Windows 11 Home Edition will require Microsoft Account

While a lot of folks assumed Windows 11 would be just Windows 10 with some cosmetic changes, the devil is in the details. The stricter hardware requirements of Windows 11 mean a lot of slightly older computers will not get the upgrade -- even if they still offer more than enough performance to run the operating system. Now we also hear Microsoft is going to take another swing at local accounts.

Only Windows 11 Pro will support local accounts

PC World reports Microsoft will make it impossible to install Windows 11 Home without a Microsoft Account. This capability will only be offered by Windows 11 Pro. There will be no more workarounds like switching off your Internet access -- a technique that can be used during the installation of Windows 10 if you want to use a local account. After the initial installation of Windows 11 is complete, Windows 11 Home users will be able to transition to a local account.

Our source told us that local account users will not have a “diminished or limited experience,” though they won’t be able to sync content or use Windows 11’s ability to sync or recommend content from other devices. That content—which could include documents or webpages that a user had viewed on another PC—is typically synced to the user’s MSA account.