Create a Microsoft account to make the most of Windows 8, the company recommends

Mar 22, 2013 06:27 GMT  ·  By

While Windows 8’s uptake remains pretty low more than four months after launch, the Redmond-based technology giant continues to promote its operating system, this time with six tips on how to make the most of the newly released software.

It all comes down to the Microsoft account, the one that provides access to the best of Windows 8, the company said in a blog post.

Microsoft then goes on to reveal six “awesome” features of an account, explaining that it allows users to take their settings wherever they go, access the Windows Store, upload files to SkyDrive, manage an address book, listen to millions of free streaming songs via Xbox Music and play games through Xbox Games.

The same Microsoft account can be used to sign in to your Windows 8 PC, but also to send and receive email messages via Outlook.com.

“Getting a Microsoft account is easy. And when you use it to sign in to your Windows 8 PC, it’s your key to free online storage, mobile entertainment, thousands of apps in the Windows store, free music streaming, and connecting your devices and accounts in a completely seamless way,” the company explains.

Windows 8 users, on the other hand, are also allowed to sign in to their computers with a local account, just like on Windows 7 or older operating systems, and thus skip the creation of a Microsoft account.

Those who wish to register for an account can do it for free by simply going over to Outlook.com to choose a username and password.

Once you create an Outlook.com account, you can use the same credentials to access the majority of services provided by Microsoft, including SkyDrive, Office Web Apps, Skype and many others.

In addition, the same username and password could be used to sign in to your Windows 8 computer, but an Internet connection is needed for synchronization purposes.