Microsoft blocks another way to install Windows with a local account
Installing Windows 11 with a local account is becoming increasingly difficult. Microsoft has now blocked a popular workaround.
(Image: mundissima/Shutterstock.com)
Many users do not want to set up their Windows 11 with an online Microsoft account, but with a local account instead. However, Microsoft has something against this and wants to push the use of cloud services and accounts. The US company has now blocked a simple and frequently used way of enabling the use of a local account. However, another workaround still works.
The popular and frequently used method of entering a non-existent name such as "Windows" or "Microsoft" and an arbitrary (invalid) password when installing Windows can no longer be used. Instead of being told that the account is locked for security reasons and then given the option to set up a local account, those who try to do so are simply redirected back to entering an account. Users on X (formerly Twitter) noticed this last week.
Working variant for Win 11 installation with local account
A variant for installing Windows 11 with a local account still works. To achieve this, cut the network connections during installation. Windows then indicates that there is no Internet connection. The key combination Shift (Shift) and F10 at the same time opens the Windows command prompt. The command oobe\bypassnro will then restart the Windows setup. After setting the country and keyboard again, the prompt to set up an account appears, but with the option "I don't have Internet", which allows you to create a local account.
Microsoft is thus making it increasingly difficult to use Windows with just a local account and without cloud services.
Around a year ago, a tip appeared in c't magazine about how to enter an invalid account to create a local account. This is no longer necessary. Fortunately, there is still another way for interested parties to get around the online account requirement.
(dmk)