Windows 11 Pro will soon force you to have a Microsoft account for installation

pcgamer.com:

Users of Windows 11 Pro are set to be required to connect to the internet and sign-in with a Microsoft Account during the installation. This is already the case when installing Windows 11 Home, but now the ‘feature’ is being tested with Windows 11 Pro.

The change was revealed in the change log for the Windows 11 insider preview build 22557 (via Tom’s Guide). “Similar to Windows 11 Home edition, Windows 11 Pro edition now requires internet connectivity during the initial device setup (OOBE) only. If you choose to setup device for personal use, MSA will be required for setup as well. You can expect Microsoft Account to be required in subsequent WIP flights.”

While Microsoft requires users of Windows 11 Home to have a Microsoft account, it’s a little puzzling as to why users of Windows 11 Pro all of a sudden need to have it too. It’s one of several reasons that users pay extra for the Pro version. It’s the kind of thing that will infuriate IT personnel who are required to maintain many machines.

On a personal note, as someone who frequently installs Windows, including on some pre-release systems where Windows doesn’t recognize either the Wi-Fi or Ethernet controllers that are needed for internet access, I can foresee myself having problems with this.

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There’s also the privacy aspect. Some people simply don’t like the idea of big brother requiring yet another way to keep tabs on your activities. There’s simply no way that Microsoft would tie your account and personal information