What many feared has become a reality. Microsoft has made a radical and, for many, shocking change that will affect millions of Windows and Office users. The company has quietly, without a big press release, removed the ability to activate software offline.
From now on, there is only one rule: no internet and no Microsoft account – no working system.
The phone line has become worthless.
Until now, if you didn’t have internet access, you could go on to “Plan B” – calling the Microsoft activation number, dictating the numbers to the robot, and receiving a verification code. This was a lifeline for IT administrators and people who were concerned about their privacy.
Now, when you call the same number, you’re greeted with an automated message. Instead of dictating a code, the bot simply sends an SMS message with a link to a website.
Result: You are still forced to go online.
Required: You can’t just enter the code – you must sign in to your Microsoft account.
First noticed by users
This silent but drastic change was first noticed not by tech journalists, but by content creator Ben Kleinberg. He hit a wall while trying to activate an old version of Windows 7 with a legal license.
The system forced him to use his smartphone, go to a designated website, and log in. Although he managed to activate the system (both Windows 7 and Office 2010), the process became completely dependent on an internet connection and the mercy of Microsoft’s servers.
Even stricter rules for Windows 11 users
If you think this only affects the oldies, you’re wrong. Microsoft is aggressively blocking any attempts to use the latest Windows 11 system without registration.
- In early October, popular commands (such as oobe/bypassnro) that allowed bypassing the requirement to connect to the Internet during installation were blocked.
- The company is clearly signaling that they no longer need anonymous users. Each computer must be “tied” to a specific person in the cloud.
What does this mean to you?
This is not just an inconvenience. It is a fundamental change that means that the software you bought is no longer truly yours to use, as it once was. You are renting the right to use it, and the “owner” can change the lock code at any time. If you have an old one without internet access that needs to be rewritten, prepare for some serious headaches.
Credits:
Images:
