Microsoft really wants all users to sign-in with a Microsoft account during Windows 11 setup, but power users have found ways to circumvent this restriction – despite the company recently closed a loophole (which involves the command OOBE\BYPASSNRO via Shift+F10), another one has emerged with similar effect.
Windows 11’s Cat And Mouse Game Continues
As discovered by @witherornot1337 on X and verified by BleepingComputer, the new workaround is equally simple: press Shift+F10 to start a new Command Prompt window, and type the following:
start ms-chx:localonly
When this is done, a new Windows 10-like dialog pops up prompting user to enter information for a new user account. This bypasses Windows 11’s native user account creation step, thus not requiring you to hand over your email to Microsoft if you so wish.
This discovery came in the nick of time as Microsoft’s latest Insider Build (version 26200.5516) has blocked the OOBE\BYPASSNRO from functioning properly, and the workaround was initially requiring a lengthy (and admittedly risky) command that adds a Windows Registry entry to the system. Specifically, the command is as follows, and require a system restart to apply:
reg add “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE” /v BypassNRO /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
The shorter command should be pretty useful as long as Microsoft don’t actively try to patch it (no guarantees), but in any case, there are certainly more ways than one to circumvent this restriction if you really prefer to operate your PC on a local account – besides the commands, there’s also the Rufus option to remove restrictions in the installation files. Officially, Microsoft recommends account tie-ins which offer seamless activation of product keys during OS reinstalls, software services like OneDrive, and more.
Pokdepinion: People continue to find ways, good thing to see.
