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Some Microsoft Insiders Fight to Drop Windows 11's Microsoft Account Requirements

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Why This Matters

The push to eliminate the mandatory Microsoft account requirement for Windows 11 signifies a move towards greater user autonomy and privacy, potentially making the OS more appealing to a broader audience. This change could influence industry standards around user control and reduce the perception of intrusive practices in operating systems.

Key Takeaways

Yes, Microsoft announced it's fixing common Windows 11 complaints. But what about getting rid of that requirement to have a Microsoft account before installing Windows 11? While Microsoft didn't mention that at all, the senior editor at the blog Windows Central reports there's "a number of people" internally pushing at Microsoft to relax that requirement:

Microsoft Vice President and overall developer legend Scott Hanselman has posted on X in response to someone asking him about possibly relaxing the Microsoft account requirements, saying "Ya I hate that. Working on it...." [Hanselman made that remark Friday, to his 328,200 followers.] The blog notes "It would be very easy for Microsoft to remove this requirement from a technical perspective, it's just whether or not the company can agree to make the change that needs to be decided."

Elsewhere on X someone told Hanselman they wanted to see Windows "cut out the borderline malware tactics we've seen in recent years to push things like Edge, Bing, ads into the start menu, etc." Hanselman's reply? "Yes a calmer and more chill OS with fewer upsells is a goal."

Q: When will we see first changes? for now it's just words... Hanselman: This month and every month this year.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.