Windows 10 remains the most used operating system in the world (69% of users in March 2024, second StatCounter) although the end of support is set for October 14, 2025.
The platform is therefore currently fully supported by Microsoft which releases it every month security updates and occasionally even small new features.
Looking at the contents of the latest preview version of Windows 10 (build 19045.4353) there is a novelty which immediately catches the eye. Users who don’t use a Microsoft account see a message telling them to leave.account locale.
Windows 10 invites you to log in with a Microsoft account
We have already seen the tactics, which have become increasingly evident with the launch of Windows 11, that the Redmond company uses to urge users to use a Microsoft account already during the installation of the operating system. In one of our articles we explained how to install Windows 10 without a Microsoft account; in another in-depth study how to install Windows 11 with a local account.
With the latest versions of Windows 10, as soon as the changes just introduced in the preview versions will also be extended to the stable releases of the platform, by accessing the settings window (Windows+I) you will see a message similar to the following: “Sign in with a Microsoft account and you’ll be able to back up your files and photos to keep them safe“.
Per avoid the message appearing in the Windows 10 settings window, just click Privacychoose General then disable the option Show suggested content in the Settings app.
Microsoft speaks briefly about the new message in this post, which recently appeared on the Windows blog.
The use of Microsoft accounts is increasingly central
In the aims of the company led by Satya Nadella, Microsoft accounts play an increasingly central role. The operating system aims to be an increasingly user-oriented platform clouda springboard for access to services such as OneDrive, Microsoft 365 and Azure.
So the company is trying to persuade as many users to use Microsoft accounts. The latter, precisely because they rely on the Redmond company’s cloud infrastructure, allow you to synchronize data between devicesfacilitate direct access to various online services, make Windows recovery simple, offer additional security options, such as two-factor authentication.
In contrast, Microsoft accounts depend on the availability of Internet connectionshare some personal information with Microsoft, are bound to policy and the company’s terms of service.
Just recently, Nadella’s company had to face criticism from Elon Musk who complained about the impossibility of using Windows 11 without a Microsoft account. In reality, as we mentioned previously, it is possible to use various tricks to install Windows with a account locale. However, these are “gabbles” that should not be necessary: the choice to use a Microsoft account or, vice versa, a local account should be up to each individual user.
At the time we saw the main differences between local accounts and Microsoft accounts in Windows.