Microsoft has definitely made some enhancements in Windows 11, however among the adjustments will take some getting used to. We are creatures of behavior, and among the interface variations will make some duties more durable, not less than at first. And avoiding a Microsoft account has develop into much more tough in Windows 11, nevertheless it’s nonetheless attainable.In this story I’ll present you workarounds that can assist you to overcome among the difficulties Windows 11 introduces when you’re used to working in Windows 10.1. Setting up Windows with out a Microsoft accountSince Windows 8, Microsoft has pushed individuals to log in to their Microsoft account (or create one) when clear putting in Windows or when organising a brand new machine out of the field, to the annoyance of those that would like to make use of a neighborhood account that’s not related to Microsoft’s servers. Microsoft is getting much more aggressive with this in Windows 11, stating within the system necessities, “Windows 11 Home edition requires internet connectivity and a Microsoft account.”Nevertheless, there’s a option to skip the Microsoft account requirement so you may simply create a neighborhood Windows account. This trick is beneficial when you’re actually in opposition to signing in to Windows, and likewise in circumstances the place you’re prepping a tool for another person and also you don’t have their Microsoft credentials.In Windows 11 Pro, you may skip the Microsoft login simply throughout the preliminary setup. On the “Let’s connect you to a network” web page, simply click on or faucet I don’t have Internet, after which on the “Connect now to quickly get started on your device” web page, click on or faucet Continue with restricted setup. Then you’ll have the ability to enter a username for the native Windows account.In Windows 11 Home, Microsoft doesn’t give us any obvious option to skip it within the setup wizard. Although it’s a bit tougher than within the Pro version, there’s a workaround within the Home version to skip the Microsoft login (and web entry) requirement while you’re within the preliminary setup screens of Windows 11:
Ensure the machine isn’t related to an ethernet community connection earlier than beginning the Windows 11 setup course of.
On the “Let’s connect you to a network” web page, press Shift + F10 on the similar time.
On the Command Prompt window that pops up, kind in taskmgr and press Enter.
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Pressing Shift + F10 in Windows 11 setup opens the Command Prompt, the place you may run the command to open the Task Manager. (Click any picture on this story to enlarge it.)
On the Task Manager window that pops up, click on or faucet the More Details button.
Under the Processes tab, discover Network Connection Flow, click on or faucet it, after which click on or faucet the End job button.
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In Task Manager, kill the Network Connection Flow course of so you may skip the Microsoft login.
Close the Task Manager and Command Prompt, and also you’ll then see the place you may enter a username for the native Windows account.
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Killing the Network Connection Flow course of means that you can create a neighborhood person account.
Note that signing in with a Microsoft account does present sure benefits, comparable to entry to OneDrive, OneNote, and different Microsoft companies; enhanced security measures together with two-factor authentication and full-disk encryption; the power to sync knowledge, apps, and settings between Windows PCs; and extra restoration choices when you neglect your password or must reinstall Windows. If you resolve later you wish to change from the native account to a Microsoft account, choose Start > Settings > Accounts > Your information > Sign in with a Microsoft account as an alternative, then observe the prompts to log in to an current account or create a brand new one.2. Clicking the Start buttonAfter greater than 20 years of a left-aligned Start button and taskbar in Windows, the centering of the taskbar icons, together with the Start button, in Windows 11 will probably throw everybody off for a bit. If you discover it’s an excessive amount of to get used to, particularly when you’re nonetheless utilizing prior Windows variations on different machines, you may regulate the alignment again to the left. This is definitely the simplest repair we’ll cowl. Eric Geier / IDG
The centered taskbar icons in Windows 11 jogs my memory of Chrome OS and macOS.
Simply right-click anyplace on the taskbar (besides on icons) and choose Taskbar settings. In the Settings window that seems, choose Taskbar behaviors, and for the Taskbar alignment you may change to Left. Eric Geier / IDG
Luckily, it’s a fast workaround to take the taskbar icons again to the left.
That’s it! But when you’re right here, you can too allow the taskbar auto-hide characteristic when you need; checking the Automatically disguise the taskbar field implies that the taskbar will seem solely while you transfer your cursor to the underside of the display screen. Plus, up on the highest of the Taskbar settings (not pictured in our display screen shot), you may disguise the default taskbar icons (Search, Task view, Widgets, and Chat) if you wish to. Eric Geier / IDG
The easy job of hitting the Start menu will probably be simpler with muscle reminiscence when you align the taskbar icons again to the left.
3. Getting full context menus when right-clickingWhen right-clicking most apps, recordsdata, and different objects in Windows 11, you’ll be stunned to see an abbreviated context menu. It seems good and slick, however you would possibly discover that a few of your favourite instructions and shortcuts have been moved out of the preliminary context menu, particularly in the event that they’re associated to third-party functions. You can entry the total record of choices by tapping or clicking Show extra choices on the backside of the menu. Eric Geier / IDG
On the left is the default context menu when right-clicking a file in Windows 11. On the fitting is the total context menu just like the one you’re used to in Windows 10.
If you discover the abbreviated context menu is simply too annoying, there’s a Registry hack you may carry out to all the time see the total context menus straight away. Important: Always again up your system earlier than tweaking the Windows Registry. Then proceed as follows:
Copy the command beneath:
reg.exe add “HKCUSoftwareClassesCLSID{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}InprocServer32” /f
Click or faucet the Search icon on the taskbar, enter cmd, right-click the Command Prompt itemizing from the search outcomes, and hit Run as Administrator.
On the Command Prompt window, right-click anyplace on the black Command Prompt display screen to stick the command, and hit Enter.
Restart your machine and provides right-clicking a strive.
Eric Geier / IDG
Copying and pasting this command edits the Windows Registry to do away with Windows 11’s abbreviated context menus.
If you alter your thoughts and need the abbreviated context menus again, you may reverse the change:
Copy the command beneath:
reg.exe delete “HKCUSoftwareClassesCLSID{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}” /f
Click or faucet the Search icon on the taskbar, enter cmd, right-click Command Prompt, and hit Run as Administrator.
On the Command Prompt window, right-click on the black display screen to stick the command, and hit Enter.
4. Changing default apps to non-Microsoft appsIn the Settings app in Windows 10, you possibly can simply change a pair default utility sorts (comparable to the net browser, video participant, and electronic mail consumer) from Microsoft’s apps to favourite functions you’ve downloaded. In Windows 11, you may nonetheless change the default functions, nevertheless it’s more durable. Eric Geier / IDG
In Windows 10, it’s simple to alter the default apps for just a few completely different classes…
Eric Geier / IDG
…however Windows 11 simply provides you a listing of all of the apps, and choosing one reveals you every extension or hyperlink kind it may open.
In Windows 11, right here’s find out how to entry the default settings:
Click or faucet the Search icon on the underside taskbar, kind default, and click on or faucet Default apps from the search outcomes.
Click or faucet the appliance you’d prefer to make a default, after which check out all of the completely different file extensions or hyperlink sorts it may deal with.
Click or faucet the extension or hyperlink kind you wish to configure the default for and choose the specified utility from the given record or choose Look for an additional app on this PC when you don’t see it listed. There’s no save button; the change occurs immediately.
Many Windows customers, for instance, choose to make use of a distinct browser from the default, Microsoft Edge. To change your default internet browser away from Edge, you may really choose any internet browser from the “Default apps” record. Just you should definitely change not less than the next file or hyperlink sorts to make use of your required browser:
.htm
.html
HTTP
HTTPS
MAILTO (when you use internet mail solely and don’t use Microsoft’s Outlook or Mail apps)
Eric Geier / IDG
Changing the default browser (Microsoft Edge) to Google Chrome.
Eric Geier is a contract tech author — sustain together with his writings on Facebook or Twitter. He’s additionally the founding father of NoWiresSecurity offering a cloud-based Wi-Fi safety service, Wi-Fi Surveyors offering RF web site surveying, and On Spot Techs offering normal IT companies.
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