Install Fresh Windows 11 with a local account
Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2023 9:32 pm
Hey everyone, if you have ever tried installing Windows 11, especially the recent 22H2 version, you found that you can't complete the installation without a Microsoft account. Love it or hate it, that seems to be the future Microsoft is pushing on us.
However, there are a few ways to get a fresh install of Windows to work without the need to use a Microsoft account. Here are two that I've found:
1. Use a broken Microsoft account. Sounds simple, and somewhat ironic. If you try to set up Windows with an invalid account, it will complain but then let you proceed to creating a local account. Details are found in this article (https://www.thurrott.com/windows/window ... al-account) and basically, use the "no@thankyou.com" domain as your Microsoft account, with any password, and it will complain and then let you create your account.
2. Bypass the Network OOBE page. This might be a little more difficult, as it requires you to break out of the initial Out of Box Experience, but if you perform the steps found in this article (https://pureinfotech.com/bypass-interne ... indows-11/) - hit Shift+F10 to bring up a command prompt, then run the oobe\bypassnro.cmd file; it will add a setting to the registry that lets you reboot and continue without connecting to the internet.
I hope these are useful for someone!
However, there are a few ways to get a fresh install of Windows to work without the need to use a Microsoft account. Here are two that I've found:
1. Use a broken Microsoft account. Sounds simple, and somewhat ironic. If you try to set up Windows with an invalid account, it will complain but then let you proceed to creating a local account. Details are found in this article (https://www.thurrott.com/windows/window ... al-account) and basically, use the "no@thankyou.com" domain as your Microsoft account, with any password, and it will complain and then let you create your account.
2. Bypass the Network OOBE page. This might be a little more difficult, as it requires you to break out of the initial Out of Box Experience, but if you perform the steps found in this article (https://pureinfotech.com/bypass-interne ... indows-11/) - hit Shift+F10 to bring up a command prompt, then run the oobe\bypassnro.cmd file; it will add a setting to the registry that lets you reboot and continue without connecting to the internet.
I hope these are useful for someone!