Windows 10 customers are reportedly being blocked from accessing their desktops by full-screen trial affords for the Microsoft 365 productiveness suite (previously Office 365).
These affords (titled “Access granted: We’re supplying you with a free trial of Microsoft 365 Family”) are being pushed through full-screen notifications that give the customers no selection however to enter their fee info to activate the trial.
They are displayed in the course of the Windows Out of Box Experience (OOBE) earlier than loading the Windows desktop.
The solely choices obtainable to these seeing these full-screen promos are to “Try free of charge” and “No, thanks.”
After clicking “No, thanks,” the person will get despatched to a “Confirm your fee possibility” display the place the one possibility left is to “Start trial, purchase later.”
While such screens are proven after doing clear Windows installs and putting in characteristic updates, they normally include an possibility for “Skip for now” on the underside left facet of the show. However, this time, Microsoft has changed that button with a “Privacy and Cookies” hyperlink.
“Windows 10 stopping me from booting into desktop with out first non-consensually being compelled to simply accept their free trial and $100 month-to-month thereafter (clearly I cancelled after however WTF Microsoft),” a Reddit person who uploaded a video of this occurring stated.
“Looks like they by accident converted the strings for no thanks and check out it buttons. The attempt it button ought to truly be the no thanks button,” another person chimed in.
Microsoft appears to be testing different layouts and pushing totally different affords since others have reported seeing 50% promos with “Next” and “No, thanks” buttons on the backside.
Similarly, clicking the “No, thanks” button would take them to a brand new display the place they’re requested to enter their fee info and solely given the choice to “Buy now.”
“Same factor actually occurred to me final night time. I saved questioning why “no thanks” saved asking me for a card after which I went again and clicked subsequent. Smh,” one person stated.
“I up to date my laptop computer yesterday and had the identical problem, took me three goes earlier than I figured it out. This [redacted] is legal,” one other one added.
Luckily, the customers can cancel after getting into the bank card info required to allow the Microsoft 365 Family subscription trial they have been compelled to pay to entry their Windows 10 desktops.
If they select to not or overlook to do it till the trial expires, they are going to be charged $109 monthly whereas the subscription stays energetic.
“Visit your Microsoft account to show off recurring billing or to cancel and obtain a prorated refund,” the fee display additionally says.
To keep away from receiving this provide, it is best to begin the set up course of with out an Internet connection, which may also assist you to create an area account if you happen to do not wish to hyperlink the desktop to your Microsoft account.
While these points are possible brought on by a bug, BleepingComputer reached out to Microsoft to be taught extra in regards to the adjustments and can replace the story once we obtain a response.