Microsoft unveiled Windows 11 on Thursday, and its least costly model Windows 11 Home will now require an web connection at setup — and a Microsoft account. Previous variations would allow you to choose out of Microsoft accounts by creating an area account as an alternative, although the corporate didn’t essentially make it simple to seek out and pushed you to use Microsoft’s login as an alternative. It’s attainable you’ll nonetheless be capable to use an area account afterwards.

The web requirement might make sense since Windows 11 will largely be delivered through a Windows Update, like lots of the updates to Windows 10, so that you’d want an web connection to put in it in your PC. You’ll want to ensure your machine has sufficient free space for storing to put in the updates, Microsoft notes in its spec sheet for Windows 11.

The minimal {hardware} necessities for Windows 11 are a PC with a dual-core 64-bit CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. It will likely be a free improve for present Windows 10 customers.

Here’s how Microsoft describes these necessities:

Windows 11 Home version requires web connectivity and a Microsoft account to finish gadget setup on first use.

Switching a tool out of Windows 11 Home in S mode additionally requires web connectivity.

For all Windows 11 editions, web entry is required to carry out updates and to obtain and reap the benefits of some options. A Microsoft account is required for some options.