Where is the offline account option for Windows 10 v1909?

Microsoft released Windows 10 version 1909 in November 2019. Since then, some users who have clean-installed the latest Windows build version have wondered what has happened to the offline account option during the Windows 10 setup. Those users seemingly had no other option but to set up a Microsoft account so they could sign in with it. Users couldn’t select to set up Windows 10 with a local user account.

Thus, there have been some subtle changes to Windows 10 OOBE (Out of Box Experience). Those changes have left some users unclear as to how to set up Windows 10 with local user accounts as an offline account option isn’t displayed. As users can’t find an offline account setup option, they seemingly have no alternative but to create a Microsoft account to sign in with it.

You need to get offline first

 

 

As a matter of fact, users can still set up Windows 10 1909 with an offline account. Users cannot select an offline account option when they’re connected to a network. Therefore, users need to turn off their routers before installing Windows 10 1909 so they don’t have a net connection. Then Windows 10 1909 will present a local account option for users.

What is behind this alteration to the Windows 10 OOBE? Some are convinced Microsoft is trying to shuffle most users toward setting up cloud-based MS accounts. Those users suggest that the big M is now utilizing underhand tactics to migrate users toward its cloud ecosystem by making it unclear how to set up Win 10 without MS accounts.

Nevertheless, setting up Windows 10 with an MS account does have some perks. Doing so gives users access to Microsoft services that need an MS account. For example, users can’t utilize Skype, Office 365, and OneDrive without Microsoft accounts.

Yet, some users still prefer to set up Win 10 with local accounts instead. The alteration to Windows 10 OOBE has made it somewhat unclear how to do so. Thus, some users are convinced Microsoft has incorporated a dark pattern design into Windows 10 OOBE.

Let us know what you think about these changes in the comments below.

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