Windows 10 Home apparently forces Microsoft account sign in during setup, unless disconnected from Internet

Share this article

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier

2 min. read

Published onOctober 1, 2019

published onOctober 1, 2019

Share this article

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

Part of the setup process of Windows 10 usually involves creating, signing in with a Microsoft Account (MSA,) or signing in with an Offline Account locally without an MSA if you prefer not to use one. Well, according to new reporting fromHowtoGeek, the latest version of Windows 10 Home with the May 2019 Update now steps back from that.

Though we haven’t confirmed it ourselves, it is being claimed that the latest stable versions of the May 2019 Update no longer automatically provides an alternate option for local sign-in during the first time set up process. Apparently, the option to create an Offline Account has disappeared entirely from the setup.

Clicking “Next” or “Create account,” during Account set up will automatically prompt for an MSA or Skype name. As HowtoGeek points out, clicking “Learn More” on the following set up pages will instead come up with the following disclaimer, telling users to create an MSA anyway, and then remove it in settings.

“If you’d prefer not to have a Microsoft account associated with your device, you can remove it. Finish going through Windows setup, then select the Start button and go to Settings > Accounts > Your info and select Sign in with a local account instead.”

We’ve reached out and asked Microsoft for a comment on this issue. However, for now, it would appear that the only way to bring back the classic option to use an Offline Account (and not use an MSA) would be to disconnect a PC from the internet during set up.

That can either be done by disabling WiFi or unplugging the Ethernet cable. This will force the setup into an error code, and you can then “Skip” the process of creating an MSA, and see the old Offline Account option.

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).

For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.

Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.

User forum

0 messages

Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes

Comment*

Name*

Email*

Commenting as.Not you?

Save information for future comments

Comment

Radu Tyrsina

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier#

Windows 10 Home apparently forces Microsoft account sign in during setup, unless disconnected from Internet#