Microsoft blocks known OOBE workarounds that create local-only accounts. OOBE now requires an internet connection and a Microsoft account; skipping may result in misconfigured devices, argues the ...

Microsoft really doesn’t want you creating a local account on Windows 11. Microsoft really doesn’t want you creating a local account on Windows 11. is a senior editor and author of Notepad, who has ...

The most recent security innovation by Microsoft allows you to generate passkeys on Windows 11, which do not use passwords at all. This technology is a revolutionary authentication tool that involves ...

If you already use a local account, the Windows 11 upgrade won't require you to use a Microsoft account. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it ...

One of the downgrades that Windows 10 users experience when moving to Windows 11, especially when clean-installing the newer operating system, is the inability to create a local account and set up ...

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 ...

There are multiple ways to divert around Windows 11's insistence on a Microsoft account for first-time setup. It seems there'll be one less in the near future, however, as the latest Windows 11 ...

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 ...