Microsoft has laid down two conditions for users of Windows 11 Pro that have to be met before they could use their PC for the first time. Later this year, Windows 11 Pro users will be required to connect to the internet and sign-in with their Microsoft account during the out-of-box setup experience on Windows 11 Pro, as per a report by Windows Central.
This means that before using Windows 11 Pro for the first time, users will need to connect to an internet access point and sign-in with a Microsoft Account.
Windows 11 Home users have been forced to follow these guidelines since launch last October, and Windows 11 Pro users are going to be the next in line. The change is active in the Windows 11 preview build and will most likely come to the final build that gets shipped.
As per a change log in the latest Windows 11 Preview Build 22557: “Similar to Windows 11 Home edition, Windows 11 Pro edition now requires internet connectivity during the initial device setup (OOBE) only. If you choose to setup device for personal use, MSA will be required for setup as well. You can expect a Microsoft Account to be required in subsequent WIP flights.”
The Windows 11 Preview Build 22557 also comes with a feature that lets you create and curate folders in the pinned apps area of Start. To create a folder, you need to just drag an app on top of another. With this feature, “you can add more apps to a folder, rearrange apps within a folder, and remove apps from a folder.” The Preview Build also comes with Do Not Disturb and Focus modes and Live Captions.
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