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Windows 11 Pro (Microsoft Account) update policy

Anonymous
2022-05-23T08:07:04+00:00

Hello,

In February of this year, Microsoft announced (in the release notes of Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22557) that whoever wants to install Windows 11 Pro, later this year, must have an active Internet connection and a Microsoft Account for it (similar to the Windows 11 Home installation policy).

I have two questions about this:

  1. What is the current status of this? I haven't seen any news since the initial announcement in February. In other words, is there any news on when this change will go into effect?
  2. What is the result of this change when upgrading Windows 10 machines to Windows 11? If a user has a local Windows 10 account, can they upgrade to a Windows 11 installation without a Microsoft account?

Kind regards,

Rob Coenen

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Accounts, profiles, and login

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-05-23T08:46:40+00:00

    Hi Rob,

    I am Dave, I will help you with this.

    1

    There is no further news from Microsoft on this requirement being added to the Windows 11 Pro installation process, the best option is to keep an eye on that blog for further news.

    2

    Yes, you can upgrade from Windows 10 to 11 (Home or Pro) without a Microsoft Account, it is only when you are performing a clean install from a USB that you must use a Microsoft Account to set up the PC in the OOBE, you can then switch the account back to a local account after the installation.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-05-23T09:26:50+00:00

    Hi Rob,

    A colleague just found this new link from Microsoft with more information on the Microsoft Account requirement in Windows 11 Pro, please see the [Other] section on this link:

    https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2022/...

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-06-13T07:26:42+00:00

    Thanks for the (very) useful response. I appreciate it.

    Do you know what will happen for accounts who are currently on Windows 10 Home when they upgrade to Windows 11 Home? And Windows 10 Home to Windows 11 Pro. You state: "Yes, you can upgrade from Windows 10 to 11 (Home or Pro) without a Microsoft Account". Nothing has changed since the original blogpost about the upgrade path?

    Just to clarify why I am asking this. Our IT company would like to keep all systems on a local account and not link them to a Microsoft account.

    We have customers with a Windows 10 Home (and Windows 11 Home) license and we would like to know when we should upgrade these customers to Windows 11 Pro before there are new conditions regarding linking to a Microsoft account.

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