And I've got a funny feeling that there is another misunderstanding involved here as well.
What exactly did you see?
The basic login screen for Windows. There were three buttons on the lower right-hand side: Power, Accessibility and WiFi. The Username selection along the lower left-hand corner. I selected our Wifi, the user tried to login to their computer and then there was an error message. I forgot what the error message stated, but I didn't think whatever it said was significant to solving the issue, anyways. The moment we connect to the Wifi through the WiFi connections, we're suppose to see a web page pop up which directs to the page where users enter their user number. Once the user authenticates, they are re-directed to our website. Sometimes, the popup doesn't appear. The workaround is to open up a web browser, attempt to access a website (for instance, Yahoo or Google), which will then actually re-direct to the page where you enter in your username. I think it's a "Captive Portal", if that rings a bell to anyone. I'm not even exactly sure what that really is.
This general login process works great for users that are logged into their user accounts already. Connecting to the WiFi and authenticating then is practically seamless. Coincidentally, I've connected Windows 11 users to our WiFi before, BUT they were already logged into their Windows sessions through local accounts, guest accounts, or some other means.
Those of you with Windows 11 computers and Microsoft accounts, can you actually log into your computers without any sort of Internet connection through that specific account? Does Microsoft allow one to login to their Windows 11 computers, using a Microsoft account via an offline mode? Maybe if so, that'll fix the issue.
I'm looking for a permanent solution to this, if there is such a thing, from a tech support staff's perspective, not the Network Administrator's perspective. Keep in mind that our WiFi users come in all ages, and varying degrees of computer knowledge. I can't depend on users to know how to set up guest accounts, local accounts, or even find a way (if possible at all) to link a local and Microsoft Account. for situations such as these. Many of them probably had a friend or person at a store set up their computers and barely know how to login to their devices for the purpose of checking E-mails.
So again, is there any sort of workaround to get to a web browser prior to actually logging into a Windows 11 session? If so, that may do it. I would assume hotels and other businesses may have a similar problem, as a couple of hotels I've stayed at have me typing in information into a website after connecting to a wifi, just to get authenticated. If it were as easy as entering a WiFi password like you would do in a home network, that'd be a different story.
