Setup new computer without a microsoft account?

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So I have a new computer.  I don’t want a Microsoft account.

 

Is there a way to get past the “Sign in with Microsoft” screen?

Thanks,

Bill G

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You have to disconnect from the Internet BEFORE you run the setup.
Then there will be non-obvious links that will let you create a “limited experience” account.
See this recent article:

Thurrott: Frustrating changes to the Win10 version 1909 installation experience

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rrbillg, cmptrgy

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@rrbillg, one observation I’d like to add is that it appears to be impossible now to install Office 2019 without a Microsoft Account. The setup.office.com site asks you first to sign in with a MS Account (or to create one), then you enter your product key, and only then do you get to download the software.

So if the goal is to avoid setting up a Microsoft Account, it looks like you won’t be able to use Office 2019 on that PC. Fortunately, there are other good office software suites around.

 

Keep Running Windows 7 Safely for Years to Come  
Make Windows 10 look and work like Windows 7

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Cybertooth wrote:

The setup.office.com site asks you first to sign in with a MS Account (or to create one), then you enter your product key, and only then do you get to download the software.

It appears you are able to download the Office 2019 software using the Heidoc.net downloader tool without needing a MS Account. I didn’t test about installing it, and whether that could be done without one, though.

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Cybertooth

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OK, I tried downloading and installing Office 2019 using the method described in Heidoc.net.

The software downloaded as a .IMG file to my Windows 7 PC. On a laptop, I have Windows 10 as a Windows Insider. I signed out of my Microsoft Account to (hopefully) simulate the scenario where you’re trying to install Office 2019 without having a Microsoft Account. Then I copied the .IMG file over to the Windows 10 system and navigated to the Setup.exe file,which I clicked on.

The program installed without asking for anything first. When I launched MS Word, it asked me to accept the license agreement and to enter a product key, but I was able to get into the program without entering any MS Account information. See the first screenshot:

I don’t have a product key, so out of curiosity I clicked on the “Back” button since at this point I hadn’t moved forward and so how could there be a “back” to go back to? But this took me to the next screenshot, where I was encouraged to sign in with a Microsoft Account:

Selecting the small link near the bottom, “I don’t want to sign in or create an account,” took me back to the product key dialog. This time I clicked on the X on the top right, and I was allowed to enter Word proper.

At some point, I was warned that without a product key, I could only use the software until December 25, after which most of its functionality would be disabled. But I’m satisfied that it is possible to use Office 2019 without signing into a Microsoft Account. The hitch is that you need to know that there is a hidden passageway to the chamber, and then how to get to it. Otherwise, you will end up in a place where there is no escaping the use of a MS Account if you want to install Office 2019.

 

Keep Running Windows 7 Safely for Years to Come  
Make Windows 10 look and work like Windows 7

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You can probably enter a Product Key and complete the install, but I am going to guess you will need to log in to a MS Account to activate it.

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Last did that three days ago, activated just fine with the activation key, no MS account on that computer.

Note, you do need to use a Microsoft Account to convert the purchase key to activation key, but that can be on a different computer, with the browser in privacy mode, and any number of days earlier from a different location…

Yes, there are two similarly formatted but different “product keys” involved. Also the activation key isn’t shown by default, you need to actively look for it after signing in with the MS account and entering the purchase key.

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Kirsty, PKCano

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[Mele20]

Cybertooth wrote:

it appears to be impossible now to install Office 2019 without a Microsoft Account.

But what does that have to do with Windows 10 and a Local Account on a new computer? You can have a Microsoft account and ALSO NEVER SIGN IN to that account as part of your use of Windows 10 (except when downloading from the Microsoft store or changing Microsoft listservs you belong to, etc). I have Windows 10 Pro 1809 and when I first got this now two year old computer, I set it up with a LOCAL account. However, I also have three Microsoft accounts and I use them to download from Microsoft Store and for Microsoft Authenticator on my iPhone and computer and used them as an official beta tester for Microsoft back when they had that setup.

I don’t have Office but I can’t see why it cannot be downloaded via a Microsoft account and then used on a machine with a LOCAL account. I’ve had a Microsoft account from shortly after I got my first computer 20 years ago (needed it to get a free replacement for the Microsoft Mouse that came with the computer and had problems) but I NEVER used it then or in ensuing years as a Microsoft account for Windows. That has always been a local account. Microsoft has made it trickier, over the years, to avoid a Microsoft account for a new computer and use a local one instead but it can still be done.

I have Windows themes and several apps from the Microsoft Store, but I use them on my Windows 10 machine with a local account. I just sign into the store with one of my separate Microsoft accounts and then signout when I am finished using the Store.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by Mele20. Reason: make it clearer what I meant

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The premise of Bill G’s question was:

So I have a new computer. I don’t want a Microsoft account.

He’s trying to avoid creating a Microsoft Account altogether. My reply was simply to warn him that if he intended to put Office 2019 on his new computer, he would still need to get a Microsoft Account, so he would have to be prepared to use a different office suite.

Whether he stays signed into the MS Account afterward doesn’t affect the fact that he would have to create and sign into it (what he’s trying to avoid) in order to install Office 2019.

Keep Running Windows 7 Safely for Years to Come  
Make Windows 10 look and work like Windows 7

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Cybertooth wrote:

one observation I’d like to add is that it appears to be impossible now to install Office 2019 without a Microsoft Account. The setup.office.com site asks you first to sign in with a MS Account (or to create one), then you enter your product key, and only then do you get to download the software.

Note – you don’t have to have that Microsoft Account on that particular computer at all.

Use a browser in incognito/in-private/privacy/whatever mode and/or sandboxed (could be on a different computer too), sign up for that Microsoft account inside that, get the Office installer download and exchange your purchase key for the activation key… WRITE THE KEY DOWN SAFELY. Also write the Microsoft account down somewhere.

Then you can use that downloaded installer and the activation key to install Office on whatever. Don’t have to log into the Microsoft account while activating Office if you got the activation key in the previous step.

For a small business, it makes sense to have just one such Microsoft account, for all your Office 2013/2016/2019 click-to-run activations only. You may need to log in there to transfer installations to another computer so makes sense to keep them all in one place – yes, you can activate multiple Office licenses with the same account and then install them on different computers.

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As someone who will shortly upgrade my home computers from Windows 7 to 10, is there any particular significance to the avoidance of using a MS account for the Windows 10 installation? I have a MS account and currently remain logged into it for the purposes of my hotmail account, but will I need to log in separately on booting the machines each time? I’m the only user so there’s no requirement for multiple user accounts or passwords etc, I just want to boot up and go.

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[mledman]

As someone who will shortly upgrade my home computers from Windows 7 to 10, is there any particular significance to the avoidance of using a MS account for the Windows 10 installation?

You need to weigh the service provided by a MS account against the information MS will collect to provide that service.  The same applies to using google’s offerings, social media sites or for that matter, the internet.

Win 10 home - 22H2
Attitude is a choice...Choose wisely

• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by mledman.

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Seff

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Well that, and also the risks of someone being able to use a break-in on one thing to gain access to a second thing.

As in, if you happen to have multiple devices connected to your Microsoft account (say, computer and phone), will a break-in on one of them lead to all of them being compromised?

And further along the chain – if you share a home PC with your spouse, with both having admin access and MS account integration, so a break-in on either’s account would…

Compartmentalization is sometimes a very good idea.

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Seff, Cybertooth

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I just upgraded a machine last night from Windows 7 to 1909 using the MS creation tool. It never tried to force me to login with an MS account. Both user accounts are local accounts. IF I want to I could switch to an MS account but I have no desire.

Never Say Never

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Seff

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cyberSAR wrote:

I just upgraded a machine last night from Windows 7 to 1909

The forced Microsoft account is part of new clean 1909 installation.

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Seff

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Understood. I was replying to Seff asking about upgrading his machine.

Never Say Never

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Seff

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Just like Office 2019 is a different animal from 2013 or 2016,  Windows v1909 is a different animal than v2004. You do have  to use MS account then change it back to a local account after setup.

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