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Microsoft Tightens Windows 11 Setup To Enforce Online Accounts
The tech giant is making moves to shut down the remaining workarounds that let users skip online sign-in during Windows 11 setup.
Microsoft is closing the last gaps that allowed Windows 11 to be installed without a Microsoft account or internet connection. The latest Insider build disables long-used tricks for creating local accounts during setup, tightening a requirement that has frustrated privacy-focused users since Windows 11 launched.
Amanda Langowski, head of the Windows Insider Program, said Microsoft is “removing known mechanisms for creating a local account in the Windows Setup experience (OOBE),” warning that these bypasses can skip “critical setup screens” and leave devices incomplete.
The update extends a series of steps Microsoft has taken over the past year to tie Windows installations to its cloud ecosystem. The company already removed the “bypassnro” command earlier in 2024. The new build now blocks the “start ms-cxh:localonly” command, which users discovered soon after the first fix. Attempting it now simply resets the setup process instead of moving past the account requirement.
For years, these commands were shared across forums and IT circles as an easy workaround to install Windows 11 Pro or Home offline. Removing them means users who want a purely local profile will need to rely on more complex setup files or post-install tweaks.
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Some users turn to local accounts to keep work and personal devices separate or to avoid syncing data across Microsoft’s services. Others simply want to name their main user folder without Windows generating it from their email address. Microsoft has added a narrow option for that: a command that lets users rename the folder during setup, though it remains buried in command-line tools.
The shift marks a broader move to anchor Windows 11 inside Microsoft’s identity and cloud framework — one that streamlines management for enterprises but leaves individual users with less control over how their devices start up.
News
The Petshop Launches UAE’s First Pet Care Super App
Dubai retailer folds shopping, bookings and pet records into one mobile hub that features reminders, personalization, and more.
The Petshop has introduced a “Super App” that pulls together shopping, service bookings and pet records into a single platform, pitching it as the first integrated pet care app of its kind in the UAE.
The release turns the company’s stores, services and e-commerce operation into one connected system. Instead of juggling calls, WhatsApp chats and paper notes, customers manage everything from one account.
Each pet gets a dedicated profile. Age, diet, medical notes and behavioral traits sit in one place and update over time. For households with multiple animals, it’s a practical fix: fewer lost details, fewer repeat explanations at the counter.
That data feeds the app’s personalization. Reminders, recommendations and service options adjust to the specific pet rather than defaulting to broad prompts.
Grooming, boarding, relocation, aquatics and wellness services are booked through the same flow. Users can check availability, lock in appointments and see past visits without hopping between tools. All of the key services can be accessed and booked with a few taps.
The company says records and documents are stored with added safeguards, including verified digital paperwork for sensitive information, while usage signals trigger timely prompts without exposing private data.
“Over the past fifteen years, we’ve grown alongside the pet community in the UAE and seen how pet ownership has evolved,” said Amr Hazem Youssef, CEO of The Petshop. “For pet families, care now depends on continuity, accurate information, and services that match real life, not isolated transactions. This app brings those elements into one place with a structure that supports reliable care”.
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He added: “Pets have individual needs that change over time, and those needs shape daily decisions around routines, health, and wellbeing. By keeping information organized and connecting services within one system, we can reduce friction for pet families and deliver greater consistency across the experience.”
Founded in 2011, The Petshop now operates 11 outlets across the United Arab Emirates, including megastores in Dubai Investment Park and Abu Dhabi’s Al Reem Island, plus an online catalogue of more than 12,000 products.
The Petshop Super App is available on both the App Store and Google Play.
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