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

LesFerch · Jun 5, 2024

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

For a bare metal build, oobe\bypassnro is fine for me, but for my VMWare builds, I want a convenient method that doesn't require disconnecting my network connection. Using ipconfig /release sound promising. I have a hard-wired connection, so there is no network connection screen, but that might not matter. I'll test soon and report back. Thanks @BobOmb.

jimbo45 · Jun 5, 2024

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

@spapakons

My method (but inspired by your suggestion) --- simple : (same works for W11 pro)

@LesFerch Try the "join domain" method -- no need for re-boots etc - choose School or Work computer rather than Home and it should proceed with a local account -- no need to actually have a domain. On a HOME LAN -- not even a prompt for one !!!.

I don't use W11 HOME so I can't say on that version of the OS but works perfectly on W11 Pro and W11 for Workstations.

cheers
jimbo

Bree · Jun 5, 2024

jimbo45 said:
Try the "join domain" method -- no need for re-boots etc - choose School or Work computer rather than Home and it should proceed with a local account -- no need to actually have a domain. On a HOME LAN -- not even a prompt for one !!!.

I don't use W11 HOME so I can't say on that version of the OS but works perfectly on W11 Pro and W11 for Workstations.

Home can't join a domain, so this is not an option.

~~While this trick works for your 26227 build, it no longer works in the RP 26100.xxx build that is going to become the RTM release...~~

Edit: Ah, it DOES work after all - I hadn't tried clicking 'Sign-in options'....

LesFerch · Jun 5, 2024

Bree said:
Home can't join a domain, so this is not an option.

Yup. I typically do Home builds.

spapakons · Jun 5, 2024

LesFerch said:
For a bare metal build, oobe\bypassnro is fine for me, but for my VMWare builds, I want a convenient method that doesn't require disconnecting my network connection. Using ipconfig /release sound promising. I have a hard-wired connection, so there is no network connection screen, but that might not matter. I'll test soon and report back. Thanks @BobOmb.

Virtual machines are even easier. All you have to do is disable the virtual network before it loads Windows 11 for the first time (OOBE stage) and enable it again when you see the desktop. We are talking about a couple of clicks, no big deal.

Bree · Jun 5, 2024

jimbo45 said:
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 .

You're right, it DOES work when you click on the Sign-in options and choose Domain join instead.

-

spapakons · Jun 5, 2024

Pity this trick doesn't work for Windows 11 Home as by default it cannot join a domain.

hsehestedt · Jun 5, 2024

Of course, there is one more method that everyone forgets about, probably because it may seem intimidating at first. That method is to simply drop an unattended answer file onto your installation media. Even if you don't have the intention of performing an unattended installation, you can use a cut-down answer file that does nothing more than create a local user account for you while everything else in Windows setup remains the same. In other words, the user gets all the same prompts except that a local user account is created automatically, and you never have to specify a Microsoft account during setup.

spapakons · Jun 5, 2024

There is another method. I haven't tried that, but in theory it should work. At any screen press CTRL+SHIFT+F3 to enter Audit Mode. This means that you skip the initial configuration (OOBE stage) and you login with the built-it Administrator account. Now you can install drivers and applications and - guess what - create a local account. Upon restart Windows should detect the local account and would skip creating one. OK, it might be bug you to convert the local account to Microsoft account, but it should have a skip or do it later option.

LesFerch · Jun 5, 2024

spapakons said:
There is another method. I haven't tried that, but in theory it should work. At any screen press CTRL+SHIFT+F3 to enter Audit Mode. This means that you skip the initial configuration (OOBE stage) and you login with the built-it Administrator account. Now you can install drivers and applications and - guess what - create a local account. Upon restart Windows should detect the local account and would skip creating one. OK, it might be bug you to convert the local account to Microsoft account, but it should have a skip or do it later option.

I thought you can't create an account in audit mode. Did you test that?

fg2001gf11F · Jun 5, 2024

BobOmb said:
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

I already tried that, and it was not enough, had to use oobe\bypassnro and let it reboot, then ipconfig /release to disconnect the network.

LesFerch · Jun 5, 2024

spapakons said:
Virtual machines are even easier. All you have to do is disable the virtual network before it loads Windows 11 for the first time (OOBE stage) and enable it again when you see the desktop. We are talking about a couple of clicks, no big deal.

I'm not sure there is an easy way to disable the virtual network with VMWare Workstation Player. I'll have to check that. I could also look at VMWare Pro now that it's free for personal use.

Winuser · Jun 5, 2024

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

And be rewarded with a stupid user name that is the first five characters of your email address. IMHO, It's better install with a local account and if wanted, switch to a MS account later.

Winuser · Jun 5, 2024

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

I hope your correct about this method not getting closed but with MS, I wouldn't bet on it.

fg2001gf11F · Jun 5, 2024

Bree said:
You're right, it DOES work when you click on the Sign-in options and choose Domain join instead.

-

Yes, I just tried "work and school" > Sign-in options > selected Domain and it went straight to the local account setup.
Used official MS 26100.560 installation media.
That still works, without disconnecting and goes through all the updates.
It came up directly updated to 26100.712.
I like this method much better without the need for disconnecting, it gets all the updates too.

We'll see how long it will take to MS to screw this up too.

Microsoft seems like the "Office for the complications of simple affairs".
Or like they say in Italy "UCAS" (Ufficio Complicazioni Affari Semplici)

spapakons · Jun 5, 2024

LesFerch said:
I'm not sure there is an easy way to disable the virtual network with VMWare Workstation Player. I'll have to check that. I could also look at VMWare Pro now that it's free for personal use.

You go from VMWare Workstation menus, VM->Removable Devices->Network Adapter->Disconnect. To reconnect you go VM->Removable Devices->Network Adapter->Connect It should be similarly easy in other virtual machine applications.

spapakons · Jun 5, 2024

LesFerch said:
I thought you can't create an account in audit mode. Did you test that?

I haven't tested it in Windows 11, but you should be able to add users in Settings. I'll do it next time I install Windows 11 out of curiosity and post here.

BobOmb · Jun 5, 2024

fg2001gf11F said:
I already tried that, and it was not enough, had to use oobe\bypassnro and let it reboot, then ipconfig /release to disconnect the network.

I had already run bypassnro when i tried it

So then let me recap it...

Firstly, you will not be able to do this if in S-Mode, (Shift+F10) will not work, you will need to disable it. To do so use the following steps.

1.) Enter recovery mode by interrupting 3 boots (hard power down during the spinning circle)

2.) Select Troubleshoot>Advanced Options>Command Prompt

3.) Enter the following

Batch:

REG ADD HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\CI\Policy /v SkuPolicyRequired /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

4.) Reboot and enter BIOS, Disable Secureboot, then save your settings and restart the machine

S-Mode will be off :wink:

Next... At any step during the setup process press (Shift+F10) to open a CMD prompt and enter the following

Batch:

oobe\bypassnro

The machine will reboot...

For Windows Pro and above users, when prompted to sign-in with a MS account, select the option "Sign-In Options", "Domain join instead" to create a local user

For Windows Home users, when prompted to sign-in with a MS account, (Shift+F10) can be pressed again to open a CMD prompt and the following would need to be entered

Batch:

ipconfig /release

Then enter any information into the MS account sign-in prompt, and it should fail, allowing you to create a local account instead..

EDIT: Had to fix the recovery entry instructions on step 1 for S-Mode because the start menu option I had listed isnt available on first run..

EDIT #2: Some Windows Home users will need to click “Learn More” to make the MS account creation fail completely, after seeing the “Oops something went wrong” window

fg2001gf11F · Jun 5, 2024

BobOmb said:
I had already run bypassnro when i tried it

So then let me recap it...

Firstly, you will not be able to do this if in S-Mode, (Shift+F10) will not work, you will need to disable it. To do so use the following steps.

1.) Enter recovery mode by interrupting 3 boots (hard power down during the spinning circle)

2.) Select Troubleshoot>Advanced Options>Command Prompt

3.) Enter the following

Batch:

REG ADD HKLM\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\CI\Policy /v SkuPolicyRequired /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

4.) Reboot and enter BIOS, Disable Secureboot, then save your settings and restart the machine

S-Mode will be off

Next... At any step during the setup process press (Shift+F10) to open a CMD prompt and enter the following

Batch:

oobe\bypassnro

The machine will reboot...

For Windows Pro and above users, when prompted to sign-in with a MS account, select the option "Sign-In Options", "Domain join instead" to create a local user

For Windows Home users, when prompted to sign-in with a MS account, (Shift+F10) can be pressed again to open a CMD prompt and the following would need to be entered

Batch:

ipconfig /release

Then enter any information into the MS account sign-in prompt, and it should fail, allowing you to create a local account instead..

EDIT: Had to fix the recovery entry instructions on step 1 for S-Mode because the start menu option I had listed isnt available on first run..

Looks like yet another MS Complication of Simple Affairs.

spapakons · Jun 6, 2024

The workarounds we discuss here apply to the usual versions of Windows 11, Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro. Any other version might require additional or different steps. For Example Windows 11 S mode must first converted to Windows 11 Home like mentioned above. You could do it in Audit mode (press CTRL+SHIFT+F3).