Install Windows 11 Without a Microsoft Account (Local Account)

There are a few different ways to create a local account while installing Windows 11 and I will explain a few (for large enterprise environments you should be using Windows Autopilot). The reason you would want to do this is you don’t want to connect your computer to a Microsoft Account. I personally don’t like having a Microsoft account connected to my computer to use it.

You will follow Windows 11 install process until you will come to the screen that asks you to add your Microsoft account.

From here there are three different ways to add a local account:

Out-of-box experience Bypass

At the “Add your Microsoft Account” Page you will;

Press Shift+F10
A Command Prompt will appear
Enter this command: OOBE\BYPASSNRO
The computer will restart and the OOBE (out-of-box experience) will start again
Click the “I don’t have internet” option on the “Let’s connect you to a network”
Click the “Continue with limited setup” option.
A screen should appear that says “Who’s going to use this device?”
Enter your Local Username
Select “Next”
Enter your Local Password
Select “Next”

Releasing IP Address

At the “Add your Microsoft Account” Page you will;

Press Shift+F10
A Command Prompt will appear
Enter this command: ipconfig /release
Close the Command Prompt window
Click the back arrow (located at the top left of the screen)
A screen should appear that says “Who’s going to use this device?”
Enter your Local Username
Select “Next”
Enter your Local Password
Select “Next”

Using Fake Email

At the “Add your Microsoft Account” Page you will;

enter no@notarealdomain.com
Select “Next”
Enter a random password
Select “Sign in”
If this method works you should get to a screen that say “Oops, something went wrong”
Select “Next”
A screen should appear that says “Who’s going to use this device?”
Enter your Local Username
Select “Next”
Enter your Local Password
Select “Next”