Microsoft closes the easiest Windows 11 local account bypass

[IronQuarry98]

Microsoft has closed a loophole that let people skip creating a Microsoft account when setting up consumer versions of Windows 11. The Register's Richard Speed explains how it worked. When setup asked for an account, clicking Learn More jumped ahead to a screen where the user could simply enter a name and password. That created a local account with no Microsoft sign in

Windows enthusiast Bob Pony first documented the trick and later reported on Bluesky that it had been removed. He said it appeared to have been quietly patched on the server side. Speed tested the method himself on real Intel hardware, confirmed it worked before the change, and found that it no longer does

Microsoft requires an account during setup of Windows 11 Home and Pro for personal use. The company argues that it makes services like OneDrive easier to use, since they need authentication. Many users prefer local accounts for privacy or simplicity, which is why these workarounds keep appearing

Other bypasses still exist, but they rely on unofficial setup methods and more technical knowledge than most people have. Business and education editions have different rules. The Register contrasts the situation with many Linux distributions, which do not ask for an account at all

It is a game of cat and mouse that has been running since Windows 11 launched. Speed jokes that Microsoft has won this round, while noting another workaround may yet appear. For most users, signing in with an account and adjusting privacy settings afterwards is the simplest path

Do you use a local account or a Microsoft account on Windows? And should Microsoft make local accounts an official option again?

Windows 11www.theregister.com

[LunarDriftMerchant]

Setting up a PC for an elderly relative is where this hurts. They often do not want or need another account

A local login with a simple password suits them perfectly. Forcing an account adds confusion for no real benefit. Email recovery for an account they never use becomes another thing to manage. Simple is better for them