Solved install windows 11 with a local account instead of a microsoft account

spapakons · Apr 19, 2024

It is actually faster because as already mentioned you can type the command at the first screen (choose your region). You don't have to answer all the screens up to the network screen since after restart they will start again from choosing your region. And yes, you must be disconnected from the internet both for an actual computer and a virtual machine for any methods to work.

LesFerch · Apr 19, 2024

spapakons said:
It is actually faster because as already mentioned you can type the command at the first screen (choose your region). You don't have to answer all the screens up to the network screen since after restart they will start again from choosing your region. And yes, you must be disconnected from the internet both for an actual computer and a virtual machine for any methods to work.

You don't need to be disconnected from the Internet if you just enter a for the account and password. I do that all the time while connected.

Update: Tested. It ~~takes more time, and~~ is less convenient (for me), than staying connected to the Internet and entering a (or whatever letter you like) at the initial account and password prompts.

The only reason I would use oobe\bypassnro is a scenario where I want to build from a specific ISO and NOT let Windows apply any updates. I did that recently where I built the original Windows 11 22000.194 to confirm that "Also apply this template to all subfolders" did indeed work when Windows 11 was first released.

spapakons · Apr 19, 2024

What do you mean it takes more time to use the oobe\bypassnro command? You are doing it wrong. As I said you don't have to reply to all screens until the network screen to use the command. At the very first screen (choose your region) press SHIFT+F10 to open a Command Prompt and execute the command. The computer will restart to the first screen (choose your region). Now reply to all the screens and at the network screen click the blue text "I don't have an internet connection" to allow you to create a local account. Of course this won't work if you are connected to the internet. The connection is detected and you go directly to the screen were you create a Microsoft account. Yes, you can just use a fake email and password to bypass it, but it beats the purpose of using the command. In 23H2 the blue text "I don't have an internet connection" is hidden to force the users connect to the internet and create a Microsoft account. The command unhides this option and restarts the computer to take effect.

LesFerch · Apr 19, 2024

spapakons said:
What do you mean it takes more time to use the oobe\bypassnro command? You are doing it wrong.

I didn't "do it wrong", but I am mistaken about it taking longer.

I ran through it again and timed it. My test build took 10:30 with the network enabled and entering a for the account and password. It took 9:40 using oobe\bypassnro with the network disabled. Apparently I perceived it to take longer because it was more hands-on (i.e. disabling and then later enabling the network and entering an extra command). The number of clicks and keystrokes was similar. About 13 clicks with the network enabled and about 9 clicks plus typing a 14 character command with the network disabled. In my case there was also 7 clicks x 2 to disable and enable my ethernet and WIFI adapters.

For me, it's more convenient to leave the network enabled and enter a for the account and password, but it's good to know about the oobe\bypassnro method just in case the other method fails.

garlin · Apr 19, 2024

For a non-technical user, it's easier for them to use Rufus' option to implement BypassRNO on the USB drive. All it does is create an unattended file, which performs the same "reg add" command as the OOBE script.

fg2001gf11F · Jun 4, 2024

LesFerch said:
Sounds to me like using OOBE\BypassNRO takes more time than just typing a for the account and password, since it adds a reboot.

Using fake MS user IDs does not work anymore to get the local account option.
oobe\bypassnro while disconnected from the internet is the only option that still works with 24H2.

MisterEd · Jun 4, 2024

fg2001gf11F said:
Using fake MS user IDs does not work anymore to get the local account option.
oobe\bypassnro while disconnected from the internet is the only option that still works with 24H2.

Or, you can just use your Microsoft account during the setup and just change it to a local account after Windows is installed.

Bree · Jun 4, 2024

fg2001gf11F said:
Using fake MS user IDs does not work anymore to get the local account option.
oobe\bypassnro while disconnected from the internet is the only option that still works with 24H2.

There is one other option that allows you to create a local account while remaining connected to the internet, but it's only available in Pro. I've just tested this and it still works in 24H2.

Rather than setting up for personal use, choose 'for work or school' instead, then give a fake domain name. Unlike when using a personal email address it doesn't check that this domain is valid, so will then go straight to setting up a local account.

fg2001gf11F · Jun 4, 2024

Bree said:
There is one other option that allows you to create a local account while remaining connected to the internet, but it's only available in Pro. I've just tested this and it still works in 24H2.

Rather than setting up for personal use, choose 'for work or school' instead, then give a fake domain name. Unlike when using a personal email address it doesn't check that this domain is valid, so will then go straight to setting up a local account.

Good to know, at least till they close that hole too.

I'll give that a try next time.

fg2001gf11F · Jun 5, 2024

Bree said:
There is one other option that allows you to create a local account while remaining connected to the internet, but it's only available in Pro. I've just tested this and it still works in 24H2.

Rather than setting up for personal use, choose 'for work or school' instead, then give a fake domain name. Unlike when using a personal email address it doesn't check that this domain is valid, so will then go straight to setting up a local account.

I tried what you suggested with 26100.560, 24H2 Win 11 Pro installation media on June 4, 2024. I tried different fake ids and always got the red message below. Looks like is checking for a valid email address.

How did you get over this?

I still had to disconnect from the network and use oobe\bypassnro.
To get to this screen for local account, had to select personal use,
with work or school, it kept popping the red message above.

spapakons · Jun 5, 2024

I haven't done it, but when selecting to connect to a domain there should be an option to skip (I am not connected to the domain yet) and create a local account. I rather play safe and use the oobe\bypassnro method.

jimbo45 · Jun 5, 2024

trumpy81 said:
Or you can simply install Windows 11 and when asked for your Microsoft account credentials, enter a bogus email address and password.

E.G. fred@bear.com Password=bear

You will then see a message, There was an error and you will then continue on to create a Local account.

That type of email seems to be blocked these days. If you are lucky enough though to have a license for W11 Enterprise -- at the sign on option choose join a domain -- then if you are on a home LAN it will continue with a local account and not ask for the domain logon credentials. Other versions of W11 prompt you for the domain credentials which error out if not giving a valid domain name.

Cheers
jimbo

fg2001gf11F · Jun 5, 2024

jimbo45 said:
That type of email seems to be blocked these days. If you are lucky enough though to have a license for W11 Enterprise -- at the sign on option choose join a domain -- then if you are on a home LAN it will continue with a local account and not ask for the domain logon credentials. Other versions of W11 prompt you for the domain credentials which error out if not giving a valid domain name.

Cheers
jimbo

I just have Windows 11 Pro, not Enterprise.
The only choices are "personal use" or "work or school".
The only thing that worked with 26100.560 was by using oobe\bypassnro and disconnecting from the network.

cereberus · Jun 5, 2024

It is little understood that the oobe/bypassnro is an official MS way to bypass MS account introduced as it was recognised there are monitoring situtations where pcs cannot be connected to internet e.g. lab use, hospitals even military use.

So this is not a loophole but a design feature. Loopholes get closed. This one should remain untouched.

spapakons · Jun 5, 2024

If you select "Work or School" (domain) you should be able to postpone connection and create a local account. I haven't tried it, but it makes sense. The Administrator might want to install Windows 11 and some applications without connecting the PC to the domain until it has an updated Windows Defender or third-party antivirus. However, it is not that hard to remember NOT to connect the LAN cable (or connect to the Wi-Fi) and then use the oobe\bypassnro method. Many believe that being connected to the internet will download latest drivers and updates. This is what usually causes problems, an inappropriate driver or not-well installed update. It is safer to reach the desktop first and then install any drivers or anything else. So it is very reasonable to stay disconnected from the internet at a new installation until successfully completed and you see the desktop. I do that since Windows XP. I don't trust Windows Update for drivers. I would rather download all drivers and install them carefully one-by-one to prevent BSODs and improve performance.

Bree · Jun 5, 2024

fg2001gf11F said:
I tried what you suggested with 26100.560, 24H2 Win 11 Pro installation media on June 4, 2024. I tried different fake ids and always got the red message below. Looks like is checking for a valid email address.
How did you get over this?

I had tried it in a Canary build 26227.5000 24H2 VM, as it was the most convenient way to test this (I only have 26100.xxx 24H2 on physical machines). I set a checkpoint so I could undo all changes, then Reset the OS to get back to the OOBE. I'll try again on that VM, this time using a 26100.560 ISO to do a clean install.....

Edit: Yes, you are correct. MS have closed that loophole for the RP 26100 build while online

jimbo45 · Jun 5, 2024

Bree said:
I had tried it in a Canary build 26227.5000 24H2 VM, as it was the most convenient way to test this (I only have 26100.xxx 24H2 on physical machines). I set a checkpoint so I could undo all changes, then Reset the OS to get back to the OOBE. I'll try again on that VM, this time using a 26100.560 ISO to do a clean install.....

Edit: Yes, you are correct. MS have closed that loophole for the RP 26100 build while online

@Bree

What's working now for a local account via standard installs etc : I'm using build 26227.5000 iso from UUPDUMP on all these tests -- not sure if canary or dev as the build number is the same in both channels and installed via dism /Apply-Image as I use physical vhdx files. I wanted to test from CLEAN as update works without issue if you go via windows insider.

@spapakons your idea of select school / work DOES enable you to continue with a local account when selecting sign on option with domain -- no domain is checked or even asked for if you are on a home LAN.

1) Select school or work rather than home use for computer
2) Then sign in options --- choose domain

Then it all proceeds OK - worked fine on both W11 pro and W11 for workstations -- wasn't even asked to verify any domain . On Enterprise the domain option comes up at sign in directly. Using this method too avoids all those stupid "please subscribe to these games etc" from the Ms store and personal details including last 4 digits of credit card if you are subscribed to Ms services -- I've subscribed to some stand alone cloud storage from Ms at € 2.00 a month.

Cheers
jimbo

spapakons · Jun 5, 2024

Good to know, thanks. More experienced than me would create an answer file (unattended installation) to automatically create a local account USER, or whatever and they would also inject the drivers and some applications, so when Windows installation finishes you already have them and you are ready to work or play. I remember doing that for Windows XP with nLite. I think vLite is the equivalent for Windows 10/11

BobOmb · Jun 5, 2024

Instead of using BypassNRO, do Shift+F10 when the network connection screen comes up, then connect to a network, then when presented with a sign-in screen, on the CMD prompt window type:

Batch:

ipconfig /release

Afterwards, attempting to sign-in with a MS account should fail, and let the user create a local account instead

spapakons · Jun 5, 2024

All this trouble to avoid a single restart after using the oobe\bypassnro command... Well, it never harms to learn new tricks. Thanks.

Solved install windows 11 with a local account instead of a microsoft account

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