In the evolving landscape of operating systems, Windows 11 has made headlines for its insistence on Microsoft account integration. However, for those who prefer a more traditional approach, the latest version, Windows 11 24H2, offers a pathway to bypass this requirement and utilize a local user account seamlessly.
Installation Steps for Windows 11 24H2
To embark on this journey, users can begin by downloading the official ISO file from Microsoft. This file serves as the foundation for installing Windows 11 24H2 or creating a USB installation stick. Notably, additional tools like Rufus are unnecessary, as the installation process is designed to be straightforward and user-friendly.
As the installation progresses, users will encounter a prompt requesting a Microsoft account login. At this juncture, a simple yet effective key combination—Shift + F10 (or Shift + Fn + F10 on some notebooks)—will open a command prompt, allowing the creation of a local user account.
To create a local user, the following command can be entered:
net user "your_username" /add
It’s essential to replace your_username with a unique identifier that differs from the PC name. The next step involves adding this user to the local administrator’s group with the command:
net localgroup "Administrators" "your_username" /add
After setting up the user, a couple more commands prepare the system for a restart:
cd oobe
msoobe.exe && shutdown -r
Upon rebooting, Windows 11 will display a message indicating an incorrect username or password. Users should confirm this and select the newly created local account from the list, allowing them to complete the installation process as if it were a conventional setup.
Once the installation wraps up, users can enjoy the full functionality of Windows 11 Home without the constraints of a Microsoft account. For those who later decide to utilize a Microsoft account, the option remains available within the Windows settings.
Additionally, users can assign a password to their local account by accessing the command prompt with administrator rights and executing:
net user yourusername yourpassword
This command effectively secures the account, providing an extra layer of protection while maintaining the flexibility of a local user experience.
With these steps, Windows 11 24H2 becomes accessible to a broader audience, catering to both traditionalists and those seeking a modern computing experience.
