In a significant update to its Windows 11 Insider Dev preview build, Microsoft has eliminated the ‘BypassNRO.cmd’ script, a tool that previously enabled users to circumvent the requirement of logging in with a Microsoft Account during the operating system’s installation process.
Changes to Installation Requirements
The latest release notes for Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5516 state, “We’re removing the bypassnro.cmd script from the build to enhance security and user experience of Windows 11.” This adjustment is indicative of a broader trend within Microsoft to ensure that all users complete the setup process with both internet connectivity and a Microsoft Account.
Since the launch of Windows 11, Microsoft has increasingly emphasized the use of a Microsoft Account, making it challenging for users to set up the operating system with a local account. The rationale behind this shift is to facilitate easier access to Microsoft’s suite of cloud-based features and services, such as the ability to store BitLocker recovery keys securely.
Microsoft elaborates, “When a user signs in with a Microsoft account, the device is connected to cloud services. The user can share many of their settings, preferences, and apps across devices.” However, this requirement has sparked concern among users who prioritize privacy and are wary of potential monitoring by Microsoft.
Prior to this change, many users relied on the ‘C:windowssystem32oobeBypassNRO.cmd’ script to bypass the Microsoft Account requirement. By executing this script during the setup process, users could create a Registry value that allowed them to proceed without an internet connection, thereby enabling the use of a local account.
To run the script, users would press Shift+F10 at the “Let’s connect you to a network” screen, opening a command prompt where they could enter c:windowssystem32oobeBypassNRO.cmd to execute it and subsequently reboot their device.
Source: BleepingComputer
Upon rebooting, the setup process would resume, allowing users to skip networking and set up a local account. While Microsoft has removed the script, the BypassNRO Registry value remains intact for now. Users comfortable with modifying the Windows Registry can still achieve the same outcome by manually entering the following commands:
reg add HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionOOBE /v BypassNRO /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
shutdown /r /t 0
This method can be executed through Regedit, which can be accessed from the Shift+F10 command prompt. However, it is worth noting that there is a possibility Microsoft may eventually disable this Registry value, rendering the workaround ineffective in the future.
