Support NeoGAF

[winjer]

New Windows 11 Update Blocks Local Account Bypass Methods

Microsoft is making it harder than ever to set up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account. In the latest Insider Preview Build (26220.6772), the company has removed several long-standing tricks people used to bypass the online sign-in requirement during installation.

www.guru3d.com

Microsoft is making it harder than ever to set up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account. In the latest Insider Preview Build (26220.6772), the company has removed several long-standing tricks people used to bypass the online sign-in requirement during installation. If you try to skip the login now, the setup process will likely crash, forcing you to start all over. This change affects what Microsoft calls the Out of Box Experience (OOBE)—the setup wizard that runs when you install Windows or start a new PC. Previously, users could run commands like start ms-cxh:localonly or use the "bypassnro" trick to create a local account and finish setup offline. Those commands are now gone. Microsoft says you'll need to stay connected to the internet the entire time to "ensure your device is set up correctly."

In short, if you're installing Windows 11 from scratch, you'll have to sign in with a Microsoft account unless you're doing an automated or managed installation. Corporate IT environments and enterprise devices aren't affected, but for home users, the days of quick local setups are coming to an end.

While this might sound like a small technical change, it's part of a bigger pattern. Windows 11 has been slowly moving toward full online integration—pushing users toward Microsoft 365, OneDrive, and other connected services right from the setup screen. With Windows 10 nearing the end of its support cycle, many people are being nudged to upgrade, and Microsoft seems to be tightening the experience around its ecosystem in the process. There are still advanced ways to install Windows 11 without logging in, such as using unattended setup scripts or preconfigured ISOs, but those aren't exactly user-friendly. Most people won't bother with them, and that's likely by design. Right now, these new restrictions are only in the Dev Channel, meaning they're being tested before a possible public rollout. If feedback is overwhelmingly negative, Microsoft could decide to back off, but given the company's recent trend, it looks like local-only setups may soon be history.

For everyday users, this means you'll need an internet connection and a Microsoft account ready the next time you do a clean install. Whether you see that as a convenience or a privacy concern depends on how you use Windows—but one thing is certain: the option to stay offline during setup is disappearing fast.

 

[bitbydeath]

I don't know why people keep torturing themselves with Windows. Has been trash for a long time.

 

[-BLITZ-]

I'm still on Windows 10 Pro. License and all. No issues here, running correctly, and the only windows I like since Win7.

Also. This news is top stupidity.

 

[Soodanim]

Hopefully it will be reverted after backlash, or at the very least the various install tools will find a way round it.

The whole "Make sure it's set up correctly" line is a load of bollocks and we all know it.

 

[sono]

I installed 11 25h2 on my i7700k system at the weekend. Confirmed. Also the install is sooo slow so many reboots, annoying messages eg "wait while the magic happens"

Time for this garbage to die

 

[xrnzaaas]

The new Steam OS can't come soon enough.

I'd still recommend installing a slightly older version of Win11 from a pendrive. You should be able to set up your system and then decline integration with an MS account once it starts downloading new versions.

 

[Fake]

Glad I still on Windows 10. After this will be SteamOS.

 

[Pejo]

I always just kept my PC offline during installs to prevent the MS account bullshit. Is that method bricked too?

 

[Bitmap Frogs]

Move to Linux or you better get ready to accept Microsoft's thick, long data collection scheme.

 

[RCX]

Still have my initial install of win11 from a year or two working fine with a local account. But if I ever have to re-install and these roadblocks remain in place I'll just switch to linux fulltime. It's completely viable these days for someone like me who's pretty much just a singleplayer gamer.

BTW if this is an issue for you and you don't want to switch (multiplayer is still an issue for sure) check out ChrisTitusTech's windows toolkit. It'll build an iso for you that works perfectly without any of this superfluous bullshit.

 

[dave_d]

The new Steam OS can't come soon enough.

I'd still recommend installing a slightly older version of Win11 from a pendrive. You should be able to set up your system and then decline integration with an MS account once it starts downloading new versions.

Here's a link on downloading an older version of Windows 11. Anybody know what version is a good one to try? (I'm downloading 23H2 currently but that's a guess.)

 

[LordCBH]

This shit should be illegal.

 

[Poppinfresh]

I don't know why people keep torturing themselves with Windows. Has been trash for a long time.

Because it just works, and because most people don't care about having to log in to a new Windows Install with a Microsoft Account.

And because Linux's implementation and compatibility with NVIDIA is dogshit.

But even if NVIDIA drivers weren't dogshit on Linux I'd probably still stick with Windows because it just works and it's 100% easier to do most things on Windows than on Linux, at least for me.

 

[winjer]

I always just kept my PC offline during installs to prevent the MS account bullshit. Is that method bricked too?

Yes, it's gone. Has been for a while.
One way to still install Windows with a local account is to create the install usb drive, using Rufus.
Or to install with an older version of Windows 11, then do the upgrade.

 

[diffusionx]

Because it just works

it really doesn't, not anymore.

Windows 11 is annoying to use and every update it seems to get worse.

 

[SJRB]

Nooooooooo I need to set up an account to install this operating system, this will take like 30 seconds

losing my mind

 

[falconhoof]

Zero reason to leave Windows 10.

I'd seriously entertain Linux as a main if I could cut all my ties to Windows applications.

 

[Bry0]

There's a lot of times where windows doesn't see the wifi drivers and I have to install them after being set up. Loading the drivers during setup is barely functional. They basically made it impossible to set up a lot of machines without finding an Ethernet cable to run or something. That's just so ridiculously stupid.

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

One wonders if MS will ever make a modern equivalent of XP, which I recall was widely loved.

 

[winjer]

One wonders if MS will ever make a modern equivalent of XP, which I recall was widely loved.

It's called Windows 11 LTSC.

 

[Smiggs]

Nooooooooo I need to set up an account to install this operating system, this will take like 30 seconds

losing my mind

Ever have to install Windows for a friend or coworker without them there?
Do you need a computer in a location without Internet access, say a remote studio? Removing options isn't consumer friendly, it's stupid.

 

[Bojji]

Can you still switch to local account after install?

 

[winjer]

Can you still switch to local account after install?

Yes.

 

[Drew1440]

Nooooooooo I need to set up an account to install this operating system, this will take like 30 seconds

losing my mind

More like 5 mins when you have to wait for Microsoft Authenticator to generate and approve a code. And more importantly, why should I have to?

 

[Dr.Morris79]

The new Steam OS can't come soon enough.

If, and when (please) that comes I'll never have to use another MS product.

Unless by force.

 

[Risible]

Nooooooooo I need to set up an account to install this operating system, this will take like 30 seconds

losing my mind

This has such "I don't do anything illegal, what do I care if someone is listening in on my communications" vibe.

Why the fuck do I need a MS account to log into my own personal local PC? That's the question you should be asking.

 

[zeomax]

Here's a link on downloading an older version of Windows 11. Anybody know what version is a good one to try? (I'm downloading 23H2 currently but that's a guess.)

You can still install the newest W11 with a local account. Use Rufus to create a bootable USB drive and in the Rufus settings you can choose the create a local account, disable TPM/Secure Boot requirements and a couple other things.

 

[kevboard]

they didn't block local accounts, you just have to do it differently than some of the workarounds they did block. but there's still workarounds.

 

[Baemono]

I don't know why people keep torturing themselves with Windows. Has been trash for a long time.

Because they have a monopoly on and besides MacOS which devices are expensive as hell, you don't have a viable alternative

 

[Melon Husk]

Zero reason to leave Windows 10.

I'd seriously entertain Linux as a main if I could cut all my ties to Windows applications.

I am too tempted.

 

[Soodanim]

I don't know why people keep torturing themselves with Windows. Has been trash for a long time.

Even in this forum full of nerds and geeks Linux is not a majority for good reason. Windows works well enough and every game comes to Windows. A few of us dual boot or make the switch because we're willing to face the issues that come with it, but most are either not able or willing. And Mac definitely exists, that much is true.

 

[Trogdor1123]

I need a new os that can work for a moron like me. Windows is great because it works pretty well but this kind of crap bugs me. I thought about going to something open source but I just don't have the time to learn something like that.

Help me obi wan kenobi. You're my only hope!

 

[Unknown Soldier]

I don't know why people keep torturing themselves with Windows. Has been trash for a long time.

PC gaming is the reason

I would have ditched Windows long ago if it wasn't for gaming keeping me on that shitty OS

 

[DeepEnigma]

it really doesn't, not anymore.

Windows 11 is annoying to use and every update it seems to get worse.

These hacks still can't fix the disappearing icons in the taskbar, etc..

Don't get me started on the constant power management resetting all over the place.

 

[Gp1]

Guys learn one thing.

Get a gaming PC with a "burner" MS email account just for... Gaming.

Everything else you do on a laptop or something.

 

[Ellis]

I remember leaving my ethernet connected once and My Documents became tied to OneDrive bullshit.

Installed LTSC a couple a few weeks ago and made sure none of that happend. Thankfully no big issues since. I do use a couple of tweakers to really debloat the shit out of it though.

That said, as bad as Windows gets, I'll still take it over any Linux distro. Terminal in 2025. Nah mate. If I want that experience I'll put together an early 90s DOS build.

If Mac OS could run everything from Windows with parity, I'd move over in an instant. Sadly it'll never happen. Apple still has the best OS for everything but playing games, and it is a shame as it nails everything else.

 

[Insane Metal]

My laptop just updated automatically to W11. Then it asked me to accept the new terms. I click the window: ERROR. No idea how this will turn out once I reboot this thing.

 

[Mistake]

I'll probably switch to linux completely once my pc is too old. Still runs everything after 10 years though. I use a mac air when traveling around, but it's really annoying for some things, and my external drives are partitioned to ntsc. I read online that it's a huge risk to force mac to fully recognize them, so yeah, linux is next

 

[nkarafo]

I would have ditched Windows long ago if it wasn't for gaming keeping me on that shitty OS

This.

This is the reason we put up with Windows since the beginning. Because every game and every emulator will first work on Windows and then maybe on other OSes.

It's because of compatibility, not usability. We are not masochists.

 

[bitbydeath]

Because they have a monopoly on and besides MacOS which devices are expensive as hell, you don't have a viable alternative

Mac Mini's are surprisingly cheap and powerful.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Windows xp, 7 were perfect, 8 was best on a touchscreen, 9-pres are fine