Microsoft is forcing Windows 11 users to create an online Microsoft account after installation. But if you prefer keeping your data offline, here’s how to bypass that requirement.
This Command Will Force Windows 11 to Create a Local Account
New Windows 11 installs since February 2023 force users to log into or create an online Microsoft account to use their PC. Those who don’t want to do that can skip this step by using the “bypassnro” command, but the software giant is apparently closing this loophole.
Thankfully, an X (formerly Twitter) user @witherornot1337 shared a quick and easy way to use Windows 11 with a local account.
When Windows 11 is asking for your country or region, press Shift + F10 on your keyboard and then type start ms-cxh:localonly. This will launch a Microsoft account window, where you can create a username and password without connecting to Microsoft’s servers. Once done, press Next, and you now have an offline Windows 11 PC—simple as that.
Of course, you won’t get the advantages of using a Microsoft Account with Windows if you do this. But if you don’t like the idea of a massive, faceless corporation having access to your data, then the hassle might be worth it.
This technique has been discovered quite recently, and as it becomes more popular, Microsoft might soon take notice. Hopefully, it will take the company a much longer time before closing this loophole. But if it does, there’s a secondary method to keep your computer away from Microsoft’s clutches.
Tweak This Setting in the Registry Editor to Bypass the Microsoft Account Requirement
The second procedure is a bit more involved, as shared by @xpower7125 on X, but it’s a viable solution if the above command refuses to work. When you’re at the Microsoft Account screen after finishing the install of Windows 11, hit Shift + F10, then type regedit.
Once the Registry Editor window is open, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE. From there, open HideOnlineAccountScreens and change the Value data to 1.
While not officially endorsed by Microsoft as a way for the average user to bypass its login requirement, the company actually explains what this command does on the Windows Hardware Developer support page. By setting the value to 1 or true, the sign-in page is hidden during the Windows 11 OOBE setup process. This means you can just create a local account instead of an online one when logging in for the first time.
The page specifically says this is for enterprise users who do not want their employees to connect their email address with their Windows PC. But even if you’re a Home or Pro user, you can take advantage of this feature as long as you know how to use it.
