Windows 10 Users will Soon Face Pressure to Switch to Microsoft Accounts

Despite Microsoft’s efforts, Windows 10 continues to maintain its popularity worldwide, with many users opting to stick with the older operating system despite the availability of Windows 11. The reasons for this preference are multifaceted. Some users adhere to the age-old saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” while others cite concerns over Windows 11’s high system requirements, a perceived lack of compelling new features, or the contentious mandate to create a Microsoft account.  Now, Microsoft is gearing up to take a more aggressive approach in pushing Windows 10 users towards adopting online accounts.

According to recent reports, Microsoft plans to start deploying notifications encouraging users to transition from local accounts to Microsoft accounts on Windows 10. This change is outlined in the release notes for the Windows 10 19045.4353 preview build, under the section titled ‘features and improvements’, with a public rollout slated for May.

Windows 10 Users will Soon Face Pressure to Switch to Microsoft Accounts

The notification text emphasizes the benefits of a Microsoft account, including its integration with Microsoft apps, data backup capabilities, subscription management, and added security measures. While these features may seem beneficial on the surface, some users, myself included, view personal computers as private spaces and are wary of granting a tech giant like Microsoft unrestricted access to our data.

Fortunately, Microsoft assures users that they won’t be locked out of their local accounts if they choose not to make the switch. Instead, they will receive persistent reminders prompting them to do so. Users can opt out of these notifications by navigating to Settings > Privacy & Security > General and deselecting the relevant options.

It is clear that Windows 10 isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. If Microsoft struggles to incentivize users to upgrade to Windows 11, it will inevitably explore alternative methods to integrate Windows 10 holdouts into its data ecosystem.

Don’t worry, Windows 10 isn’t going anywhere anytime soon

See Also: Windows 11 Welcomes Native AI-Assisted Super Resolution Feature

For those considering a transition to Windows 11, there’s good news: bypassing the requirement for an online account is relatively straightforward. According to PC gamers, there is a handy guide to installing Windows 11 without creating a Microsoft account:

1. During the Out-of-box experience setup, when prompted with the “Is this the right country or region” screen, press Shift + F10 to open a command prompt window.
2. Type “oobe\bypassnro” (without spaces) and press Enter. This will cause the computer to restart.
3. After restarting, press Shift + F10 to open the command prompt again, and type “ipconfig /release” (again, without spaces), followed by Enter. Then type “exit” to close the window.
4. Proceed with the setup process, selecting “I don’t have internet” and then “Continue with limited setup” when prompted to connect to a network.

For those performing a clean Windows 11 install from a USB drive, creating a bootable USB install drive using the RUFUS USB Creator Utility can bypass TPM, Secure Boot, and Microsoft Account requirements.

Congratulations! You should now be able to complete your Windows installation without the need for a Microsoft Account.