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Microsoft is closing more loopholes that allowed users to set up Windows 11 with a local account. Users will now be required to connect their PCs to the internet and use a Microsoft account to complete the process.
"We are removing known mechanisms for creating a local account in the Windows Setup experience (OOBE)," Microsoft says in a blog post. "While these mechanisms were often used to bypass Microsoft account setup, they also inadvertently skip critical setup screens, potentially causing users to exit OOBE with a device that is not fully configured for use."
Microsoft has required both an internet connection and a Microsoft account to set up Windows 11 since February 2023. Users, however, found a way around this by opening Command Prompt during setup and entering "bypassnro."
Microsoft blocked that workaround in March, and with the latest update, it has blocked the newer "start ms-cxh:localonly" command.
These two commands no longer let you bypass the setup page. While the system reboots with both, they bring you back to the same setup page, Windows Latest reports. The changes roll out with the latest Windows 11 preview builds, which means they may become available on the production version in the coming weeks.
Additional ways to get around Windows 11 setup may exist but those will likely get be shut down by Microsoft when they're discovered, Windows Central notes.
Reactions to the new update have largely been negative on social media. "As someone who works in IT. This is infuriating tbh. Especially when I need to format a PC and make a local account on it," wrote one user on Reddit. "I wonder if Microsoft secretly wants everyone to switch to Linux. There are certainly fewer reasons to stick to Windows every day," writes another user on X.