Among the various minor to medium-sized inconveniences that accompany a fresh installation of Windows 11, the necessity of signing in with a Microsoft account stands out as particularly vexing. While it is common practice for operating systems—including those from Apple and Google—to encourage users to sign in during setup, this requirement can feel cumbersome, especially when it restricts access to certain features until the sign-in process is complete.
Over the past few years, a range of sanctioned and unsanctioned methods have emerged, allowing users to bypass this requirement and set up their PCs using traditional local accounts. However, recent developments suggest that Microsoft is tightening its grip on this aspect of the user experience. In a recent update to the Dev channel of the Windows Insider Preview program (build number 26220.6772), the company announced its intention to “remove known mechanisms for creating a local account in the Windows Setup experience (OOBE).” This move indicates a future version of Windows may make it increasingly difficult to circumvent the account requirement.
Changes in Setup Mechanisms
Microsoft’s announcement highlights the removal of certain commands that previously allowed users to bypass the Microsoft account requirement. Notably, the “OOBEBYPASSNRO” workaround, which was flagged for removal earlier this year, and the more recently documented “start ms-cxh:localonly” command have both been eliminated. In current iterations of Windows, users could access a command prompt during setup by pressing Shift+F10 and entering these commands to eliminate the need for a Microsoft account and an Internet connection.
Additionally, Windows 11 Pro has offered an alternative workaround, permitting users to indicate their intention to join a corporate domain as a means to create a local account. The status of this particular mechanism in the latest build remains uncertain.
While Microsoft refers to “critical setup screens” that may be skipped when using these workarounds, the specifics of what constitutes these screens remain ambiguous. Users employing the workarounds still encounter essential prompts for creating an account and password, along with options for adjusting basic privacy settings. In contrast, signing in with a Microsoft account introduces additional screens that promote services like Microsoft 365 and Xbox Game Pass, as well as features such as the data-collecting Windows Recall on compatible devices. From a user-centric perspective, these promotional screens may not be deemed “critical,” yet they align with Microsoft’s broader priorities and objectives.
