Windows 8.1 - Sign In Options

Question

Hi everyone,
OK so I've deployed some new Lenovo tablets with Windows 8.1 Pro.
After doing the latest round of updates, the sign in screen no longer defaults to the 'Local or Domain' account option.
So users have to click on 'Sign In Options', then select the left key icon and then they can login with their domain accounts.
The machines are of course added to our domain.
Now as a public organisation, we won't be asking users to link their MS accounts to any Windows 8 / 8.1 machines.  I've had a quick look on the local Group Policy but can't find anything that will allow me to set the Local or Domain Account sign in
option as the default.
So my questions are:
1)  How do I set the Windows 8.1 Sign In options to default to the 'Local or Domain Account' option?
2)  Can I disable the Microsoft Account sign in option?
Thanks for your help.
Fahid

Answer 1

Hi,
For the first question, we might take a workaround to disable
do not display the last user logon name
in logon screen policy, this makes the last user name displays on the logon screen. If the user logged in domain, then it will stay in the domain accounts.
Regarding Microsoft account sign-in, we could block it using Accounts: Block Microsoft accounts policy(available on Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8/8.1):
GPO_name\Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options
More information, please see:
Accounts: Block Microsoft accounts
Also some workaround:
How to block Microsoft accounts in Windows 8 without Server 2012
Please note: Since the website is not hosted by Microsoft, the link may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this information.
Best regards
Michael Shao
TechNet Community Support