Add your work or school account to a Windows device
Applies To
Windows 11 Windows 10Note: The changes to the Entra account registration page mentioned in the article are scheduled for December 2024.
Adding a work or school account to Windows is a straightforward process that enhances your access to organizational resources and services. This article provides an overview and answers to some frequently asked questions (FAQ) about adding a work or school account to your Windows device using applications such as Microsoft Outlook or Edge.
Overview
When you add a work or school account to your PC through an application, you are prompted with a page, called Entra account registration page. The content of the page depends on whether your organization implemented a device management solution:
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In the standard flow, you add your work or school account through an application like Microsoft Edge. This process involves entering your organization account's credentials and possibly completing multi-factor authentication
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If your organization uses a device management solution, the process includes additional steps to ensure that your PC complies with corporate policies. This setup ensures that your device meets security requirements, such as encryption and data protection, and allows IT administrators to manage and secure your device remotely
Note: The Entra account registration page only appears when using Microsoft Entra accounts.
The Entra account registration page is shown when you're trying to access protected resources through an app. The page is where you decide if you want to add your account to the device. When an app like Outlook tries to access a protected resource, you see the Entra account registration page requesting you to add your account to the device. Adding your account to the device gives you the ability to seamlessly sign in to all your desktop apps. It also provides you with more security features.
You're automatically signed in to desktop apps that use your work or school account. You don't have to enter your credentials when you open these apps.
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In the Settings app on your Windows device, select Accounts > Access work or school or use the following shortcut:
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Select your account > Disconnect
If you don't have access to the device you signed in to, go to https://account.microsoft.com/devices to manage your account and sign out.
Note: Signing out of any individual desktop app doesn't remove your account from the device. You must sign out of all apps from Settings or from https://account.microsoft.com/ devices to remove your account from the device.
You're signed in to the individual app that you're currently trying to sign in to. Your account isn't added to the device and it isn't shown in the Windows Settings app under Accounts. You aren't signed in to other apps.
Device management
A device management solution lets the IT department of your organization manage security settings and applications on your personal or corporate device. It's how organizations make sure only devices that are up to date and configured with required security policies are able to access apps and resources.
If your company enables device management, you are prompted with the following version of the Entra account registration page. You can enroll in device management by checking the Allow my organization to manage this device checkbox.
Device management isn't activated:
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If you select No, this app only, device management isn't activated even if the checkbox is checked
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Device management can only be turned on if you select Yes, all apps
You're signed in to all desktop apps on the device, but the device isn't enrolled in device management.
Note: Your organization might require device management for your PC to access some applications or resources. Without device management, you might not have access.
Once enrolled in device management, an administrator can perform various operations, including:
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Install applications on devices
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Restrict access to specific operating systems
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Deploy and update software
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Configure device settings
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Enforce security policies
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Block personal devices
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Remove data from lost or stolen devices
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Secure and protect data on devices
General
The Entra account registration page appears only once per account. To modify your choice, sign out of the account then sign back in. When you sign back in, you are prompted for the registration page again. You can then make a different choice.
All organizational accounts are prompted to add their user account to the device when signing in to an app. This solution offers convenience and more security. This page is where you decide if you want to add your account to the device or not. If your administrator requires device management, you get to decide if you want to enroll in device management on this page as well.
In addition to being compliant with your organization's policies, you get more security features. You're also automatically signed in to all your desktop apps with your organization's account.
No, your choices on the Entra account registration page apply to this device only.
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A desktop app is a software program that you access directly on the computer and it runs locally on the computer. A web app is a combination of pages that you access via a browser and it runs in the cloud. A web app has links to help you navigate through multiple pages
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A service enables communication between different apps that work with the internet. Web services work by exposing Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), and allow for the exchange of information between different apps across different platforms (mobile, Windows, Microsoft Edge)
Administrator reference
Conditional Access policies are used by administrators to protect resources.
Applications configured to work with Windows Web Account Manager authentication broker provide you with SSO and other security features.
All Microsoft Entra customers are prompted to sign in using Web Account Manager if the app and operating system support it.