OOBE Archives

Winsage

January 5, 2026

A popular debloating tool now has fresh powers to strip out Windows 11’s AI features – but I’d proceed with caution

A new version of the FlyOOBE tool for Windows 11, version 2.4, has been released, featuring enhancements for customizing the operating system, including refined capabilities for detecting and removing unnecessary AI features. The update allows users to perform a "deep cleanup" using external tools like RemoveWindowsAI. The tool promotes user choice regarding AI technology rather than rejecting it outright. 'OOBE' stands for 'out of box experience,' and the new AI debloating controls are called 'Slopilot.' The AI removal features are powered by RemoveWindowsAI, which has received positive feedback for disabling AI functionalities. FlyOOBE has over 2.5 million downloads, but users are advised to be cautious with third-party software, as disabling certain components may lead to complications with future Microsoft updates.

Winsage

October 30, 2025

YouTube removes Windows 11 Microsoft account bypass video citing a community guideline violation with potential to cause serious physical harm or death — “I don’t think Microsoft had anything to do with it.”

On October 14, 2025, Microsoft ended support for Windows 10, impacting around 400 million PCs globally, and encouraged users to upgrade to Windows 11 through full-screen notifications. Users can enroll in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for an additional year of support at no cost by syncing their PC settings with a Microsoft Account or using 1,000 Microsoft Reward points, which is free in the European Economic Area. Advocacy groups criticized the ESU program, calling it ineffective and indicative of planned obsolescence. Some users are considering switching to Linux for fewer ads and less telemetry tracking. Third-party tools like Flyoobe and Tiny11 help users transition to Windows 11 by bypassing hardware requirements and streamlining the OS. YouTube removed a video from CyberCPU Tech demonstrating local account setup for Windows 11, and Microsoft is enforcing Microsoft account requirements during new installations. The creator, Rich, believes the video removal was due to YouTube's AI misinterpretation, not Microsoft.

Winsage

October 29, 2025

Windows 11 KB5067112 Adds “Personalized Offers” to OOBE Setup Screen

Microsoft released a non-security update, KB5067112, for Windows 11, version 23H2, upgrading systems to Build 22621.6133. Users can update via Settings or download from the Microsoft Update Catalog. The update improves the touch keyboard functionality, ensuring key presses are registered after waking from sleep. It also enhances networking by fixing issues with external virtual switches that could lose NIC bindings after a host restart. A new feature, Personalized Offers, is introduced during device setup and is accessible in the Settings menu. Additionally, the update resolves a critical disk communication issue affecting Azure Stack Hub and Azure Local clusters, improving reliability and performance.

Winsage

October 19, 2025

BitLocker reportedly auto-locks users’ backup drives, causing loss of 3TB of valuable data — Windows automatic disk encryption can permanently lock your drives

In 2007, Microsoft introduced BitLocker storage encryption with Windows Vista, initially available only in the Enterprise and Ultimate editions. With Windows 11, BitLocker is activated by default for users signing in with a Microsoft account during the Out-Of-Box Experience (OOBE). A Reddit user experienced issues after reinstalling Windows, as two of their drives became inaccessible due to BitLocker encryption activating without consent. BitLocker can slow SSD performance by up to 45% due to the CPU handling continuous encryption and decryption. The software version of BitLocker differs from the hardware OPAL version, which offers better performance but does not enable automatically. BitLocker does not activate automatically for users upgrading from Windows 10 to 11. The affected user may need to wipe the drives to regain access. Users are advised to regularly check and disable BitLocker if unnecessary and to document encryption keys and back up sensitive data.

Winsage

October 15, 2025

12 features coming during first half of October on Windows 11 Insiders

Microsoft is enhancing Windows 11 in October 2025 through the Windows Insider Program, releasing several notable features and improvements. Key updates include: 1. An updated Settings app with improved AI agent integration, featuring a "Recommended settings" card and enhanced search results. 2. The Drag Tray now supports dragging and dropping multiple files. 3. Administrator Protection is accessible again in the Windows Security app. 4. The "Run" command dialog box is being updated for dark mode support. 5. Click to Do feature enhancements allow for more precise object selection within images. 6. Windows Hello now supports external fingerprint sensors. 7. Users can configure the user folder name during the Out-of-box Experience (OOBE) using Command Prompt. 8. File Explorer receives dark mode improvements across various dialogs. 9. A redesigned Start menu in the Canary Channel combines "All," "Pinned," and "Recommended" sections into a scrollable interface. 10. A new setting allows users to adjust the position of on-screen hardware indicators. 11. Updates to keyboard shortcuts facilitate the insertion of En dashes and Em dashes. 12. The Windows Share interface now includes an option for pinning favorite apps.

Winsage

October 8, 2025

The Party’s Over: Windows 11 Installation Will Require the Internet

Microsoft is tightening control over the installation process for Windows 11 by eliminating workarounds that allowed installations without an internet connection or a Microsoft account. This change is being rolled out in a test build and includes disabling the "bypassnro command" and the "start ms-cxh:localonly" command. Amanda Langowski, lead of the Windows Insider Program, explained that these changes aim to ensure users do not skip critical setup screens, which are essential for a fully configured device. Community reactions are mixed, with some users expressing frustration and concerns about data privacy, while others support the changes, suggesting initial resistance may lead to eventual acceptance.

Winsage

October 7, 2025

Microsoft removes even more Microsoft account workarounds from Windows 11 build

The necessity of signing in with a Microsoft account during the setup of Windows 11 has been identified as a significant inconvenience. Microsoft is reportedly tightening restrictions on bypassing this requirement, as indicated by a recent update to the Windows Insider Preview program (build number 26220.6772), which aims to remove known methods for creating a local account during setup. Specifically, the "OOBEBYPASSNRO" workaround and the "start ms-cxh:localonly" command have been eliminated. Users previously could access a command prompt during setup to bypass the Microsoft account requirement, but the status of an alternative workaround for Windows 11 Pro that allows users to create a local account by indicating a corporate domain is uncertain. While some screens can be skipped using workarounds, users still face essential prompts for account creation and privacy settings. Signing in with a Microsoft account introduces additional promotional screens for services and features that may not be considered critical by users.

Winsage

October 7, 2025

Microsoft kills more Microsoft Account bypasses in Windows 11

Microsoft is tightening account creation methods during the installation of Windows 11, as revealed in the Insider Preview Build 26220.6772. The company is eliminating methods that allowed users to create local accounts and bypass the Microsoft account requirement. Users will now need to complete the Out-Of-Box Experience (OOBE) while connected to the internet and logged into a Microsoft account. This change aims to ensure devices are fully configured upon setup. While the 'BypassNRO.cmd' script has been removed, the BypassNRO Registry value remains, allowing potential workarounds to create local accounts. Users can theoretically bypass the Microsoft account requirement using specific commands in Regedit during installation, but this workaround has not been tested and may be removed in future updates.

Winsage

October 7, 2025

Microsoft is planning to make it harder than ever to install Windows without an internet connection and a Microsoft account

The latest Insider Preview build of Windows 11, version 26220.6772, has removed methods for creating a local account during the installation process, including the "bypassnro" workaround and the command “start ms-cxh:localonly.” Users must now create a Microsoft account to proceed with installation, although a potential workaround involves entering a birth date of today during the account creation process to create an offline account. Enterprise editions of Windows are expected to still support local accounts before joining corporate domains. Concerns have been raised about the possibility of stricter regulations on workarounds for offline installations.

Winsage

October 7, 2025

Microsoft is cracking down on people creating local accounts on Windows

Microsoft is eliminating methods for creating local accounts during the out-of-box experience (OOBE) in Windows 11, requiring users to log in with a Microsoft account. This change aims to ensure devices are fully configured and connected to the internet during setup. The patch notes indicate that bypassing the Microsoft account setup could lead to incomplete device configurations. Currently, this update is in testing phases, allowing a limited opportunity for users to create local accounts before the feature is fully removed.