this post was submitted on 13 Jun 2024

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Microsoft accidentally lists the benefits of not using a Microsoft account on Windows 11 (www.windowscentral.com)

submitted 5 months ago by AnActOfCreation@programming.dev to c/technology@lemmy.world

94 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Microsoft inadvertently highlighted the benefits of using a local account over a Microsoft account on Windows 11 in a recent support page update.
Using a local account allows for offline sign-in, is independent of cloud services, and limits settings, files, and applications to a single device, enhancing privacy.
Despite these benefits, Microsoft requires internet access or workarounds for the initial setup of Windows 11, making it challenging to use a local account from the start.

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[–] autotldr@lemmings.world 0 points 5 months ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:

Using a Microsoft account lets you connect your PC to Microsoft cloud services, sync files across devices, and even sync your settings across multiple PCs.

But I believe there are users who would view Microsoft's reasons against using a local account as positives, not negatives.

I use a Microsoft account and sync just about everything across multiple PCs, but I understand that's not the preferred setup for everyone.

The support document does not list a way to set up your PC with a local account.

I wonder how many people cannot use a modern PC because they lack an internet connection for the initial setup process.

Microsoft is certainly aware that many people lack easy access to the web.

The original article contains 497 words, the summary contains 119 words. Saved 76%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[–] MudMan@fedia.io 0 points 5 months ago (3 children)

The summary is slightly misleading, you can log in offline on a computer with a MS account. In fairness, the language on the article around this is pretty confusing, but you're not locked out of your PC if your Internet is down, which is what the bullet point summary implies.

[–] best_username_ever@sh.itjust.works 0 points 5 months ago (2 children)

offline on a computer with a MS account

That's technically impossible because you must create an account... online. Also it's a Microsoft account which is worse.

[–] MudMan@fedia.io 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Well, yeah, but that's the clarification I'm making. By default you DO need a connection to create or sign in to an account to complete the install process as it's currently presented, but once an account is set up you can log in to that machine whether it's connected to the Internet or not. The summary makes it sound like you need to be online for every login, which is not the case.

[–] deweydecibel@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago

By default you DO need a connection to create or sign in to an account to complete the install process as it's currently presented

You don't "need" it, they lie to you and imply it's a requirement, but it isn't needed. It'll download updates, and finish the install just fine with local account.

[–] KISSmyOSFeddit@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (3 children)

You also need an internet connection during setup to download drivers for your PC, or install Office.
What would you even do with a PC that never has internet access? (apart from controlling some machinery maybe).

[–] BombOmOm@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

I remember it used to be quite common to install an OS and not have internet access. The OS simply lacked the correct LAN or WAN driver; alternatively one might be setting up an OS during an outage.

What would you even do with a PC that never has internet access? (apart from controlling some machinery maybe).

This is actually a massive use-case. Basically every piece of heavy machinery is using the OS it shipped with. Those systems naturally are forbidden from connecting to the internet but happily plug away at their job.

Legacy software in general is a great reason; retro gaming on period-appropriate hardware and OS, for example.

[–] KISSmyOSFeddit@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Yeah but none of these use cases call for Windows 11.

[–] BombOmOm@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Retro gaming on period-appropriate hardware and OS in 20 years will. (And there likely won't be security updates for the OS, you would be dumb to connect it to the internet)

Heavy machinery shipping with windows today does.

Your OS not having the correct lan/wan driver happens even today (just less often).

Having an internet outage happens today as well.

Yeah but none of these use cases call for Windows 11.

All the use cases I mentioned are relevant with Windows 11. There is a reason people have been yelling Linux around every corner, and it is because of continued bad decisions by Microsoft like requiring and internet connection for stuff that simply shouldn't.

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[–] EngineerGaming@feddit.nl 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Plus, ideally, working with or storing sensitive data better be on a non-exposed machine.

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[–] Buelldozer@lemmy.today 0 points 5 months ago

What would you even do with a PC that never has internet access?

The idea that computers should always be online is less than 20 years old. Even in the early 2000s it wasn't uncommon for most employees in a company to NOT have Internet access. Companies, and people, bought or wrote software and then ran it to accomplish the task. No internet needed.

I'd argue that many employees in regular non-technical positions STILL don't require Internet access to do their job unless they have to sign into some kind of cloud portal

[–] Infynis@midwest.social 0 points 5 months ago

I barely notice when I don't have Internet access anymore, because I use my PC as a media server to stream to every other device in my house. Not having the Internet basically just restricts the games I can play slightly

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[–] dan1101@lemm.ee 0 points 5 months ago (5 children)

The online requirements are unnerving to me. I feel like Microsoft wants my personal files. I don't think it's to outright steal or scam, but there is something in everyone's data they want. Maybe AI training. Anyway I'm not giving it up willingly.

[–] ch00f@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Does anybody remember back in 2005 when Google had a plugin for windows xp that would index your entire hard drive and give you quick search for your files?

How things have changed.

[–] jasep@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago

We use Everything for that now

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I don't think it's to outright steal or scam

It is. They’re a monopoly. It’s illegal and unethical. And, just poor design.

[–] j4k3@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago

It is way more. It is a means of manipulation and influence over your decisions, and the decisions others make about you. The issue boils down to a fundamental principal of your right to autonomy. If you play out this philosophically, it is an attack on your citizenship and democracy itself. Autonomy is a fundamental cornerstone of democracy. Attacks on autonomy are attacks on democracy.

[–] hondaguy97386@sh.itjust.works 0 points 5 months ago (4 children)

This is part of why I preach Linux. I don't care what distro, just get away from Microsoft.

[–] slurpinderpin@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (3 children)

There are still lots of reasons why many of us use Windows. Like work machines for example

[–] tabular@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Under duress I hope.

[–] slurpinderpin@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Under penalty of death

[–] SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml 0 points 5 months ago

I mean...if you get written up for circumventing IT blocks and installing Linux on your work device, but that write up is signed with a barage of bullets....maybe you're working for the wrong dictatorship?

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (4 children)

Sure, but if you have the option, you shouldn't choose it. One reason so many businesses use Windows is that everyone knows Windows. If everyone learns Linux, more companies will use Linux.

[–] slurpinderpin@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago

Yeah no argument there from me, just wanted to point out that it's not always a choice

[–] ringwraithfish@startrek.website 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Another reason is that you are virtually guaranteed to find any application you need that supports Windows.

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

True, but more applications are supporting Linux as it becomes more popular. More users means more Linux apps means more users.

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[–] JAWNEHBOY@reddthat.com 0 points 5 months ago

This is what it comes down to. Nearly every office job pays for the Microsoft enterprise suite and office 365 subscriptions, before tacking on third party tools for monitoring and info. sec. for IT. I would gladly ditch Office 365 for Open Office and Debian, assuming all the higher ups would be willing to take such drastic measures to reduce expenses. I think most employees would balk at learning "an entire new system" regardless of how minor the differences actually are at this point.

I'll give 'em this: Microsoft's model creates very sticky revenue with high switching costs.

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[–] mesamunefire@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Yep its easier than ever to get into it and even works with games via steam now. My computer runs soo much faster than with windows.

[–] Aeri@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (4 children)

If I could use Linux and still play multiplayer video games with anti cheat I would be so happy...

[–] skizzles@lemmy.ml 0 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Dual boot, and use something like AtlasOS to clean up the BS that comes with windows.

I have a separate drive with windows for solidworks and a few online games I play occasionally. 99% of the time I run Linux though.

That being said I understand if you game online a lot and those games don't work in Linux then that really isn't an option.

At the very least though I would check out something like AtlasOS, it works for both W10 and 11.

[–] firepenny@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Please don’t use atlasOS. These “custom” versions of Windows are fully of security implications.

[–] skizzles@lemmy.ml 0 points 5 months ago (2 children)

It's not a custom version of windows.

Please make sure you do some research before you implicate things.

AtlasOS modifies a fresh install of windows to help get rid of bloat ware and some of the security concerns that MS puts in their OS.

[–] firepenny@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Again, custom. You are debloating an OS and removing security features and removing other functions of the os that will cause security and instability in your windows environment.

Honestly, if you are so concerned that you need to run this custom made script to protect privacy, you’re probably just better using Linux.

[–] skizzles@lemmy.ml 0 points 5 months ago

Again, it is not a "Custom OS" you aren't installing it as an OS from an ISO. You are still required to have your own licensed version of windows and install that prior to using AtlasOS. Using it does not cause security and instability issues as long as you understand what you are doing. Yes it is stripping things from windows. It's also open source so if you were so inclined you could see exactly what is being done.

If you equate using an automated solution to do things that you could do manually albeit with a bit more work involved, then every single OS is custom the second you change anything on it.

I do use Linux for what it's worth and have been for around 20 years. I've also been working in Tech for the last 15 ish years. I wouldn't be blindly recommending something that would wreck someone's security.

Please do some research.

https://github.com/atlas-os/atlas

There's a link to their source code. They even state that you have options to what security settings get messed with. So again, as long as you READ and understand what you are doing, you aren't necessarily breaking your systems security.

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[–] wreckedcarzz@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (6 children)

I don't care what distro

ChromeOS it is!

[–] Anti_Iridium@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Wait no!

[–] SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Not like that!

[–] Toes@ani.social 0 points 5 months ago

task failed successfully

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[–] cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 0 points 5 months ago (2 children)

"as explained by Microsoft on accident"?! Call me what you will but I would think the author writing articles should know it's "by accident"

[–] deweydecibel@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago

It's a junk article, likely written by AI in part or entirely. Paragraphs and paragraphs of nothing just to reference a support article they found, all the while subtly implying a Windows account is a really good thing to use and everyone should use it.

[–] Eggyhead@kbin.run 0 points 5 months ago

You’re not wrong or anything, but “on accident” is used commonly in American English, so the author isn’t wrong either. I think it might have come from an association with “on purpose”, as in “I didn’t do it on purpose, I did it on accident.”

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), the rules of language only matter if people actually stick to them. Language shifts over time no matter who kicks or screams about it.

[–] codenamekino@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (12 children)

Since they mentioned the workarounds but didn't explain them, I'm copying my comment from another post a couple of weeks ago.

Lemmy probably isn’t the target audience for this, here’s the steps to bypass the MS account requirement when setting up W11:

Configure your keyboard, but before you select your wifi network press Shift+(Fn)+F10 to open Command Prompt.

Type in the following command and press enter. Your computer will reboot: oobe\bypassnro

After the reboot, configure your keyboard and location settings, and click the option at the bottom of the page to say that you don’t want to connect to the internet

Click the link on the next page to “Continue with limited setup”, then follow the prompts to enter a username and password.

[–] deweydecibel@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (5 children)

Thr FN part is notable if you have a recent computer. A lot of laptops and keyboards ship out with media keys as the default on the top row now, and you must hold the FN key to use F10. Lot of people don't realize this and think Shift+F10 isn't working.

Possibly an easier option: you can let it connect to the internet, and then when it tells you to set up a Microsoft account, click on "Other sign in options" (or whatever it says beneath the text box). Then select "Domain Join". It'll let you use a local account.

[–] CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Good info, but everyone should know that Windows 11 Home can not join domains, and the option will not be there. Only Pro, Enterprise, and Education versions can do that.

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[–] cley_faye@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

or write your windows ISO using rufus and check the "no MS account" checkbox.

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[–] nuggsy@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago

Thanks for reminding me about this!

We used to use that method for the company I was working for. We would setup laptops in advance and they were in the early process of setting up intune. Since we didn't have a user account, we'd use your method to continue setup to get to the desktop.

I think we'd then run commands in pwershell to have the machine appear on intune.

It was a good few years ago and it was a very annoying, arduous time. They worked out the kinks eventually and that was no longer required.

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[–] 0x0@programming.dev 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Someone asked Copilot to come up with that text...

[–] deweydecibel@lemmy.world 0 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Are you talking about the Support article, or this WindowsCentral article?

Because I would say that's true of both.

This article is heavily inflated/extended with pablum that could come straight from Copilot, and frankly, it seems more concerned with listing the benefits of a Microsoft account than reporting on the support article.

It's AI junk all the way down.

[–] octopus_ink@lemmy.ml 0 points 5 months ago

[–] OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml 0 points 5 months ago (4 children)

Garbage article. Headline interprets like Microsoft slipped or leaked something. The article discusses why the "pros" are actually "cons".

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