Go straight to sell! Windows second-chance setup hawks Microsoft services at IT's expense

OSes 8 Go straight to sell! Windows second-chance setup hawks Microsoft services at IT's expense 8 The OS trying to upsell you subscriptions is more than just an annoyance Avram Piltch Sun 26 Apr 2026 // 11:38 UTC opinion You’ve had your laptop for months, and you’ve always made sure it installed Microsoft updates. Then one day you boot up, and Windows 11 greets you with a confusing message: “You’re almost done setting up your PC.” Almost done? What could that possibly mean? You set up your computer on Windows 11 a long time ago, but here it is telling you that your installation never actually finished. What other completed task will you next learn you haven’t actually finished? Did you perhaps forget to sign your marriage license five years ago, initial the deed to your home of 10 years, or miss a critical turn in the driving test you took back in 2003? Are you sure you’re named as the parent on your child’s birth certificate? You're almost done setting up your PC screen - Click to enlarge So you click the Continue button that appears at the bottom of the dialog box and Windows asks you if you’d like to use Microsoft’s recommended browser settings. You’re not sure what the settings are, but you hit the Use recommended settings button, because it all sounds above board and there’s no “Don’t use recommended settings” button (there’s a toggle in another part of the screen but that’s confusing). It's not clear what effect this has - in our recent test, it did not change the default browser from Google Chrome to Microsoft Edge, but your mileage may vary. Screen asks you to use recommended browser settings - Click to enlarge Next, you’re presented with a screen that encourages you to link your phone with your PC so you can get SMS messages on your desktop. This seems innocent enough, but you see and hit the Skip link (as opposed to the Next button which is yes) because you don’t want to do this right now. Screen asks you to set up phone connection to your PC - Click to enlarge You’re then hit with another screen that reminds you that you have Office installed and makes you click another button that says “Got it.” Now, you start to wonder if Microsoft is in league with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and is just trying to make you click until you get carpal tunnel syndrome. But if you didn’t have MS Office, this might be the place where Microsoft tries to sell you a subscription. This screen would try to sell you Office 365 if you didn't already have it installed - Click to enlarge Finally, the next screen shows you exactly why Microsoft is making you go through this entire setup process. It’s an advertisement for Xbox Game Pass Premium, which now costs $14.99 a month (if you’re in the US). “But I chose not to sign up for Xbox Game Pass a long time ago,” you think. “Also, this is my corporate PC.” Screen attempts to sell you a subscription to Xbox Game Pass - Click to enlarge Again, you’re free to hit the Skip link, even though the "Join for $14.99" button is much more prominent on the screen. If you’re lucky, there’s only one more screen after this one and it offers you the chance to see some unnecessary Windows tips, which it will launch in your browser if you click Yes. Really unnecessary screen asks you if you'd like some Windows tips - Click to enlarge What you’ve just experienced is Windows 11’s Second Chance Out of Box Experience (SCOOBE), a deeply deceptive and unethical attempt on Microsoft’s part to con you into buying…

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