Microsoft has announced that it's tripling down on blocking users from bypassing signing in with a Microsoft account on Windows 11 when setting up a PC for the first time. The company believes that a ...

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).

Microsoft has required both an internet connection and a Microsoft account to set up Windows 11 since February 2023. Users, however, found a way around this by opening Command Prompt during setup and ...

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 ...

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 ...

The company justifies this decision by explaining that using a Microsoft account and an internet connection during the initial setup process (known as OOBE) is essential. According to Microsoft, the ...