Microsoft account will be mandatory for installation

Since Windows 8, it's been possible to sign in with a Microsoft account on your Windows computer. Microsoft has long preferred this method, but soon it will be mandatory to use a Microsoft account.

Microsoft account will be mandatory

In Windows Home, it has been mandatory for some time to use a Microsoft account for installation, which requires an Internet connection. In Windows 11 Pro this was not mandatory until now, but it is in a recent Insider release.

While most devices require a login to fully use app stores, cloud storage, and sharing and syncing between devices, Windows 11 will soon be the only major operating system that requires an online account login to use even basic features.

Apple Mac computers still allow you to create a local account during setup, and you can skip the login when setting up your iPhone and iPad (although you need an internet connection to activate your device).

Android also requires an internet account to do certain things, but you don't need to sign in to get to the home screen and use the basic features. Even Chrome OS has a guest mode that lets you browse without an account.

Possible solutions

There will certainly be a solution to this problem, such as turning off the Internet during installation. However, this may not work.

Another option is to set up the machine with a Microsoft account, but once the desktop appears, switch to a local user in the settings and delete the Microsoft account. This can currently be done without any problems.

Note that the news is about an Insider build, which certainly anticipates the change. But it could well be that Microsoft will change its plans. Even if the new clause goes into effect, it will take time.

Signing in with a Microsoft account is nothing new

Microsoft has long been trying to give priority to the Microsoft account. Since Windows 8, online profile lock-in has been present in the system.

For years, it has been difficult to find the local account option when installing Windows 10. Even when we find it, we have to enter security questions for our password. This can make you choose the more convenient, faster Microsoft account solution.