Properly, it was enjoyable whereas it lasted. After a number of years of letting it slide, Microsoft is eradicating the workarounds that allow you to set up Home windows 11 with out an web connection or a Microsoft account.
The change is at present occurring in a check construct, however you will not be capable to get Home windows 11 with out having a Microsoft account. Beforehand, you possibly can keep away from the setup screens that you just’d usually see on paid-for Home windows installations.
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Home windows Insider Program lead Amanda Langowski stated in a weblog submit on Monday that these setup screens — known as the Home windows Setup expertise (or “out of the field expertise”) — are vital throughout set up.
“Whereas these mechanisms had been usually used to bypass Microsoft account setup, in addition they inadvertently skip vital setup screens, probably inflicting customers to exit OOBE with a tool that isn’t absolutely configured to be used,” Langowski stated.
A number of months in the past, Microsoft disabled the “bypassnro command,” with which individuals may set up Home windows 11 with out being on the web or having a Microsoft account. This week’s revisions additionally eradicate the “begin ms-cxh:localonly” command, which helped folks set up the OS regionally. It is just about the ultimate step in eliminating the flexibility to put in Home windows 11 with out being linked to the web.
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Over on the subreddit r/Windows11/, there was a full of life dialogue — with each professionals and cons — about Microsoft’s adjustments. One Reddit person known as the adjustments “completely irritating,” and one other commented, “If Microsoft wished to gather our knowledge, do not allow them to.”
Nonetheless, some Redditers defended the Home windows 11 updates. One identified that at any time when there is a new Home windows launch, folks hate it till they find it irresistible. And one commented, “Why is all people raging about this, nevertheless it’s completely effective to login to your Google or Apple account in your telephone?”
A consultant for Microsoft didn’t instantly reply to a request for additional remark.