Windows 11 Pro Will Soon Require a Microsoft Account, and People Are Pissed

Microsoft will quickly power Windows 11 Pro customers to create a Microsoft account and be linked to the web for the preliminary setup course of. The new necessities mirror these for Windows 11 Home, which has required an web connection and account because it launched in October of final yr.

Once the modifications go into place, Windows 11 would be the solely main working system to require an account to realize entry to fundamental features. Apple’s macOS means that you can create a neighborhood account throughout setup and Android will equally get you to the house display with out sign-in. Even Chrome OS, a cloud-centric working system, has a visitor mode for fundamental searching with out an account.

“Similar to Windows 11 Home edition, Windows 11 Pro edition now requires internet connectivity during the initial device setup (OOBE) only,” Microsoft wrote in a Windows Insider blog post. “If you choose to setup [a] device for personal use, MSA will be required for setup as well.”

As Ars Technica notes, the rule shouldn’t influence those that have already got a configured native account or those that use a customized username and password to log in to work PCs. Regardless, customers are already infuriated, noting how the login situation will make it tougher to donate or promote computer systems, picture lots of of techniques (as is required at some firms), or arrange a pc for another person. It additionally offers Microsoft a way to assemble extra knowledge on customers.

“The most annoying part about this is as a PC repair shop owner my techs now have to get people’s M$ account info just to reset/reformat a computer now. Or we need the customer to come in and sign in, then we can finish the repair.” one Reddit user famous.

Scores of individuals on social media have threatened to make use of a special working system or delay updating to Windows 11. Others are already pondering of workarounds.

“Always skip every other Windows version. Windows 10 is great, not upgrading anytime soon and not just because my computer is too old,” one wrote. “My desire to install Linux is growing every day,” one other consumer mentioned.

“I figured I’d eventually need to upgrade to Win11, someday. This makes me say never if the requirement actually occurs,” an Ars Technica reader wrote within the website’s feedback part. “WTF is the point of “Pro” if an expert can’t make choices about accounts and use it how they need. We’re paying for the power to have extra management in spite of everything!”

“Windows 11 Pro will soon force me to install Linux,” one other quipped.

As a part of the most recent Windows 11 Insider Preview Build (22557), this requirement will possible go into impact within the coming months. Until it does, Windows 11 Pro customers can skip the log-in course of by disconnecting from the web throughout setup and selecting a neighborhood account as an alternative.