The secret to avoiding a Microsoft account

You'll want to bookmark this  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Windows Intelligence](#) [Windows Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [SpyShelter logo]()​ Hello again! This week, I want to talk about something near and dear to my heart: Choice. When you set up a Windows PC, Microsoft pushes you to create a Microsoft account. There's no obvious way to set up your PC with traditional local user account. People are talking about this a lot this week! The good news is that there is a secret handshake — something very hidden — that will let you bypass the Microsoft account requirement if you know how to do it. I recommend bookmarking this one for later. 👋 Hey! Just so you know, I'll be on vacation next week. You'll still get the Monday newsletter packed with top tips, but there will be no Friday Windows Intelligence newsletter next week. I'll be back in your inbox after that! [Chris Hoffman, AUthor] Chris Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 1 minute 30 seconds ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 2 minutes ⌚ Top Thurrott Thoughts: 30 seconds ⌚ Just for Fun: 20 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] ​ 1. Windows 11's "Moment 5" update brings new features ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Windows 11's next feature update is starting to roll out, bringing a bunch of new features for everything from Snap to Copilot. 🔎 KNOW MORE: "Moment" updates include collections of new features for Windows. The last Moment update was the "Moment 4" update back in September, which delivered Copilot for Windows. - Copilot gets new actions we just talked about last week, the Photo app gets AI image erasing (I'll highlight that in a moment!), and Snap will remember how you snap apps and help you quickly organize things. - Many of these features should arrive for everyone in early March with the usual monthly update, although some of them are things Microsoft will slowly release over the next month or so. - Want the update now? On a Windows 11 PC, you can head to Settings > Windows Update and enable "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available." 📌 READ MORE: Take a look at all the new features in [Microsoft's official announcement](). (Microsoft is pushing Copilot hard in the announcement, but there are other features in there, too!) --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Windows Update may reboot your PC less soon ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Microsoft is testing out "hot patching," a way Windows to install critical security updates on your Windows 11 PC without a reboot. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Microsoft is reportedly planning on delivering this feature in Windows 11's 24H2 update, expected in fall 2024. - With hot patching, most monthly security updates wouldn't require a reboot — you'd only have to reboot your PC for security updates a few times a year. - With hot patching, Windows will patch running system processes while they're running, ensuring they have the latest updates — without requiring a restart. - This is already available on some server editions of Windows as well as Xbox consoles. 📌 READ MORE: Learn more in [this exclusive report from Windows Central](=). --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. The Photos app is getting an AI-enhanced erasing tool ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: The Photos app is getting a convenient "Generative erase" tool for quickly removing objects from images — on both Windows 10 and Windows 11! 🔎 KNOW MORE: Windows 11's Photos app already has AI-enhanced background blur tools, but I think this new feature is even more useful. - You'll be able to quickly select what you want to "Erase" from an image, and the tool will use generative AI to remove objects and replace them for you. - This feature is part of the new update for Windows 11, and it's also coming to Windows 10 soon. - Windows 10 will get the other AI image-editing enhancements Windows 11 already offers, too — some good news for all those Windows 10 PCs out there! 📌 READ MORE: See it in action on [this Microsoft blog post](). SPONSORED MESSAGE Stop naughty apps in their tracks! ❌ [Tr)jan:0_H0rs3.exe threat popup]()​ Woah, not those kinds of apps! We’re talking about the seemingly innocent, everyday apps that are secretly installing spyware, draining resources, and doing all sorts of shady stuff on our computers — right under our noses! That’s why you need (drumroll please)... [SpyShelter!]()​ SpyShelter helps you detect + stop apps from misbehaving, whether they be Trojan Horses or Resource Hogs. Complimentary to your current antivirus, [SpyShelter turns your PC into a fortress](): Only you decide exactly what your apps are allowed to do (and when). Why IT, Infosec, and thousands of civilians love SpyShelter: - Reveals suspicious activity in real time - Adds extra visibility and full application control - Exposes apps crashing your computer and installing adware And if you’re worried you have spyware? SpyShelter prevents it from taking anything but blank screenshots and random characters. ➜ [What are you waiting for? Take back control of your PC and try SpyShelter for FREE!]()​ [​STOP SPYWARE FOR FREE ➜]() ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Avoid a Microsoft account while setting up your PC Microsoft really, really, really wants you to use a Microsoft account while setting up your PC. I use a Microsoft account to sign into my PC, but I also believe in choice: How you want to sign into your PC is up to you. ➜ This secret handshake will let you bypass the Microsoft account requirement while setting up a PC — if you know about it. ⌚ This will just take you one extra minute while you're setting up a PC. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. 📌 Check out [my latest guide to using a Windows PC without a Microsoft account](. And be sure to bookmark it for later! 💡 I recently wrote this exclusively as a Superguide for our valued [Intelligence Insiders](, diving into everything you need to know about the subject. But I'm sharing most important part — the critical secret handshake that will work while setting up a PC — with everyone. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Add any app to your startup programs PC geeks like myself normally talk about removing startup applications to speed up your Windows login process and reduce system tray clutter. ➜ Windows has a way to quickly and easily add any application you use to your startup process, even if that application doesn't have a built-in option for this. Maybe you always open a program each time you sign in — why not add it to your PC's startup programs? ⌚ You can do this in about 10 seconds. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. To do this, just add a shortcut to your startup folder. To find it, open File Explorer, type shell:startup into the address bar, and press Enter. Now, open your Start menu, look at the list of all the apps there, and drag and drop any of the app shortcuts to the Startup folder you have open. That's it! Windows will open the application when you sign in. (You can also just copy-paste a shortcut into this folder.) [Dragging and dropping an app from the Windows 11 Start menu to the Startup folder.] --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Use emoji in file names, documents, and everywhere else Did you know emoji work almost anywhere on a modern Windows PC? You can even create files and folders with emoji in their names. ➜ Emoji also work in office documents, emails, messages, your browser, and nearly everything else on your computer. Sure, I've mentioned the emoji picker before, but did you realize emoji are this flexible? ⌚ You can put an emoji nearly anywhere in 5 seconds. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. (But Windows 11 has nicer-looking emoji.) You can do this wherever you're typing text. For example, if you want to put an emoji in a file or folder name, start by renaming that file or folder in File Explorer. Then, while Windows is waiting for you to type the file name, press Windows+. (that's the Windows key and the period key) to open the emoji picker. Type to start searching for an emoji, and then insert it by clicking it. For file and folder names, you'll see black-and-white emoji instead of colorful ones — but you will see colorful ones in most applications. [Emoji in file names in File Explorer, plus the emoji picker.] ​ [] [Top Thurrott Thoughts] Some standout links and expert analysis from our friends at Thurrott, who have been covering Windows since 1994: - ​[Report: Apple Has Given Up on Smart Cars]()​ - Apple never officially announced the project. - ​[Snapdragon X Elite Destroys Intel Core Ultra in AI Performance Comparison](=)​ - That's impressive, but NPUs still don't matter much to most people. - ​[Microsoft’s Ignite 2024 Conference Will Return to Chicago on November 18-22]() - Build 2024 will be in Seattle in May. - ​[Meltdown (Premium)](​ - Tech doesn't always work perfectly, even for us tech geeks. - ​[Behind Thurrott.com: February 2024 Site Updates](=)​ - Go behind the scenes. ​ [And Just for Funsies...] Did you know Microsoft has released Windows-themed foods in the past? The most recent one was [a Windows 11-themed ice cream named Bloomberry](=). Apparently you can still order it — [$85 for 4 pints of Windows 11-flavored ice cream](! Yikes. But my favorite absurd Windows-themed food has always been the Windows 7 Whopper. Microsoft and Burger King Japan collaborated to release a Whopper with seven burger patties. [Burger King's Windows 7 Whopper.] Apparently it was not enjoyable to eat. At the time, [Gizmodo]( wrote: How does it taste? How do you think it tastes? It's seven pieces of Burger King meat. There's no way I would eat this thing normally... To recreate this Windows 7 burger for yourself without having to travel to Japan, head to Burger King and order a Whopper. Then throw a ten dollar bill down and ask them to make six more patties as disgustingly as possible. Thankfully, unlike the ice cream, this Windows-themed burger is no longer available! See you soon I'll be off next week, so there's no Friday newsletter scheduled for next week. But I'll still be back in your inbox on Monday to share some top tips! Have a great week, and we'll talk more soon. 🤚 Wait! Before you go: What'd you think of this issue? [Thumbs Up]( [Thumbs Down]() Hit the thumbs-up or thumbs-down to cast your vote and let me know. Want less email? [Update your reading preferences](=) to opt out of any individual publications or unsubscribe entirely. New here and not yet subscribed? Take two seconds to [sign up for our newsletters](): Windows Intelligence, Android Intelligence, or Cool Tools (or all three!). Hungry for even more? [Learn about becoming an Intelligence Insider](=) to gain access to our one-of-a-kind community, power-packed advanced resources, on-demand help desk, and tons of free apps and services. Independent journalism relies on you. 🤝 [An Intelligence Insider membership](=) allows you to support our work and keep this newsletter sustainable!