Even tech magnates like Elon Musk encounter the occasional hiccup when setting up new gadgets, as evidenced by his recent encounter with a Windows laptop. However, what set Musk’s experience apart was his vocal discontent with the mandatory Microsoft account setup process required to initiate the device.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Musk expressed his frustration, questioning the necessity of granting Microsoft’s AI access to his computer merely to kickstart its usage. He reminisced about a time when users could opt out of creating or signing into a Microsoft account during setup, a luxury he sorely missed.
Unsatisfied with airing his grievances in isolation, Musk directed his dissatisfaction directly at Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in a reply tweet, urging for more flexibility in the account setup procedure. He highlighted the inconvenience faced by users, particularly those restricted to using work email addresses for registration.
Musk’s critique quickly became fodder for social media discussions, with one X/Twitter user humorously predicting its eventual status as the “most famous tech support X post of all time.” Despite the flurry of reactions, Musk later shared that he successfully bypassed the Microsoft account requirement with assistance from a follower. While it’s technically possible to use Windows 11 without a Microsoft account, achieving this feat entails navigating through convoluted workarounds.