Dear Microsoft, if you want me to use an account so badly, why is Windows 11 breaking them?

A frustrating bug in Windows 11 locks users out of Microsoft account sign-in even when they're online.

Windows 11's latest Patch Tuesday update includes some "actually good upgrades," as outlined by our Senior Editor Zac Bowden. The update brings better wake from sleep performance, a new built-in speed test shortcut, improved Emoji, and more.

Unfortunately, it also includes a frustrating bug that can lock you out of Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Edge, Excel, and Word. Microsoft confirmed that Microsoft account (MSA) sign-ins may fail with a "You'll need the Internet for this" error, even if your connection is perfectly fine.

The bug is limited to signing in with a Microsoft Account. Those using Entra ID, which was previously known as Azure Active Directory, are not affected by the issue.

Microsoft is working to resolve the issue over the next few days. In the meantime, you can use the following workaround shared on a Microsoft support page:

"Workaround: This issue occurs when the device enters a specific network connectivity state, and may resolve on its own. If you encounter this issue, restart the device while keeping it connected to the internet. This should repair the device connectivity state and prevent the issue from occurring.

However, please note that if the device is restarted without an active internet connection, it might return to a connectivity state where the issue can occur again."

That issue was updated last on March 19, so there's a good chance we'll see a fix by next week.

Having a Microsoft account is supposed to help

The timing of this bug falls somewhere between ironic and unfortunate. Microsoft has pushed people toward using a Microsoft account for years. Even SwiftKey will require one as of May 31.

Microsoft accounts integrate with Windows 11 and allow you to access services like OneDrive and Outlook. They're also needed to use many Microsoft services. For example, you need a Microsoft account to play games on an Xbox console.

While Microsoft accounts are useful, some people are leary of signing up for an account. In 2026, it seems like you need an account for anything. Having so many accounts can potentially leave your data vulnerable to attacks.

Having a Microsoft account as a requirement for so many services also creates a single point of failure, meaning if someone compromises your security on your Xbox they could gain access to sensitive data in OneDrive or read through your emails.

In theory, having a Microsoft account should make it easier to sign in to services like OneDrive and Microsoft Teams, but the latest Windows 11 bugs proves that's not always the case.

Do you have a Microsoft account? Which Microsoft services do you use? Let me know in the comments.

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Posted Saturday 21 March 2026 at 5:55 am AEST (my time).

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