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| Windows 11 Pro will soon require a Microsoft account |
Microsoft will soon require Windows 11 Pro users to create a Microsoft account and connect to the Internet for the initial setup process.
The new requirements mirror those of Windows 11 Home, which has required an internet connection and an account since its launch last October.
With the changes taking effect, Windows 11 is the only major operating system that requires an account to access basic functions.
On Apple's macOS, you can create a local account during setup. Android will take you to the home screen even without logging in.
Even the cloud-based Chrome OS has a guest mode for easy browsing without an account.
Similar to Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro now only requires an internet connection during initial device setup, Microsoft writes in the Windows Insider blog. If you want to configure the device for personal use, you also need an MSA to configure it.
This rule should not affect users who have set up local accounts or are logged in to devices with custom usernames and passwords.
Windows 11 Pro requires an internet connection during installation
Users were still annoyed, and the obligation to sign up made it difficult to donate or sell the computer. Or use the system image on multiple devices (as required by some companies). Or format someone else's computer. It also gives Microsoft a way to collect more user data.
“As a PC repair shop owner, my technicians need to get people’s Microsoft account information to reset or reformat PCs now,” one user said.
Dozens of people have taken to social media to threaten to try a different operating system or delay Windows 11 updates. Others are considering solutions.
This requirement is expected to enter into force in the coming months. Until then, Windows 11 Pro users can skip the sign-in process by disconnecting from the Internet and choosing a local account during setup.