Scott Hanselman, vice president at Microsoft, has publicly hinted that the requirement to use a Microsoft account during the installation of Windows 11 could disappear in the future.
This speech, published on X, rekindles a debate that has annoyed many users for several years. Today, installing Windows 11 under standard conditions requires logging into a Microsoft account. This concerns the Home and Pro editions. Some consider this a step too many, while others believe it is an obstacle to the freedom of configuring a PC with a simple local account, without an online connection.
If Hanselman mentions a wish he has not announced that it is an official decision. At this point, Microsoft just says it’s thinking about it.
Why does the Microsoft account requirement upset so many users?
The requirement gradually became established with Windows 11, particularly from version 22H2. Since then, a user who installs the system in the classic configuration route finds himself confronted with a restriction. It is impossible to finalize the configuration of WIndows 11 without connecting to the internet and then to a Microsoft account.
Microsoft highlights a more connected experience, synchronization of settings, easier backup, simplified access to its services and better continuity between devices. But in reality, this logic is far from unanimous.
Many wish to maintain a more sober, more local and above all as independent installation as possible. This is especially true for those who are building a PC, restarting a secondary machine, or simply want to avoid immediately associating their personal computer with an online account.
This opening on the part of the giant does not constitute confirmation. If Scott Hanselman is leading part of the efforts related to improving the quality of Windows 11, the question of the mandatory Microsoft account is not part of the official announcements linked to these initiatives.
Installing Windows 11 without a Microsoft account remains possible
There are ways to circumvent this obligation, but they are marginal and not easily accessible to the general public. Microsoft does not highlight them in its official course.
Some users use Rufus, an open source tool capable of creating modified installation media to avoid certain Windows 11 constraints, including that of the Microsoft account. Others use manual manipulations during installation. The problem is that these methods are not always sustainable. Indeed, Microsoft has already closed several doors over the course of updates.
