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Windows 10 support is ending this month but Microsoft is making changes that will make it impossible to use a Windows 11 machine.
Microsoft is going the Google way with this important change
Microsoft is bringing more layers of requirements if you want to use a Windows 11 PC. The company is making it compulsory for people to set up an account before they can sign in to their new machine.
The account setup process will be part of the installation step when you buy a new Windows 11 system and are looking to start using it for work or personal use. Microsoft has avoided this change for a while, allowing people to skip the account set up process and do it later.
But now the company, just like Google, wants you to sign in first and then start using the Windows 11 PC. These new changes have been spotted in the recent Windows 11 Insider Preview version and millions can expect the official rollout to happen soon.
Windows Account Sign In: What This Means For You?
Microsoft wants the Windows setup experience to be done using the internet and a Microsoft account. The company has defended its new policy, claiming the new setup process integrates users with its cloud services and gives them a fully configured machine for use. Google has done this with Android phones for years, asking you to login using a Gmail account to get the best experience and curated personalised features.
Microsoft could be hinting at a similar roadmap with its own out of the box experience (OOBE) which not only needs you connected to the internet but also sign in using an existing Microsoft account or create one. The new rules are applicable for the Windows 11 Insider Preview version but the company’s stance suggests the full Windows 11 release will make the changes mandatory for all users.
Windows 10 Support Ending, Time To Upgrade?
The timing of the mandatory Microsoft account setup with the Windows 10 support ending this month can be hardly co-incidental. The company is testing with the Preview version before the full roll out makes it critical that people set up a new account to use their upgraded machines, and that invariably adds to its total user base count.
The Windows 10 support deadline is a hammer for millions, and security experts have warned about the definite hacking risks these users will have to face. They either have to sign up for the various free Windows 10 update offers or buy a new Windows 11 PC to protect themselves.
S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr…Read More
S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr… Read More
Delhi, India, India
October 10, 2025, 11:27 IST
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