I have Windows 8.1 and whenever I try to switch to a Microsoft account it says "Sorry, we couldn't connect to Microsoft services right now. If this problem persists, search for "network problems" on the Start screen" after I enter my password. I have already used the troubleshooter for the network problems and when I try to use the online support it says I am offline. What should I do? 

Can you look to see if the Microsoft Account Sign-in Assistant is started in your services ?

It is running.

Go here and download the Microsoft Account Troubleshooter. Follow the instruction

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/13976.how-to-troubleshoot-microsoft-account-issues.aspx

It says it can't detect a microsoft account. 

Can you log with that Microsoft account here www.hotmail.com. 

If you can make sure the account info is up to date and try again if it failed please create a brand new Microsoft account and give it a go.

I updated my settings and password and it still won't work. I don't think a new account would make a difference because I can't get past entering my local password.

Still asking if you can create a new account and test it. Some people add the issue with old account and with new one it work. If this is case we can better try to help you after.

Made a new account and couldn't really test it because of the error with microsoft services. I just checked and the service is still running.

Hi,

What's the detailed error message with Microsoft service? How about sign up a new Microsoft Account through Website:

https://signup.live.com/signup?wa=wsignin1.0&rpsnv=12&ct=1436237528&rver=6.4.6456.0&wp=MBI_SSL_SHARED&wreply=https%3a%2f%2fmail.live.com%2fdefault.aspx%3frru%3dinbox&id=64855&cbcxt=mai&cred=otc&bk=1436237534&uiflavor=web&uaid=4bf86517f0d2468d82a4cb466bda9006&mkt=EN-US&lc=1033&lic=1

The error message is Sorry, we couldn't connect to Microsoft services right now. If this problem persists, search for "network problems" on the Start screen. I have already created a new account to use but I still can't get past the local password when I try to switch accounts

Hi,

Since it promopts Network problem, it would be better to switch another ISP for test. If it's unavailable, please follow the method below to fix network problem for test.

1. Check if there is any Proxy enabled, if that it is, disable it for test.

2. Open CMD.

Reset TCP/IP stack to installation defaults, type: netsh int ip reset

Reset WINSOCK entries to installation defaults, type: netsh winsock reset

To flush and reset a client resolver cache, type: ipconfig /flushdns

Reboot the machine.

3. If you installed any security or Firewall, try to disable them temporarilly for test.

Thanks! I think turning the proxy off is what did it. It even lets me sign into Xbox now which is what started this whole thing