The installation of Windows 11 Home, the basic consumer version of Microsoft’s next operating system, will require a Microsoft ID account and an active internet connection during the installation process.
To the controversial minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11 (UEFI, Secure Boot, DirectX 12 and TPM) Microsoft will add other demands that will not please a good part of users. Windows 11 Home will not allow to configure a new device and start the desktop with a local account.
This is shown by the installation of the beta version for Windows 11 Insiders published by Microsoft. Windows 10 Home does not allow you to skip setting up a Microsoft account and it also requires an active internet connection during the installation. These requirements will be mandatory for the installation process (OOBE) from scratch on already deployed machines or new OEMs pre-installing the new system.
The upgrades from Windows 10 to Windows 11, the Pro and Enterprise versions of the system do not require these conditions. In addition, once the installation of Windows 11 Home is completed, it is possible to create and use a local account. For the minimum hardware requirements, we will have to wait for the final version.
Windows 11 Home: Microsoft account or local account?
Microsoft already tried to impose the company’s own account system. The situation is not exclusive to Microsoft and here we must include Google and Apple too. Since it is very complicated to use an Android phone or an iPhone without connecting to the account of the aforementioned providers.
At least, all versions of Windows 10 can be installed with a local account created by the user. This will change in the future. The operation of some features of the operating system and its administration changes depending on whether we select one or the other. An online account, through a Microsoft ID, has its advantages, such as a better connection to Microsoft applications and cloud services, better synchronization with other computers, or access to features such as being able to reset your password from the cloud.
Why Windows 11 require an internet connection?
Windows 11 will allow the integration of Microsoft Office in the Start menu, synchronize data between devices or allow easier configuration of components such as OneDrive and Windows Store applications. In addition, advanced personalization controls for widgets, one of the flagship features of Windows 11, will work better with a Microsoft account. The software giant’s idea is clear: in addition to Windows, it wants you to use the rest of its software and services.
However, a local account has other advantages over a Microsoft account, such as not being tied to an online identity that can be hacked. This is one of the most questionable aspects of Windows 10. If you are not going to use any of the services Microsoft offers besides Windows, it is always better to use local accounts for security reasons.
