How To - Login To Local Account

Summary

Learn the short trick to login with a local user account instead of a domain

Body

Overview

This is a short trick to login with a local user account instead of a domain account.

Note: By default, when a username is entered into a domain joined machine, and there is also a local account with the same name, the domain account will take precedence. 

Prerequisites

Window OS is imported onto the domain

Resolution

Please Note:  .\ is ONLY USED FOR LOCAL ACCOUNT LOGINS. Do not attempt to try using .\ to login to a DOMAIN ACCOUNT. For example - using .\ferrisuser to login to ferrisuser@ferris.local will not work. .\ was designed for a local account login.  Cannot be used for temporary user profiles, it will not work.
  1. Type .\ (Below the password field, the text should change from Ferris_AD to the computer name).Uploaded Image (Thumbnail)
  2. Enter a local account name.
    Do not enter a domain account using this method. .\ tells the computer to use a LOCAL account.  We used the "administrator" account as an example. 
    Uploaded Image (Thumbnail)
  3. Input password and Press EnterUploaded Image (Thumbnail)

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Details

Details

Article ID: 1665
Created
Wed 11/8/23 9:01 AM
Modified
Fri 10/31/25 9:13 AM