what to do in October 2025

Try3 said:

You will keep getting Defender anti-malware definitions.
But that's all.
You will not get any more updates to the Defender utility itself ["platform updates"] so that will not be protected against newly-discovered vulnerabilities.


That is self-contradictory. It cannot be offline yet connected to an MSAccount.


I imagine that lots of us will follow Steve's excellent suggestion - keep using it but not for secure tasks such as banking.
But that implies having a second device for secure tasks such as online banking.
And that begs the question, "Why not use the computer that's suitable for online banking for all tasks?".
- I've got three computers that I definitely will not be able to use with Windows 11.
- I have put them aside for use on odd jobs.
- The last odd job was two years ago.
- If I have to do something it is always easier to just use my current main computer.


All the best,
Denis

I have an upstairs laptop, a downstairs laptop, a high spec desktop PC for digital photography for games and another spare desktop PC I built for father since departed!

Q: What to do in October 2025?

A: Go Trick-or-Treating of course.

NavyLCDR said:

If you are going to keep the computer offline, why would you need a Microsoft Account?

The truth is that I have never used Windows 10 with a local account and don't really know the advantages of it.

- - - Updated - - -

Thank you all for participating in this thread!

Ivan Petrov said:

The truth is that I have never used Windows 10 with a local account and don't really know the advantages of it.

It's not really "advantages". The two account types have different capabilities.
See the explanations in How to Tell if Local Account or Microsoft Account - TenForumsTutorials
- If you need the capabilities described for MSAccounts then you will need to use one [and be connected to the internet].
- If you do not need those capabilities then you can use a local account instead.


All the best,
Denis

Ivan Petrov said:

The truth is that I have never used Windows 10 with a local account and don't really know the advantages of it.

I use local accounts for the most part, but can still use the capabilities of a Microsoft account with a 'hybrid account'.

Add Microsoft account to Local account for Hybrid account in Windows 11 Tutorial | Windows 11 Forum

It's actually very easy to switch from a Microsoft account to a Local account (or back again).
Sometimes in testing I have switched back and forth several times in one day.

Switch to Local Account in Windows 10
Switch to Microsoft Account in Windows 10

Daymin said:

You need a Microsoft account to access the apps.

I can use apps despite using a local account.
Off the top of my head, I use Calculator, Maps.
Where you perhaps thinking of some particular apps?


Denis

The Apps that come with Windows (ie) Maps, Calculator, Photo's, Mail etc can be accessed without having a Microsoft account.
If you need to Download an App from the Microsoft Store, you will need to sign into the store with a Microsoft Account, but you don't have to be logged into your computer with a Microsoft Account to access the store.

spunk said:

...If you need to Download an App from the Microsoft Store, you will need to sign into the store with a Microsoft Account, but you don't have to be logged into your computer with a Microsoft Account to access the store.

Absolutely correct. That's exactly what I do with my 'hybrid account' in post #16

This is how it looks when set up (screenshot is from Win11, but the identical settings are in Win10).