Microsoft account and Internet connection will be required for Windows 11 Pro users

According to the update posted on the release page of Build 22557, this will be part of the required package for future Windows 11 updates. Specific content as follows:

Similar to Windows 11 Home editions, Windows 11 Pro editions currently only require an internet connection during initial device setup (OOBE). If you choose to set up the device for personal use, a Microsoft user account (Microsoft Account) will now also become a requirement.

As Microsoft notes, Windows 11 Home now requires users to have an Internet connection and a Microsoft account to perform the initial setup. However, late last year, there were official reports of a solution that would allow users to set up Windows 11 Home devices without an internet connection. It will be interesting to see if this alternative works with Windows 11 Pro devices.

Microsoft account and Internet connection will be required for Windows 11 Pro users Picture 1

It is still unclear why Microsoft decided to impose these requirements on Windows 11 Pro users. To be fair, these aren't 'excessive' requests, but can be frustrating, especially for people who don't want to connect their Windows device to their Microsoft account, or simply Internet connection is not available at the time of setup.

In general, the change only applies to new Windows 11 Pro devices. If you happen to be running Windows 11 Pro with a local account, you won't be forced to switch to a Microsoft account, as long as you don't proceed with your device reset.

Microsoft has not provided a specific timetable for which this change will take effect, but perhaps everything will be applied soon in the near future, at the latest by the end of the year.

Kareem Winters

Update 20 February 2022