Future of Windows in pro audio
- Beware the Quoth
- 35432 posts since 4 Sep, 2001 from R'lyeh Oceanic Amusement Park and Funfair
Your assertion was very specifically made in the current tense. That is an article about something which was supposedly going to be implemented at some point in the future.
Do you need the difference between the present and a potential future explained to you in short words?
Also, did you not understand the bit in that article about the fact that this only applied to Home version, because Domain joining?
An idiot on Set Theory:
"In some cases there is an object called red that contains everything that is red. In much the same way a pot is a plate."
"In some cases there is an object called red that contains everything that is red. In much the same way a pot is a plate."
- KVRAF
- 2318 posts since 23 Sep, 2004 from Kocmoc
Future of Windows is on my audio desktop. Why would I want to change to slower audio stack, like on mac, or one which craps out when you move a pluginwindow/window on a DAW/desktop, linux. 
I dunno...
I dunno...
Soft Knees - Live 12, Diva, Omnisphere, Slate Digital VSX, TDR, Kush Audio, U-He, PA, Valhalla, Fuse, Pulsar AUDIO, NI, OekSound etc. on Win11Pro R7950X & RME AiO Pro
https://www.youtube.com/@softknees/videos Music & Demoscene
https://www.youtube.com/@softknees/videos Music & Demoscene
- KVRAF
- 7661 posts since 2 Sep, 2019
The phase out of local accounts to exclusively cloud-based Microsoft accounts is ongoing and well known. It will be complete this year. Play dumb if you want, it’s not my problem.
THIS MUSIC HAS BEEN MIXED TO BE PLAYED LOUD SO TURN IT UP
- KVRist
- 485 posts since 10 Jan, 2026
What's the problem with not having a 'local account' ?
(Whatever that is)
(Whatever that is)
- KVRAF
- 7661 posts since 2 Sep, 2019
A local account is your Windows user account as you’ve known it. It exists locally on your machine. A Microsoft account is like an online 365 account. That account exists on their cloud servers, and you have to login online.Seafire Mk2 wrote: Fri Jan 16, 2026 6:47 pm What's the problem with not having a 'local account' ?
(Whatever that is)
Those accounts already exist, and are now the default accounts users need to login online into their desktops with. Microsoft is systematically eliminating local accounts, and you will only be able to use your Windows computer if you are logged into such an account, likely by October of this year, when support for Windows 11 24H2 is discontinued.
Microsoft is absolutely railroading users into their cloud environment.
Last edited by jamcat on Fri Jan 16, 2026 7:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
THIS MUSIC HAS BEEN MIXED TO BE PLAYED LOUD SO TURN IT UP
- KVRist
- 485 posts since 10 Jan, 2026
Ok, I'm none the wiser.
So if I'm not online, I can't use my PC?
So if I'm not online, I can't use my PC?
- KVRAF
- 7661 posts since 2 Sep, 2019
Probably not. Perhaps you will be able to pirate some version of Windows for the 3rd world.Seafire Mk2 wrote: Fri Jan 16, 2026 7:02 pm Ok, I'm none the wiser.
So if I'm not online, I can't use my PC?
THIS MUSIC HAS BEEN MIXED TO BE PLAYED LOUD SO TURN IT UP
- KVRist
- 485 posts since 10 Jan, 2026
Still none the wiser
Thanks for the info
Thanks for the info
- KVRAF
- 7661 posts since 2 Sep, 2019
Look, no one knows exactly where this is going to end up, and Microsoft isn't saying. But it is pretty clear how it is trending.
THIS MUSIC HAS BEEN MIXED TO BE PLAYED LOUD SO TURN IT UP
- KVRist
- 485 posts since 10 Jan, 2026
Clear as mud 
- KVRAF
- 7661 posts since 2 Sep, 2019
All we know for sure right now is the next Windows update (the current Windows preview) no longer allows users to create local accounts during setup. An online Microsoft account will be required. Microsoft accounts require periodic online validation, like Roland Cloud accounts.
This gives Microsoft the power to force you online, deliver ads directly to your Start menu, lock you out of your desktop, or delete your account. 365 accounts are completely cloud-based, and, for example, if you have an email account through Outlook 365, you will lose all of your emails if the account is deactivated, as they aren't stored locally, even if you have the Outlook client installed on your computer. This is what the future of Windows looks like.
This gives Microsoft the power to force you online, deliver ads directly to your Start menu, lock you out of your desktop, or delete your account. 365 accounts are completely cloud-based, and, for example, if you have an email account through Outlook 365, you will lose all of your emails if the account is deactivated, as they aren't stored locally, even if you have the Outlook client installed on your computer. This is what the future of Windows looks like.
THIS MUSIC HAS BEEN MIXED TO BE PLAYED LOUD SO TURN IT UP
- KVRist
- 164 posts since 21 Apr, 2020
I am curious how this fits the EU regulations.jamcat wrote: Fri Jan 16, 2026 8:18 pm All we know for sure right now is the next Windows update (the current Windows preview) no longer allows users to create local accounts during setup. An online Microsoft account will be required. Microsoft accounts require periodic online validation, like Roland Cloud accounts.
This gives Microsoft the power to force you online, deliver ads directly to your Start menu, lock you out of your desktop, or delete your account. 365 accounts are completely cloud-based, and, for example, if you have an email account through Outlook 365, you will lose all of your emails if the account is deactivated, as they aren't stored locally, even if you have the Outlook client installed on your computer. This is what the future of Windows looks like.