Windows 11 has been out for about six months now, and despite requiring an Internet connection for the Home edition since launch, Microsoft has left the offline option for Windows 11 Pro, as that’s the version of the operating system that’s been used by developers. IT professionals use – but those days are ending.
In the latest Windows 11 Preview build, Microsoft notes that Windows 11 Pro now requires an internet connection when you first set up your device. Right now, that’s where it rests, but Microsoft notes that in the future “you can expect a Microsoft Account to be required”.
It’s unclear exactly when this update will make its way to the actual live version of Windows 11, but it will likely happen this year. So if you have a device that wants a completely offline install of Windows 11, you might want to install it early.
Analysis: not everyone has internet? Who cares?
Today, now that so many of the services we use every day are online, it’s easy to wonder who this will really affect. However, not everyone has internet.
This can negatively affect users in parts of the world without reliable internet, and for IT professionals who want full control over the devices they deploy to their user base. .
Windows 11 Home, because of its internet connection requirement, has been a nightmare for users in either of these cases, but now that this requirement is being carried over to Windows 11 Pro as well, that has narrowed down. attractiveness of this operating system.
It’s another move that will give Microsoft more access to data, which makes a lot of sense. But it comes at the expense of convenience for a lot of people. And, there are certainly people who will be stuck with Windows 10 devices because they don’t have access to a stable or reliable internet connection.
I use Windows 11 Pro on my test bench in the lab, precisely because I can install it without an internet connection and without having to go through the lengthy login process to get it running. For hardware reviewers like me, this change will just waste a lot of time, although I would probably just keep the installation media for the older version, then update the system later. Setting. Hopefully that helps me get it on for a while.
Via Windows Central
