Microsoft Account Will Be Required to Set Up Future Versions of Windows 11 Pro

[Tsing]

Image: Microsoft



Windows 11 Home users haven’t been thrilled about how Microsoft won’t allow them to set up their PCs without an internet connection and Microsoft Account, but that same level of potential inconvenience is headed to the Pro version of the OS, according to a change introduced in Windows 11’s latest preview version.



“Similar to Windows 11 Home edition, Windows 11 Pro edition now requires internet connectivity during the initial device setup (OOBE) only,” reads a portion of the release notes for Windows 11’s latest Insider Preview build, version 22557.



“If you choose to setup device for personal use, MSA will be required for setup as well. You can expect Microsoft Account to be required in subsequent WIP flights.”



Windows 11 Pro users will...

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[THUMPer]

I prefer a local account. I wonder how this will work on domain pcs...

 

[Zarathustra]

Well, I guess I now know when I will be phasing out Windows.

With this announcement, I'll be staying on 10 until it goes EOL and then retiring my windows partitions permanently.

Requiring an always online account for my operating system is simply a non-negotiable for me. Will not do it under any circumstances.

I guess 2025 (when Win10 is supposed to go EOL) will finally be the year of the Linux desktop?

 

[Brian_B]

Requiring an always online account

I'm certain it isn't always-online like a form of DRM. If you aren't online when you boot up, or if your computer goes offline while your using it - it still works just fine. I don't know for how long -- eventually it will say "There's a problem with your account, can you sign in again?" but it doesn't seem to lock anything out or start blocking any features or anything.

I've got Win10 with an online account in a VM that I almost never have online - I haven't tried it with Win11, but I think it would act in much the same manner.

 

[MadMummy76]

Like hell will I allow them to link my offline activities to my online account.

 

[THUMPer]

This can still be bypassed.

 

[LazyGamer]

I guess 2025 (when Win10 is supposed to go EOL) will finally be the year of the Linux desktop?

I've been wondering when Microsoft was simply going to rebase Explorer to the Linux kernel myself.

But if they don't, the work Valve has been doing looks like a very good start in terms of forcing all of the various desktop-level improvements on Linux through.