Set up your new, work-from-home Windows 10 Home PC

Congratulations on the purchase of your new computer! Let’s get you set up so you can work from home.

This guide assumes that you inadvertently bought a computer with Windows 10 Home, which will insist that you sign-in with your personal Microsoft (not Microsoft Office 365) account. However, there is a way around this. All credit goes to https://www.howtogeek.com/442792/how-to-create-a-local-account-while-setting-up-windows-10/

If you use Wi-Fi, you can skip the Wi-Fi connection process at the beginning of the setup wizard (click the back icon on the top toolbar in Windows 10 Setup to go back). You could also press the Airplane Mode key on your laptop to disconnect—this may be one of the function keys above the number keys on your laptop’s keyboard. If all else fails, you can always just unplug your wireless router for a minute. It’s drastic, but it’ll work.

If you try to create a Microsoft account while disconnected, Windows 10 will show an error message and give you a “Skip” button. This button will skip the Microsoft account screen and let you set up a local user account.

After you skip this step, you’ll be prompted to create a local account with a username and password of your choosing. Once you’ve completed this part of the setup process and you’re on the desktop screen, please connect to your home wireless network, then drop us a line so we can get your computer set up for you to work remotely.