activities and your work activities online). Plus, you probably already have one Microsoft account if you have a Hotmail, Outlook, Live, MSN or Webtv account, without even knowing!
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The perks of having all-in-one-account
Microsoft Account make everyday online activities easier for you. By accessing your account you can manage your profile (public features and account information too) to keep it updated. This can be quite practical if you are an avid LinkedIn user – amongst many other sites and apps, including Facebook, MySpace and others. You can change your preferred settings so they can apply in every app and page that supports this system- This is: you can access your account and change, for example, your language settings, and that will apply automatically in all sites you visit!
Updating your profile and settings can help you with your online experience too. You can set your interests, so you get only focused targeted ads when searching the web. No more annoying and inappropriate ads on your screen, ever again!
Microsoft Account integrations
Your Microsoft Account integrates with:
- Windows: 7, 8, Server 2012, Phone, Azure, Insider Program, Live Messenger and more.
- Windows Components, including Photo Gallery, Calendar, Cortana, Store, Messenger and more
- Bing
- OneDrive (yes, all your files go wherever you go!)
- Microsoft Office, Office Online, and Office 365
- Skype
- Visual Studio
- Xbox Live
- And much more!
It is interesting to note Microsoft Accounts are a convenient tool for online safety too, especially in regards of children activities. One of the ways it helps you with this is by the Windows 10 Microsoft Family System. This system helps you monitor and even control the online and computer activities of your kids, placing control measurements and preventing hazardous behaviors. Scary and dangerous contents will be blocked out – easily.
Are there any cons of using Microsoft Accounts?
There is perhaps one issue with your all-in-one-access using Microsoft Accounts: privacy. In order to give you a better online experience, the data collection might be a bit overwhelming for some. However, you should keep in mind one simple fact. This is a voluntary activity, and you should always read the terms of privacy closely before creating this or any other account.
That said, creating your Microsoft Account can be convenient, and make your online live so much better! Read more about Microsoft Account following this link.