Solved Using the MS Store Without MS Account

spddemun · Oct 4, 2022

I am trying to help a family member with 11 S Version (new laptop), and am not having much luck.
I have been reading this forum, and I haven't quite found what I'm looking for...yet.
(I'm using 10 Pro, can't upgrade because of my CPU, so I'm not much help with 11.)

From what I understand, MS keeps changing the workarounds for only using a Local Account? I was able to help my relative get that far; he wants to use another browser and cannot access the MS Store without an email/account.

He does not want to use any other MS programs like One Drive, Office 365, etc.).

Is there no way around this as of Oct. 2022?

Suggestions appreciated, or where to look. Thanks!!!

Try3 · Oct 4, 2022

Perhaps you could ask in this tutorial thread
Get updates for apps and games in Microsoft Store - ElevenForumTutorials

Best of luck,
Denis

Welcome to ElevenForum.

It's really worth making time to browse through the Tutorial index - there's a shortcut to it at the top of every page [within the Tutorials dropdown list].
- At the foot of the Tutorial index is a shortcut to download it as a spreadsheet.
- I download a new copy each month.
- By downloading it as a spreadsheet I can benefit from Excel's excellent filtering capabilities when I search for topics of interest.
- Tutorials are also listed at Tutorials - there's a shortcut to that at the top of every page.

You can search ElevenForum using the search box in the top-right corner of all ElevenForum webpages or using Advanced Search - ElevenForum
- You can also search ElevenForum threads in many general search engines, such as Google, by adding site:elevenforum.com after your search term. For example,
Taskbar setup site:elevenforum.com
- [This is what the search box in the top-right corner of ElevenForum webpages does automatically]

Berton · Oct 4, 2022

All 3 of my Win11 Pro computers have only Local Account with admin privilege and no log-in, when wanting only Themes I just needed to enter one of my Microsoft accounts which are E-Mail addressses, probably will be the same for the Store. It did not change the log-in process to enter Windows itself.

garlin · Oct 4, 2022

winget 1.3 (from GitHub) allows you to install Store apps without any MS account. You must install the GitHub version as the Windows version doesn't support anonymous access.

Download the msixbundle and License1.xml (filenames change on every release).
Click on the msixbundle file on File Explorer, and it should install.

winget downloads all FREE Store apps, with Product ID's starting with 9*. Search the Windows App store for your app, and copy the Product ID from the last part of the URL.

Netflix

C:\Users\GARLIN>winget install 9WZDNCRFJ3TJ
Found Netflix [9WZDNCRFJ3TJ] Version Unknown
This package is provided through Microsoft Store. winget may need to acquire the package from Microsoft Store on behalf of the current user.
Version: Unknown
Publisher: Netflix, Inc.
Publisher Url: Netflix - Watch TV Shows Online, Watch Movies Online
Publisher Support Url: https://contactus.netflix.com/Help
Description: Netflix has something for everyone. Watch TV shows and movies recommended just for you, including award-winning Netflix original series, movies, and documentaries. There’s even a safe watching experience just for kids with family-friendly entertainment.

Now on Windows, you can enjoy every detail of the world’s favorite shows in 4K Ultra HD on Netflix. Download many of your favorite series and movies with the simple click of the download button. You can watch while you’re on the go or without an Internet connection on your PC, tablet or laptop with Windows 10.

How does Netflix work?
- Instantly watch TV shows and movies through thousands of internet-connected devices. You can play, pause, and resume watching, all without commercials.
- Netflix adds new content all the time. Browse titles or search for your favorites.
- The more you watch, the better Netflix gets at recommending TV shows and movies that you’ll love — just for you.
- You can create up to five individual profiles within a single Netflix account. Profiles allow different members of your household to have their own personalized Netflix experience built around the movies and TV shows they enjoy.

Start your one month free trial today! If you decide Netflix isn't for you - no problem. No contract, no cancellation fees, no commitment. Cancel online anytime.

By clicking INSTALL, you consent to the installation of the Netflix application and any updates or upgrades thereto.
License: By downloading this application you agree to the Netflix Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, located at www.netflix.com.

Internet access and valid payment method are required. Your Netflix membership is a month-to-month subscription that you can cancel at any time. Go to "Your Account" on the Netflix website for cancellation instructions. No refund or credit for partial monthly subscription periods. The Netflix service is only available in the country where you originally signed up. A device that streams from Netflix (manufactured and sold separately) and broadband Internet connection are required to watch instantly. For complete terms and conditions, please visit http://www.netflix.com/TermsOfUse.
Privacy Url: https://signup.netflix.com/PrivacyPolicy
Copyright: © 1997-2018 Netflix, Inc.
Agreements:
Category: Entertainment
Pricing: Free
Free Trial: No
Age Ratings: 12
Terms of Transaction: Terms of Sale - Microsoft Store
Seizure Warning: Xbox Support
Store License Terms: Standard Application License Terms

The publisher requires that you view the above information and accept the agreements before installing.
Do you agree to the terms?
[Y] Yes [N] No: y
Verifying/Requesting package acquisition...
Verifying/Requesting package acquisition success
Starting package install...
██████████████████████████████ 100%
Successfully installed

glasskuter · Oct 4, 2022

The first thing you need to do is switch the computer OUT of S mode and get full blown Windows.
Switching out of S mode in Windows

Exactly WHAT apps do you want from the store? Most apps and browsers can be downloaded directly from the developer site.

cereberus · Oct 5, 2022

The root of problem is the silly refusal to have an MS account.

1) create temporary MS account

2) leave S Mode as @glasskuter says.

3) install whatever you need

4) revert to local account.

spddemun · Oct 5, 2022

glasskuter said:
The first thing you need to do is switch the computer OUT of S mode and get full blown Windows.
Switching out of S mode in Windows

Exactly WHAT apps do you want from the store? Most apps and browsers can be downloaded directly from the developer site.

He's wanting Chrome, and already tried webpage directly, no go.

spddemun · Oct 5, 2022

I have been reading the 11 Tutorials (found them very helpful on the 10 site I use).

Thanks for all the helpful replies!!

Update: He's given up on 11, period, and going back to that 'other' company .

glasskuter · Oct 5, 2022

Too bad. He should have given it a chance. I can't say 11 is perfect, but it IS getting better and for me has been running solid as a rock. It's major drawback is all the MS mandated stuff but there are ways around it if one wants to make the effort to find the information. There's one thing MS has never been able to perfect which is windows updates. That fruit company which shall not be named beats MS all to heck when it comes to trouble free updating. I own mobile devices from the company which shall not be named, too. I can say they've never bobbled or blipped, but Windows is in my DNA when it comes to being my worker.

Edit: The reason he could not download Chrome was becasue the computer was in S mode. All he had to do to convert S mode to full Windows and he could download and install anything he wanted to. Why anyone would buy an S mode computer is beyond me.

Dru2 · Oct 5, 2022

spddemun said:
I have been reading the 11 Tutorials (found them very helpful on the 10 site I use).

Thanks for all the helpful replies!!

Update: He's given up on 11, period, and going back to that 'other' company .

FWIW, it helps to understand what you're getting into before switching to a different OS. And there's nothing wrong with OneDrive except the unfounded fear many have in trying to learn to understand/use it.

That said, if you want stuff from the Microsoft Store you WILL need a Microsoft Account. I didn't say you needed it to log into Windows, but you do need it to log into the store. That even if you use a local account, you'll still need a Microsoft Account to access the store.

garlin · Oct 5, 2022

That's not true, you can download the same Store apps using rg-adguard (or a script) and side-load them. The exceptions being paid apps, and DLC. In fact, you can install apps only available on the Fast Ring (ie. Zune Music, Photos previews).

None of which requires a MS Account to download, or activate. WU updates installed apps, even on systems with only a local account.

spddemun · Oct 5, 2022

Dru2 said:
FWIW, it helps to understand what you're getting into before switching to a different OS. And there's nothing wrong with OneDrive except the unfounded fear many have in trying to learn to understand/use it.

That said, if you want stuff from the Microsoft Store you WILL need a Microsoft Account. I didn't say you needed it to log into Windows, but you do need it to log into the store. That even if you use a local account, you'll still need a Microsoft Account to access the store.

glasskuter said:
Too bad. He should have given it a chance. I can't say 11 is perfect, but it IS getting better and for me has been running solid as a rock. It's major drawback is all the MS mandated stuff but there are ways around it if one wants to make the effort to find the information. There's one thing MS has never been able to perfect which is windows updates. That fruit company which shall not be named beats MS all to heck when it comes to trouble free updating. I own mobile devices from the company which shall not be named, too. I can say they've never bobbled or blipped, but Windows is in my DNA when it comes to being my worker.

Edit: The reason he could not download Chrome was becasue the computer was in S mode. All he had to do to convert S mode to full Windows and he could download and install anything he wanted to. Why anyone would buy an S mode computer is beyond me.

There is a severe reading difference he deals with, so I understand going with what is comfortable.

Hoping MS will discontinue S-Mode because that's pretty much all you find in-store when needing something in a rush.

Will set up the old "other company" laptop, and while I'm at it, see if I can get Win10 back on there. Maybe he can work through Win that way to become familiar with it again.

If I understand correctly, Win can no longer be run on the "other company" if a newer model, until MS goes with ARM architecture? (Just read it, know nothing about ARM.)

Thanks, again, for all the help.

Dru2 · Oct 5, 2022

Dru2 said:
FWIW, it helps to understand what you're getting into before switching to a different OS. And there's nothing wrong with OneDrive except the unfounded fear many have in trying to learn to understand/use it.

That said, if you want stuff from the Microsoft Store you WILL need a Microsoft Account. I didn't say you needed it to log into Windows, but you do need it to log into the store. That even if you use a local account, you'll still need a Microsoft Account to access the store.

garlin said:
That's not true, you can download the same Store apps using rg-adguard (or a script) and side-load them. The exceptions being paid apps, and DLC. In fact, you can install apps only available on the Fast Ring (ie. Zune Music, Photos previews).

None of which requires a MS Account to download, or activate. WU updates installed apps, even on systems with only a local account.

Yeah, I suppose there is a way to hack you way into the store, but I am speaking of the official way. Not the hack-in way.

Peace

garlin · Oct 6, 2022

That's what winget does. It was a much requested feature by admins, and Microsoft's own team had to wait a full year before the Store devs opened a separate API for them to bypass logons. They've been public about making it happen.

Almighty1 · Apr 10, 2023

garlin said:
That's not true, you can download the same Store apps using rg-adguard (or a script) and side-load them. The exceptions being paid apps, and DLC. In fact, you can install apps only available on the Fast Ring (ie. Zune Music, Photos previews).

None of which requires a MS Account to download, or activate. WU updates installed apps, even on systems with only a local account.

For rg-adguard, do they actually keep the copies of the apps as a archive or does it actually have the latest version as Store does?

garlin · Apr 11, 2023

Look for yourself, they will list older versions if available. Some publishers like NVIDIA, Intel, or HP will deliberately remove older copies so you can only download the current version.

For Windows Apps, if you disable automatic app updates, it's possible to uninstall and replace the app with an older version (Photos, Zune Video). Most of those apps don't require a specific version of Windows to run.

Almighty1 · Apr 11, 2023

garlin said:
Look for yourself, they will list older versions if available. Some publishers like NVIDIA, Intel, or HP will deliberately remove older copies so you can only download the current version.

For Windows Apps, if you disable automatic app updates, it's possible to uninstall and replace the app with an older version (Photos, Zune Video). Most of those apps don't require a specific version of Windows to run.

Hard to look for myself as the reason I was asking was it seems like a new version of Windows Subsystem for Android had been released for over a week already but rg-adguard still does not have the new version yet for the Retail, Slow, Fast, Release Preview Channels. It would help if Microsoft Store actually lists what the current version should be so atleast there would be something to reference.

garlin · Apr 11, 2023

WSA on Store (as reported by rg-adguard) is 2302.40000.9.0, released on 2023-04-11.

If you're not sure how to use/read the website, there's plenty of online guides.

Almighty1 · Apr 11, 2023

rg-adguard will always show the current date/time. 2302.40000.9.0 has been out since March 29, 2023 on rg-adguard. 2303.40000.2.0 was released on April 6, 2023 but not sure what the current version is on Microsoft store itself. You misunderstood my question. I am not asking about use/read the website, I am asking if they host the downloads or are they actually querying Microsoft Store and then displaying the results in real time. If it's the former, then they would be updating periodically before it's the current version.

Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) 2303.40000.2.0 update on Windows 11

UPDATE 4/11: https://www.elevenforum.com/t/windows-subsystem-for-android-wsa-2303-40000-3-0-update-on-windows-11.14096/ We've shipped an update for Windows Subsystem for Android™ on Windows 11 to the Windows Subsystem for Android™ Preview Program. This update (2303.40000.2.0) will improve...

www.elevenforum.com

garlin · Apr 11, 2023

They don't host downloads, they query the Store using an API and generate dynamic download links to MS servers. The release date represents the last timestamp provided to the app file, it's not the current date/time.

I know because I wrote a PS script to automate the link scraping. On apps which have old versions available, it sorts it by release date.

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