Microsoft really doesn't want us making local accounts on Windows, does it? It feels like the company is finding any excuse to stop people from creating local accounts on Windows 11 so they can make people sign in with a Microsoft account instead, presumably because those are far more valuable to Microsoft due to data collection.

But here's the thing. If you really care about local accounts, you're probably going to have a better time leaving the Microsoft ecosystem and moving to Linux instead. While creating a local account on Windows is a constant cat-and-mouse chase between Microsoft and its users, it's the default option for Linux users. In fact, I don't even know of a distro that lets you create an online account to sign in to your operating system. I'm sure there is one, I just don't know of it.

Microsoft really hates your local accounts

It's going to try everything it can to stop their creation

Microsoft really doesn't want you making local accounts. For the company, local accounts do nothing for it. Local accounts live on the computer they're made on, and they don't really send much identifiable data back to Microsoft. On the other hand, Microsoft accounts allow the company to build a profile about you and collect your data, which is far more valuable for it in the long run.

This is why Microsoft is currently playing whack-a-mole with methods to make local accounts on Windows 11. In an ideal world for Microsoft, everyone would sign in to its operating system with a Microsoft account, allowing it to harvest user metrics. Local accounts throw a wrench in that plan, but the company is finding ways to encourage people to make one anyway, such as locking usage of some AI tools behind a Microsoft account.

Meanwhile, my Linux experience has been nothing but local accounts

I haven't had to sign into anything

So, what's the solution? Well, if you truly care about local accounts and protecting your personal data, Linux is a fine choice. I've been using Linux for five months now, and while that's a drop in the pond versus the literal decades of experience that some people I know have with the operating system, I can say with confidence that, during my distro hopping, I never once had to create a user account that signed into the internet to use my operating system. It was always a local account.

Now, since I'm a Linux newbie, I'm not sure whether every distro lets you create a local account. However, at the same time, I've never heard of a distro that doesn't let you make one. I think a Linux distro that forces people to create an online account to use their own PC wouldn't go down nicely with the more privacy-minded, tinkering folk who use the operating system. Seems like a terrible idea to me.

In fact, you can make your local accounts by your own hands

Arch Linux is a different beast

But let's say you want to go even further. Let's say the idea of you adding a username and password to a Linux installer sends shivers down your spine. While I personally know no one like this, there is, unsurprisingly, a solution for people who want to literally create their own local account.

When I tried Arch Linux, I went with the manual installation option. This meant setting up the internet connection, partitioning the drives, mounting them with the root and boot directories, and creating the folders my PC would use to organize everything. And part of the setup involves manually creating my account.

To do that, you have to manually type in the commands related to creating a user, including setting your username, creating a password, and then running a command to grant yourself the proper system rights. In fact, I'm pretty sure you can manually create each file and directory Arch Linux uses in the login process, open the file, and enter your username and password, instead of using a command. When I did a Google search to see whether that's possible, the AI Overviews got a little worried about why I refused to use the command. Still, I'm pretty sure if you digested the entire Users and Groups section on the Arch Linux wiki, you could figure it out.

Anyway, the point I want to make is that you don't even have to submit to an installer to create a local account. You can roll up your sleeves and manually make your own one if you want. And you can't get more respectful of your own privacy than that.

Linux is the way to go for local accounts

While Microsoft is making it as difficult as possible to create local accounts, Linux users still have them around. In fact, if you really wanted to, you could create your local account by hand for maximum privacy.