Microsoft attempts to steer Windows users away from local accounts

[Alfonso Maruccia]

Facepalm: Like Google, Apple, and other major online providers, Microsoft is willing to play dirty to keep users within its digital ecosystem. The Redmond corporation is now making it difficult for Windows 11 users by removing official instructions on how to convert an online account into a local one.

The Windows ecosystem was traditionally designed to treat users fairly, offering unprecedented openness and software backward compatibility that turned a "simple" OS into a major force in the technology and computing world. However, fairness, compatibility, and openness are now somewhat obsolete concepts, as Big Tech proactively harvest users' data to train AI algorithms, sell advertising, or improve their own products.

Microsoft has long tried to push PC users toward an online-only experience, making local account creation increasingly difficult, starting with the Windows installation process. Recently, the company modified the online guide related to Microsoft and local accounts, which now lacks any official instructions on converting a Microsoft account to a local one.

Thanks to the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, the previous version of the guide can still be viewed as it was before the change. Microsoft provided detailed instructions on switching from a Microsoft account to a local account, although the company still recommended an online account for "seamless integration of Microsoft services," enhanced security capabilities, device synchronization, and more.

The newly revised guide now only provides instructions on switching from a local account to a Microsoft account, with the local account-focused section completely removed. Microsoft now claims that an online account offers several benefits over a local account, suggesting that users would be better off changing their previously created offline accounts to the "latest and greatest" computing experience provided by a Microsoft account.

A corporate-owned, online-only, cloud-tied account is now the standard requirement imposed by mobile platform owners such as Google (Android) and Apple (iOS), and Microsoft clearly wants to make Windows an exclusively cloud-oriented platform as well.

Even though Microsoft no longer provides official instructions, Windows 11 users can still change their online account to a local one whenever they wish. The "Your Info" page in the Windows Settings app should provide everything needed to make the change, at least until Microsoft decides to remove the feature altogether.

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Microsoft attempts to steer Windows users away from local accounts

 

[yRaz]

It's easy, switch operating systems.

 

[hahahanoobs]

If I'm forced to login then so be it. I do it with all my other devices already.

 

[Postone]

That fix for using a local account that TechSpot posts didn't work for my Windows 11 Pro. I tried it six months ago. I found a way to make a local account, during the installation process of Windows 11 Pro. I'm never going to use a Microsoft sign in. Microsoft simply cannot be trusted with any personal information. I can hardly believe it's legal for them to snoop on an operating system that I paid for. You would think it would be illegal anyway. Anyway, I gutted Win 11 Pro, from removing Edge (Windows Update won't install Edge either) to OneNote, and Copilot, to just about all the added BS programs Windows is using on Win 11 that I don't need. Windows 11 Pro (local account) is working just fine on my two-year-old HP. I still have a 14yr old Acer laptop, with Win 7 Pro installed. It's a bit slower than it used to be, but it works just fine.

I'm using Linux Mint too. Pretty soon, that's the only operating system I'll be using, period!

 

[bandit8623]

For sys admins in domain environment it's so stupid to be forced to use a Microsoft account... I have a work around still for now...

 

[madboyv1]

Incidentally, if you're stuck on the idea of being forced into creating or logging in with a Microsoft account when you are setting up Windows, you can bypass that as well. As long as you aren't connected to a network you can press Shift + F10 to open up a command prompt window and type OOBE\BYPASSNRO . The Windows setup will restart and allow you to create a "limited" (lol) local account.

I imagine this is the workaround most are talking about.

 

[CrisisDog]

Ssssshhh, hear that? Linux is whispering to you…

 

[zx8086]

It's easy, switch operating systems.

No, for majority of people it's not only not easy, but also simply impossible, thanks to the fact we need to use various programs unavailable on Linux for work or what have you. There's also the small factor of gaming involved.

That said, a forced login might be just the last straw and I might really eventually be forced to maintain two machines: one completely isolated and sandboxed Win 11 one just for work & gaming, and other with Linux for my other PC activities. I'm still on Win 10, the telemetry and spying here is cancer but it can actually be controlled when using external firewall such as Simplewall. But what happens now with Win 11 is really too much.

 

[Vanderlinde]

Big data collection is coming for you.

 

[BbN48]

One of the biggest industries in the world today is to build as much of a complete profile on every individual as possible. This is worth huge amounts of money. So don't give it to them unless you're very well paid for your information.

 

[yRaz]

No, for majority of people it's not only not easy, but also simply impossible, thanks to the fact we need to use various programs unavailable on Linux for work or what have you. There's also the small factor of gaming involved.

That said, a forced login might be just the last straw and I might really eventually be forced to maintain two machines: one completely isolated and sandboxed Win 11 one just for work & gaming, and other with Linux for my other PC activities. I'm still on Win 10, the telemetry and spying here is cancer but it can actually be controlled when using external firewall such as Simplewall. But what happens now with Win 11 is really too much.

I was making a joke, but since you're trying to be serious then I will. I did switch operating systems and it really isn't that hard to find alternatives that are just as easy to use but also free.

They're "different" but it doesn't take more than 20 hours of honest work to learn something just as well as another peice of software

I'm tired of hearing this argument because I actually did it. It's not hard, you're just lazy. What's even more ridiculous to me is that people would rather be inconvenienced for decades rather than spend a little time learning an alternative

 

[dangh]

I mean they are doing really good, they steered me out of Windows all together!
it is a success in my book. The more people will go away from it, the more software will be released on Linux - if someone is still bound to it for some reason.

 

[Skjorn]

I always wanted MS to have to strict versions of the main OS. Like a certain version strictly for privacy with all the convenience stuff gone, or a gaming tuned version just called WindowsX, strip out everything unnecessary for gaming.

 

[techstrike]

This is a goal that MS is trying for many years now to accomplish.

Their main goal is that your hardware will be just a terminal and all your processes will be running on their servers, so they will have 100% control of your data-transactions.


My Advice.

Don't use Microsoft accounts (Roaming profiles) on your personal computer.

If you're using Windows 11:
Do not use any application from Microsoft Store.
Use only win32/64 applications.
Disable any service that you don't know what it does (for advanced users).
Remove all Appxpackages from your system.
Disable any history option that Win11 applies (for example clipboard).
Switch Calculator, Notepad, Paint and other converted apps to the old win32 classic apps (search internet for details).
Don't use Edge.
Use firewall for blocking all the telemetry sending to MS.

With all of that, and you may block 80% of that data is sending to the black hole.

 

[Uncle Al]

Microsludge just hasn't figured out that there are more than enough people out here on the internet to show how it's done without ever needing to consult with Microsoft. Soon they will try to eliminate the local account and cause a flood of users to MAC and Linux ....

 

[DZillaXx]

Nearly all SCADA software runs on windows... These SCADA systems make our modern life possible. If we are not dealing with a domain joined clients, we need local accounts. There is no internet access in most of these environments.

 

[trents]

I always just start with the Microsoft account at installation and then create another local user account with admin privileges. Then I delete the original Microsoft account.

 

[backfrombreak]

Zorin OS. Windows 10 will be my last Microsoft OS. They can go be as evil as they like.

 

[Northy]

For sys admins in domain environment it's so stupid to be forced to use a Microsoft account... I have a work around still for now...

Huh? You know there are actual sysadmins who read this site. xD

 

[SpacemanSam]

Several methods have been posted which require doing something special every time you want to install Win-doze 11. Here's the method I use, which only needs to be done once, then you can install as many times as you want (including on older hardware that "doesn't support Win-doze 11") without doing anything special!

1. Go to the Micro$$$$$$$$$ website and download both the Win-doze 11 and the Win-doze 10 installation kits. (When Micro$$$$$$$$$ removes the 10 kit, hopefully the Internet Archive will have a copy!)
2. Expand the Win-doze 10 kit into a directory (and subdirectories) on your hard drive. Don't burn it to a DVD just yet.
3. Open the 11 kit using your favorite unzipper. (I use 7zip; YMMV)
4 Find the file install.esd in the sources directory of the Win.11 kit and extract it into the sources directory of the Win.10 kit in place of the install.esd that comes in the Win.10 kit. It's the largest file in the entire kit (almost 4 GB). This one file contains Win.11 in its entirety, and the Win.10 kit will install it with no hassles (Micro$$$$$$$ login, TPM, trusted boot, etc.).
5. If you have a Win-doze debloater script, put it in the Win.10 kit's root directory so you'll have it available on your target computers.
6. If you want to make the installation on the target computers go smoother (fewer questions to answer every time) put an autounattend.xml file in the root directory of the Win.10 kit. There are several websites that contain detailed instructions on what you can put in this file to automate the installation process. In mine, I've put answers to everything except "what drive to install Windows on" because that can vary depending on the hardware configuration of the target computer and whether I'm doing a clean installation or a reinstall.
7. Copy the Win.10 kit (with Win.11's install.esd file) to a thumb drive or DVD and make it bootable.
8. Boot the thumb drive or DVD on your target computers. Voila! It will install Win-doze 11 without any of Micro$$$$$$$'s nonsensical requirements. When the installation finishes, run your debloater script to rip out Micro$$$$$$$'s spyware, etc.

This may seem like a lot, but the first 7 steps only need to be done once. The resulting thumb drive or DVD can be used many times on many different computers.

 

[zx8086]

I was making a joke, but since you're trying to be serious then I will. I did switch operating systems and it really isn't that hard to find alternatives that are just as easy to use but also free.

They're "different" but it doesn't take more than 20 hours of honest work to learn something just as well as another peice of software

I'm tired of hearing this argument because I actually did it. It's not hard, you're just lazy. What's even more ridiculous to me is that people would rather be inconvenienced for decades rather than spend a little time learning an alternative

I'm sorry, but you really don't have a clue. I did not say it's impossible for some people to switch, just that that's a reality for most.

I'm happy it works for you, but you clearly don't have to use certain programs which will only work on Windows, nor care about gaming on the level where you expect to have access to all the recent releases, not just some. Sure, I use the likes of Gimp or OpenOffice already for my personal stuff but there are no alternatives for some of the software I have to use for work.

As for being lazy, sure, you can go for that low hanging fruit, even though the problem with Linux is not "learning" the UI basics, but the compatibility issues and maintenance you have to conduct afterwards. I really don't have time anymore to hunt for some obscure driver because a trivial device I'm trying to connect won't work, etc.

But even bigger problem is that while ok, maybe I - an user with nearly 40 years of experience - am "lazy", what will you call my elderly aunt (or, I'm pretty sure many people from your friend/family circle), who can't even grasp the fact that a browser is not internet? You expect this kind of people to make a jump to Linux? Get a grip.

tl;dr: wake me up when the Linux Year is finally happening.

 

[yRaz]

I'm sorry, but you really don't have a clue. I did not say it's impossible for some people to switch, just that that's a reality for most.

I'm happy it works for you, but you clearly don't have to use certain programs which will only work on Windows, nor care about gaming on the level where you expect to have access to all the recent releases, not just some. Sure, I use the likes of Gimp or OpenOffice already for my personal stuff but there are no alternatives for some of the software I have to use for work.

As for being lazy, sure, you can go for that low hanging fruit, even though the problem with Linux is not "learning" the UI basics, but the compatibility issues and maintenance you have to conduct afterwards. I really don't have time anymore to hunt for some obscure driver because a trivial device I'm trying to connect won't work, etc.

But even bigger problem is that while ok, maybe I - an user with nearly 40 years of experience - am "lazy", what will you call my elderly aunt (or, I'm pretty sure many people from your friend/family circle), who can't even grasp the fact that a browser is not internet? You expect this kind of people to make a jump to Linux? Get a grip.

tl;dr: wake me up when the Linux Year is finally happening.

Don't try to gaslight me. Nearly everything the average person does these days can be done in a browser on any OS. After Valve has dumped millions of dollars into building a compatibility layer over several years, we are now at the point where the only reason something can't run on Linux is the DRM.

Setting up WINE these days isn't even hard, it takes a few minutes and feels no different than installing a program on windows. Once it is setup you don't even realize it's working in the background. These things have become elementary in difficulty. If you're smart enough to use a peice of software that is non-native on Linux then you're more than smart enough to figure out WINE. You don't even need to use the command line anymore and haven't for a few years now.

5 years ago, Linux was still clunky with most of the users being egotistical *******s who used linux to show off how smart they were. The Linux elitism problem is near non-existent these days. There is also tons of free software that runs natively if you can't get something you use regularly to work.

When I say that the only reason I use windows these days I mean the ONLY REASON I use it is that I have a work laptop with special monitoring software on it that I have to log into to do my work. Nothing I do on my work laptop can't be done on Linux, it's that they developed a special peice of software that watches what I'm doing on my laptop. I log into it and then it opens chrome where I do my work.

 

[ZedRM]

Dear Microsoft,
There is no way in hades I'm going to use an account that allows you people to track and watch every move I make online or offline. Kindly stick your idea were the sun doesn't shine.

Local accounts ONLY. Period!

 

[lazer]

Microsoft has always been a sales company that sells second rate systems as if they are first rate.
I don't trust them, their OS works by tracking you, their browser tracks you.
I use other products like libre office and firefox.
They have NEVER been a real trusted company.

 

[ZedRM]

They have NEVER been a real trusted company.

Not true. Before Windows XP, Microsoft was a decently trustworthy company. Starting with XP and the activation crap, they became the "real winners" they are today.