Microsoft is intensifying its efforts to discourage users from setting up local accounts on Windows 11. In a recent update, the tech giant announced that it is eliminating various methods previously employed to bypass the requirement for a Microsoft account during the installation process. This move aims to streamline the setup experience and ensure that devices are fully configured for use.
Amanda Langowski, who leads the Windows Insider Program, explained the rationale behind this decision: “We are removing known mechanisms for creating a local account in the Windows Setup experience (OOBE). While these mechanisms were often used to bypass Microsoft account setup, they also inadvertently skip critical setup screens, potentially causing users to exit OOBE with a device that is not fully configured for use.”
The implications of these changes are significant. Future versions of Windows 11 will require users to complete the OOBE screens with an active internet connection and a Microsoft account. Earlier this year, Microsoft had already disabled the “bypassnro” workaround, and the latest updates further disable the “start ms-cxh:localonly” command, which had been discovered by users as a means to bypass the account requirement. Attempting to use this command now resets the OOBE process, rendering it ineffective.
Historically, many Windows users have sought to avoid using a Microsoft account, often preferring the flexibility of a local account or simply wishing to customize the user folder name generated from their Microsoft account email address. In response to this feedback, Microsoft is introducing a new feature that allows users to specify a custom name for their default user folder during setup. However, this will require a command input, and it remains to be seen if this option will eventually be simplified for broader accessibility during the setup process.
