While you can have more than 10 machines tied to a Microsoft account, the Microsoft Store still has what feels to be an arbitrary 10-device limit.Īs the Microsoft Store notes: “You can use up to 10 devices with Microsoft Store. I’ve personally set up so many virtual machines with a Microsoft account that when logging into the Microsoft store to use or test some software, I’ve had to log into the Device listing to remove old virtual machines.

Many set up virtual machines for testing and do not want the hassle of setting up a computer with a Microsoft account. But it’s the account mandate when deploying Windows 11 Professional that has users a tad bit upset. In addition to the account requirement, Preview Build 22557 also brings the ability to group pinned apps into folders in the Start menu a Do not disturb feature and the Focus feature, among other changes. Instead, you should compare Windows to Apple’s macOS, where you can still set up a computer without needing an account tied to cloud services. And for those who argue that an iPhone or an Android phone demands that you use an account to log in, keep in mind that you’re comparing desktop operating systems to phones. There are many reasons someone might not want a Microsoft account. Or want a peer-to-peer network without a connection to cloud services. And users get a OneDrive location to store files and information so they have a backup if they get hit with ransomware.Īll these advantages sound wonderful, right? But even home users at times want a local-only computer with no internet access. If you use any of these services, you should already have a Microsoft account:, Office, Skype, OneDrive, Xbox Live, Bing, Microsoft Store, Windows, or MSN.” If your machine has Bitlocker enabled, the Bitlocker keys are backed up in Microsoft’s cloud.

As Microsoft points out, the account gives you an “all-access pass to Microsoft's premier services. First, let’s look at what having a Microsoft account does when you set up your computer.

Msn skype account problems