Utilizzi^(Are) sistemi operativi di Microsoft come Windows 10 o Windows 8.1? Utilizzi^(Are) Office 365^{(Office 365)} o OneDrive ? Hai una console Xbox^{(Xbox console)} ? Usi Skype ? Se la risposta è sì a una di queste domande, è probabile che tu abbia un account Microsoft^{(Microsoft account)} . Puoi chiamarlo in un modo diverso, ma nel dizionario di Microsoft il tuo account è un ^(Microsoft)account Microsoft^{(Microsoft account)} . In questo articolo spieghiamo cos'è un account Microsoft^{(Microsoft account)} , come capire se si dispone di un account Microsoft^{(Microsoft account)} e i vantaggi dell'utilizzo di questo account:

Che cos'è un account Microsoft?

Un account Microsoft^{(Microsoft account)} è un ID composto da un indirizzo e-mail e una password^{(address and password)} , che puoi utilizzare per accedere a siti Web, servizi, sistemi operativi e proprietà Microsoft come: Windows 10 o Windows 8.1 , Xbox , Skype , Office 365 , OneDrive , Windows 10 Mobile o Windows Phone^{(Mobile or Windows Phone)} 8.1, Windows Store , Bing , MSN e Outlook.com^{(MSN and Outlook.com)} . L' account Microsoft^{(Microsoft account)} si chiamava " Windows Live ID ".

Se utilizzi già un indirizzo e-mail e una password^{(email address and password)} per accedere a dispositivi e servizi Microsoft come quelli condivisi in precedenza, disponi già di un account Microsoft^{(Microsoft account)} .

Devi avere un indirizzo e-mail^{(Microsoft e-mail)} Microsoft per il tuo account Microsoft^{(Microsoft account)} ?

Molte persone presumono che, per avere un account Microsoft^{(Microsoft account)} , sia necessario disporre di un indirizzo e-mail con uno dei servizi di posta elettronica di Microsoft come outlook.com, hotmail.com o live.com^{(hotmail.com or live.com)} . Anche se questo è sicuramente ciò che Microsoft vuole, non è obbligatorio. Puoi registrare un account Microsoft^{(Microsoft account)} senza avere un indirizzo e-mail da outlook.com, hotmail.com o live.com^{(hotmail.com or live.com)} . Ad esempio, puoi creare un account Microsoft^{(Microsoft account)} utilizzando un servizio di posta elettronica come Gmail o Yahoo^{(Gmail or Yahoo)} .

Quali sono i vantaggi dell'utilizzo di un account Microsoft^{(Microsoft account)} ?

Ci sono vantaggi nell'avere un account Microsoft^{(Microsoft account)} e aumentano con l'utilizzo dei prodotti e servizi Microsoft . Ecco alcuni dei più ovvi:

• Puoi usarlo per accedere a computer e dispositivi con Windows 10 o Windows 8.1 e sincronizzare le impostazioni su tutti i dispositivi (inclusi gli smartphone)
• Puoi utilizzare Cortana sui tuoi computer e dispositivi Windows 10 (inclusi gli smartphone)
• Puoi scaricare e installare app e contenuti^{(apps and content)} da Windows Store , su computer e dispositivi con Windows 10 o Windows 8.1 (compresi gli smartphone)
• Puoi utilizzare il tuo account Microsoft^{(Microsoft account)} per accedere alle console Xbox , acquistare giochi e comunicare con gli altri
• Puoi usare app e servizi^{(Office apps and services)} di Office come Office 365
• Puoi usare Skype per chat di testo, audio e video^{(audio and video chat)}
• Ottieni spazio di archiviazione online^{(online storage)} gratuito su OneDrive
• Puoi ottenere un account di posta elettronica^{(email account)} gratuito se preferisci i servizi di posta elettronica di Microsoft
• Puoi accedere a Bing e ottenere l'accesso ai dati personalizzati
• Puoi ricevere notizie e contenuti^{(news and content)} personalizzati da MSN.com
• Puoi utilizzare qualsiasi prodotto orientato al consumatore di Microsoft , incluso ma non limitato a Bing Maps , Microsoft Groove e altro ancora.

Come creare un account Microsoft

Puoi creare un account Microsoft^{(Microsoft account)} in molti modi e la maggior parte degli utenti lo creerà da un sistema operativo^{(operating system)} come Windows 10 o Windows 8.1. Tuttavia, puoi anche crearlo direttamente da un browser Web^{(web browser)} e quindi utilizzarlo per accedere a tutti i servizi e dispositivi Microsoft . Abbiamo una guida passo-passo^{(step-by-step guide)} separata che spiega tutto ciò che devi sapere, incluso come creare un account Microsoft^{(Microsoft account)} senza utilizzare un indirizzo e-mail di Microsoft : Come creare un account Microsoft^{(Microsoft account)} con o senza un indirizzo e-mail Microsoft^{(Microsoft e-mail)} .

Hai un account Microsoft?

Prima di chiudere questo articolo, facci sapere se hai un account Microsoft^{(Microsoft account)} e se stai utilizzando un indirizzo e- mail Microsoft^{(Microsoft email)} con esso o uno personale. Inoltre, per quali prodotti e servizi Microsoft lo usi?

What is a Microsoft account? The pros and cons of Microsoft accounts

Are you υsing a laptop with Windows 10 or a gaming PС with Windows 11? Are yоu editing documents with Microsoft 365 or synchronizing your fіles with OneDrive? Do you own an Xbox Series X console? Are you still video conferencing on Skype? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, there’s a high chance that you already have a Microsoft acсoυnt. If уou want to know what a Microsoft account is, what it looks like, underѕtand whether you can use Gmail with a Micrоsoft account, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of using a Microsoft accoυnt, read this article:

What is a Microsoft account?

A Microsoft account is what you use to access Microsoft’s devices, websites, and services. It is an ID composed of an e-mail address and password that you use to log in to your Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer, Xbox Series X console, Microsoft 365 subscription, Skype, OneDrive, Microsoft Edge, Bing, and so on. The picture below shows you the most popular products and services that require a Microsoft account.

What you can access with a Microsoft account

A Microsoft account is free, and you can create it from just about anywhere: Windows 10 or Windows 11, your Xbox console, Skype, or this webpage: Create a Microsoft account. Nowadays, you can also create a Microsoft account using a phone number and a password instead of an e-mail address.

You can create a Microsoft account using a phone number too

Examples of Microsoft accounts

If you’re using an e-mail address and password to sign in to Microsoft devices and services like those discussed earlier, you already have a Microsoft account. If you have an Xbox account, that one’s a Microsoft account too, and you can use it to access all Microsoft services. Microsoft accounts usually have a Microsoft-related e-mail address like: [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected]. However, a Microsoft e-mail address is not mandatory for a Microsoft account.

Is my Gmail or Google account the same as my Microsoft account?

A feature that’s both cool and confusing at the same time is that you can create a Microsoft account without a Microsoft e-mail address (outlook.com, hotmail.com, or live.com). When you access the create Microsoft account page, you can type a Gmail address, Yahoo! e-mail address, or any other e-mail. Then, you create the password, enter additional information, and your Microsoft account is created WITHOUT a Microsoft e-mail address. For more information, here are three ways to create a Microsoft account.

You can create a Microsoft account with a Gmail address

If you have a Microsoft account associated with a Gmail address, you could be under the impression that your Google account is the same as your Microsoft account. This is especially true if you’re making the mistake of using the same password for both. First of all, they’re different accounts. Your original Gmail address is your Google account, and it gives you access to Google’s services and devices. Even if it’s associated with a Gmail address, your Microsoft account is a different account that gives you access only to Microsoft’s devices and services. Also, you should not be using the same password for both.

IMPORTANT: If you’re using the same password for your Microsoft and Google accounts, we strongly suggest that you change it right now. For help, here’s how to change the password for your Microsoft account. Additionally, for added security, you should also enable two-step authentication. We have guides to help in both cases:

• How to enable 2-step verification for your Microsoft account
• How to enable 2-step verification for your Google account

The benefits of using a Microsoft account

There are many benefits to having a Microsoft account, and their number grows proportionally to how many of Microsoft's products and services you’re using. Here are some of the most obvious:

• You can sign in to your Windows 10 and Windows 11 laptops, tablets, and computers using the same Microsoft account. Then, your settings and files (if you’re using OneDrive) automatically get synchronized across all your devices through your account.
• You can sign in with a Microsoft account on your Xbox console, purchase games and other digital content, an Xbox Live Gold subscription, or an Xbox Game Pass.
• You can purchase and use a Microsoft 365 subscription (formerly known as Office 365).
• You can purchase, download, and install apps, games, and other content from the Microsoft Store in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
• You can sign in and use Skype for free.
• You get free online storage with OneDrive. You can also buy a OneDrive storage plan (if you want) and synchronize your files across all your devices, including Android smartphones and tablets or iPhones and iPads.
• You can sign into Bing, Bing Maps, and other web services and get access to personalized data.
• You can use Cortana with a Microsoft account in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
• You get an easy-to-use dashboard from which you can manage all your Microsoft devices, services, subscriptions, etc. To access it, go to this page and sign in with your Microsoft account: account.microsoft.com. There, you’ll also see what data Microsoft stores about you.

The dashboard found at account.microsoft.com

The cons of using a Microsoft account

There are also downsides to using a Microsoft account, not only benefits:

• You give personal information to Microsoft. The company will have your e-mail address (and potential access to your e-mails, if you’re using a Microsoft e-mail address), your purchase history, your settings, and so on. If you’re using Bing or Cortana, Microsoft will also know quite a lot about your browsing history and speech/search activity. If you’re using OneDrive, your files will be stored on Microsoft’s servers. If you want to see all the data Microsoft has about you, go to this Privacy Dashboard and sign in with your Microsoft account.
• Your Microsoft account is hackable, especially if you don’t set a strong and unique password for it and you don’t activate two-step authentication.
• If you forget your password or your account is hacked, you are locked out of all Microsoft devices, services, and websites. However, you can reset your password using the instructions from this guide: How do I reset my Microsoft account password?
• You need an internet connection to log in with a Microsoft account to all Microsoft services. However, this is not the case when you log in to Windows or Xbox, except for the first sign-in when an internet connection is mandatory. After the first login, you can use a Microsoft account even when offline.

The Privacy Dashboard for your Microsoft account

If you have created a Microsoft account only for accessing Windows, and you’re not happy with the downsides we mentioned earlier, you can use a local offline account following the steps shared in these guides:

• 6 ways to add a local (non-Microsoft) user to Windows 10
• How to install and use Windows 11 with a local account

Do you have a Microsoft account?

Now you know what a Microsoft account is, what a Microsoft account looks like, and how you can create a Microsoft account using a Gmail address or some other e-mail. You also know the main benefits and drawbacks of using a Microsoft account. Before closing this article, tell us whether you have a Microsoft account, whether it’s associated with a Microsoft e-mail address, a phone number, or a Gmail address, and what you’re using it for. Is it only for Windows, or for Xbox too? Are you still using Skype with your Microsoft account? Tell us in a comment below.

Related posts

• Come posso resettare la mia password Microsoft account?

• Come scoprire quali dati Microsoft archivia su di te e come eliminarli

• Come cambiare la Microsoft password: 2 modi diversi

• Come passare a un account locale Windows 10 da A Microsoft one

• Come aggiungere un Microsoft account a Windows 10

• Come aggiornare un account locale a un account Microsoft in Windows 8.1

• Cos'è un gruppo Windows user, e cosa fa?

• Presentazione di Windows 8.1: dovresti utilizzare un account locale o Microsoft?

• Come cambiare Administrator su Windows 11: 5 modi

• Come passare a un account locale Windows 11 da Microsoft one

• Come gestire gli utenti e gruppi locali in Windows 10 utilizzando Lusrmgrm.msc

• Domande semplici: cos'è l'account Ospite e come lo si attiva?

• 10 funzionalità che rendono Windows 8 il Windows più sicuro di sempre

• Come modificare la password per l'account utente locale in Windows 8.1

• Cosa sono le quote disco e come utilizzarle per limitare lo spazio di ciascun utente

• Crea nuovi account utente e gruppi di Windows, come un professionista IT

• Come aggiungere un account bambino al tuo PC Windows 10

• Microsoft Authenticator su Android: Sign in un MS account

• Come gestire gli account utente registrati con Task Manager in Windows 10

• Come utilizzare Microsoft Store in Windows senza un account Microsoft