Edit:
Since theres been some confusion with dates
In 2016 github made site side searching login only and hid the search bar if you werent logged in. This didnt include searching within a repository so that could still be done, just not all repositories
This year was the change being referred to in this link which made repository level searching require logging in
Blog post: https://github.blog/changelog/2023-06-07-code-search-now-requires-login/
FYI, there is no forcing here. Heavy suggestions, but no forcing. I’ve never used a MS or Hotmail account to log into Windows 10 or 11.
If some has to know to unplug the internet, try to sign up, and force an error to bypass sign up…
It is forcing.