Neowin News Feed for: Msa

Unofficial script lets you install unreleased Windows 11 features without Microsoft Account

Sayan Sen — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 07:50:01 +0000

This unofficial script enables users to install and access unreleased Windows 11 features while bypassing the requirement for a Microsoft Account. Read more...

Mandatory Microsoft Account may soon be gone as even Windows 11 makers hate it

Taras Buria — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 13:58:02 +0000

This week, Microsoft announced a lot of long-requested changes for Windows 11, but one thing remains unchanged: the mandatory Microsoft account. Even Windows makers hate it! Read more...

Microsoft: KB5079473 breaks internet access to Windows 11 Teams, Edge, OneDrive, Copilot

Sayan Sen — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 05:32:01 +0000

Microsoft has confirmed that its latest Windows 11 25H2, 24H2 update KB5079473, has led to loss of internet access to several of the default free Microsoft apps. Read more...

This is last simple official way to install Windows 11 with local account without internet

Sayan Sen — Sun, 12 Oct 2025 17:12:01 +0000

Microsoft recently blocked yet another bypass that allowed installing Windows 11 without an internet and MSA using a local account Read more...

More Microsoft Account headaches: Office 2024 licensing bug finally gets detailed fix

Sayan Sen — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 10:04:01 +0000

Microsoft has finally published a detailed guide on fixing a Microsoft Account-related bug that broke Office 2024 licensing. Read more...

Microsoft locks Windows 11 user out, shows how easy losing data from forced encryption is

Sayan Sen — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:18:01 +0000

The forced Microsoft Account requirement and BitLocker auto encryption can lead to catastrophic issues on Windows if you aren't careful, and especially in the case of a lockout. Read more...

Microsoft ditches passwords by default for new accounts

David Uzondu — Fri, 02 May 2025 09:06:01 +0000

Passkeys were introduced as the proper modern way to sign in securely online. Now, Microsoft's making new accounts passwordless by default. Read more...

Microsoft blocks the most popular Windows 11 bypass for internet, MSA, making users angry

Sayan Sen — Thu, 01 May 2025 13:44:01 +0000

Microsoft recently removed one of the most popular methods for bypassing Windows 11 requirements of internet connectivity and Microsoft Account. Users are quite annoyed. Read more...

Forget BYPASSNRO, a new internet/account bypass during Windows 11 installs already exists

Sayan Sen — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 06:46:02 +0000

While Microsoft is bloacking the popular BYPASSNRO method of bypassing the internet and MSA requirements, a new way to do so had already existed but flew under the radar. Read more...

Microsoft rolls out redesigned sign-in experience for Microsoft Accounts

Taras Buria — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 18:04:01 +0000

Microsoft has a new user interface for the sign-in experience, which boasts improved visuals, dark mode, and more. Read more...

Microsoft Account license bug, affecting Office 2024 installs, fixed

Sayan Sen — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 12:30:01 +0000

Microsoft has fixed an MSA-related licensing bug affecting the latest version of Office, Office 2024. Read more...

Unofficial PowerShell script bypasses Windows 11 system requirements, Microsoft Account

Sayan Sen — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 08:30:01 +0000

A new unofficial app has been created that helps bypass system requirements and Microsoft Account creation, among others, during Windows 11 install. Read more...

New Outlook for Windows finally getting personal non-Microsoft account support

Sayan Sen — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 09:06:02 +0000

Microsoft has confirmed that the New Outlook for Windows app is finally getting personal account support. Read more...

Grounded on Steam no longer needs a Microsoft account for multiplayer

Pulasthi Ariyasinghe — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 10:48:01 +0000

Obsidian Entertainment has quietly removed the Microsoft account requirement for Steam multiplayer from its survival game Grounded. Cross-play and shared worlds still needs the account though. Read more...

Microsoft posts official BitLocker key recovery and back up guide for Windows 11/10 PCs

Sayan Sen — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 15:30:01 +0000

Microsoft has added new BitLocker encryption guides on its official website. These are meant to explain to users what BitLocker does and how to recover and/or back up the necessary BitLocker keys. Read more...

Microsoft backtracks and restores Microsoft Account to Local account switching guide

Sayan Sen — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 22:30:45 +0000

Microsoft has backtracked and restored the official guide which it removed from its website for some reason. The guide details how users can switch from a Microsoft account to a local account. Read more...

Microsoft posts guide for resetting Windows Microsoft Account and Local account passwords

Sayan Sen — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 22:28:01 +0000

Microsoft has published official guides on how to reset Microsoft account (MSA) and local account passwords on its website. The guide is thoroughly detailed while easy to understand at the same time. Read more...

Microsoft Forms finally enables collaboration feature for Microsoft account holders

Pradeep Viswanathan — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 19:16:01 +0000

Microsoft Forms now allows collaboration among Microsoft account holders. Users can create a Microsoft form, generate a shareable link, and invite others with Microsoft accounts to edit. Read more...

Microsoft apparently hates it when you switch from Microsoft Account to Local account

Sayan Sen — Sat, 22 Jun 2024 21:36:01 +0000

Microsoft recently published multiple guides on various Windows features and one of them had to do with switching from a Local to an MSA. And it seems the company likes it in no other way. Read more...

Microsoft explains why it wants you to switch to Microsoft account from Local account

Sayan Sen — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 08:58:01 +0000

Microsoft recently published its own guide on how to switch from a local to a Microsoft Account on a Windows PC. The company has now posted the opposite, though it explains why it still recommends MSA Read more...

Microsoft Account and NPU are requirements for Windows 11 Paint Cocreator

Sayan Sen — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 09:26:01 +0000

Microsoft started testing Paint Cocreator, an AI-powered feature in September last year. The company this week published system requirements alongside a useful guide on how to use the feature. Read more...

Microsoft wants you to switch from Local to Microsoft Account using its official guide

Sayan Sen — Sat, 08 Jun 2024 17:42:02 +0000

Microsoft has been on a roll lately as it has posted multiple guides relating to passwordless sign-ins and ensuring security. Today, it has posted one about switching from a local account to an MSA. Read more...

Microsoft wants you to ditch Windows 11/10 passwords with the help of MSA using this guide

Sayan Sen — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 23:34:01 +0000

Microsoft recently published a guide about Passkeys on Windows 11. Following those, the company has now also posted another guide and this is about MSA-based passwordless sign-ins. Read more...

Windows 10 will soon start nagging you to switch from local account to Microsoft Account

Taras Buria — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 08:02:01 +0000

Microsoft is testing new banners for Windows 10 to make users with local accounts switch to Microsoft Accounts. They are rolling out as part of the latest Release Preview update for Windows 10. Read more...

Microsoft details EU DMA compliance changes it has made to Windows

Sayan Sen — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 20:38:01 +0000

Microsoft reached its deadline to comply with EU's DMA changes that it announced last year. As such, the company published the changes it made to Windows including the ability to uninstall stock apps. Read more...

A fellow CEO found out he can't drive Tesla without Tesla Account and is having none of it

Martin Hodás — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 20:40:01 +0000

Elon Musk's backlash aimed at Microsoft for requiring a Microsoft account for new Windows 11 installations has backfired, with users of his own social network mocking him following his rant. Read more...

Elon Musk just found out he can't install Windows 11 without MSA and is having none of it

Sayan Sen — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 22:24:01 +0000

While Windows 11 has had mandatory requirements like MSA sign-in and internet connection for a long time, Twitter (now X) owner Elon Musk seemingly came to find it out today and seems quite unpleased. Read more...

New Outlook for Windows wants to send your non-MSA data to its servers for your own good

Sayan Sen — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 07:46:01 +0000

Microsoft's New Outlook for Windows was released recently and it has garnered mixed reactions from users. Interestingly, the app can also send non-MSA data to Microsoft servers to benefit users. Read more...

Microsoft confirms Windows Backup app can't be removed but promises workaround soon

Sayan Sen — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 08:46:07 +0000

Recently, sysadmins discovered that Microsoft had automatically installed Windows Backup on enterprise PCs which came across as an annoyance for some. The tech giant promises a workaround soon. Read more...

Microsoft explains how a Chinese hacker group was able to access government email accounts

John Callaham — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 05:08:01 +0000

In a report posted this week, Microsoft stated that a Chinese hacker group was able to get a Microsoft account (MSA) consumer key because a consumer signing system crash in April 2021 exposed the key. Read more...

Microsoft warns of Chinese hackers targeting US, European government

Omer Dursun — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 08:24:01 +0000

Chinese hacking group Storm-0558 accessed US and Western Europe government email accounts, targeting agencies, think tanks, and NGOs. Microsoft identified and notified affected organizations. Read more...

Microsoft revamps the Settings on Windows 11 meant for easy Account (MSA) recovery, and more

Sayan Sen — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 17:00:08 +0000

Microsoft is debuting a revamped Settings home page on Windows 11. The change is meant to make it easy to access important functions like MSA recovery and also adds a new Recommended settings option. Read more...

Microsoft: A full-screen Windows Hello notice will now greet you on Windows 11 and 10

Sayan Sen — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 09:44:01 +0000

Microsoft is introducing a full-screen notice when users sign in to their devices using Windows Hello. This new change will ask users if they want to continue with the preferred sign-in method. Read more...

You can now access Bing Chat without a Microsoft Account, but with limits

John Callaham — Wed, 17 May 2023 15:24:01 +0000

The announcement from Microsoft's Bing Vice President Michael Schechter, should allow even more people to check out the company's Bing Chat chatbot AI without having to get a Microsoft Account. Read more...

Microsoft announces major update for Lists promising double the speed, UX optimizations

Sayan Sen — Tue, 02 May 2023 16:20:01 +0000

Microsoft has announced today a major update for its Lists app. The main highlight of the update revolves around performance and optimization as the tech giant promises twice the speed. Read more...

Microsoft formally announces family support on Windows 11 after Moment 2 lands

Sayan Sen — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 17:18:01 +0000

Today, Microsoft has formally published guidance for family safety accounts setup on Windows 11. This guide finally comes nearly two years after the OS was first publicly available. Read more...

Edge 109 is now available with text prediction, account linking, and TLS changes

Taras Buria — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 08:54:02 +0000

Microsoft Edge 109 is now available for download in the Stable Channel. The latest release adds account linking, changes to TLS certificate verification, and text predictions to let you type faster. Read more...

Rufus alternative Ventoy adds bypass for Windows 11 TPM requirements, MSA, internet

Sayan Sen — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 07:20:01 +0000

The latest version of Ventoy, a Rufus alternative, adds bypass for Windows 11 Microsoft Account (MSA) signin and Internet connection, as well as a bypass for system requirements check. Read more...

Windows 11 22H2 KB5018496 update brings better MSA experience, right click Task Manager

Sayan Sen — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 05:26:02 +0000

Microsoft's latest cumulative update KB5018496 (Build 22621.755) brings enhanced Microsoft Account backup experience, right clicking on the taskbar to access Task Manager, and many more new features. Read more...

Rufus 3.19 adds bypass for mandatory Windows 11 22H2 Microsoft Account requirement [Update]

Sayan Sen — Sat, 25 Jun 2022 08:58:01 +0000

The latest Rufus pre-release version 3.19 Beta adds a bypass for Windows 11 22H2 Microsoft Account (MSA) requirement. Microsoft added this MSA criteria last month with one of the Insider builds. Read more...