Windows 11 has a new preview build It cracks down on workarounds to install the OS with a local account This is a continued campaign to force people to use a Microsoft account, and Microsoft argues it ...

Microsoft is removing known workarounds for local account creation in Windows 11 setup (OOBE), effectively making a Microsoft Account (MSA) mandatory for most users. The company cites proper ...

Microsoft's latest Insider Preview, Build 26220.6772, introduces a significant policy change: removal of known workarounds to skip Microsoft Account setup during Windows 11 installation (OOBE).

Of the many minor to medium-size annoyances that come with a modern Windows 11 installation, the requirement that you sign in with a Microsoft account is one of the most irritating. Sure, all ...

Windows 11 looks polished out of the box, but the default setup leaves performance, privacy and reliability on the table. I ...

This is important because: Microsoft is closing the side doors to offline setup. As familiar workarounds disappear, most people are guided toward a Microsoft account on day one, which narrows choice ...

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Additional ways to get around Windows 11 setup may exist but those will likely get be shut down by Microsoft when they're discovered, Windows Central notes. Reactions to the new update have largely ...