With the release of the autumn 2022 update aka Windows 11 22H2 (“Sun Valley 2”), users of the Pro and Pro for Workstation editions should no longer be able to avoid a Microsoft account if they want to use Microsoft's latest operating system. It is uncertain whether the corresponding workarounds will still work.
Account requirement also for Windows 11 Pro
With the initial release of Windows 11 aka Windows 11 21H2 (“Sun Valley”) on October 4, 2021, Microsoft introduced the obligation to use a Microsoft account for users of the Home Edition, which already took effect during installation and the corresponding requested account information. With the help of an extremely simple workaround, this mandatory information could still be avoided to this day.
How the account requirement can still be avoided under Windows 11 Home and a local account is used instead can be, the editors have already in the report “Windows 11 Update: Requirements, Installation, TPM & CPU requirements” explained in detail and demonstrated accordingly with a video.
As Microsoft announced in the release notes for Preview Build 22557 of February 16 of this year under “Other changes”, the upcoming feature update should not only require Windows 11 Home but also the Windows 11 Pro and Pro for Workstation editions an Internet connection during installation assume. A Microsoft Account (MSA) is also required for personal use.
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.
Microsoft
Internet connection and account are required Mandatory
This means that to reinstall Windows 11 Pro in the future, not only an Internet connection is required, but also a Microsoft account, at least for personal use. So far, Windows 11 Pro could also be installed and used in offline mode and without a Microsoft account. In addition, no workaround was necessary for the Edition Pro and Pro for workstations.
Windows 11 Pro is equal to Windows 11 Home
An explicit account and online obligation during installation, which can be bypassed with a workaround, previously only existed for Windows 11 Home.
Windows 11 Home edition requires an Internet connection and a Microsoft Account to complete device setup on first use.
Microsoft
After the Tom Warren of The Verge had already pointed out via Twitter in February that Windows 11 Pro might require an account, the Windows Latest website now confirms this assumption for Windows 11 Pro Build 22616 from May 5 of this year.
Only Windows 11 Enterprise without constraints
In addition to Windows 11 Home, Pro and Pro for workstations, the Education and Pro Education may be affected by account enforcement. Only Windows 11 Enterprise can still optionally be used with a local account.