Microsoft enforces Microsoft Account and internet requirements in Windows 11 setup
Microsoft is tightening the Windows 11 setup process, preventing users from easily bypassing the Microsoft Account requirement. Starting with preview builds 26220.6772 and 26120.6772, previously known commands such as BYPASSNRO and 'start ms-cxh:localonly' no longer allow users to skip online accoun... [More info]
Microsoft enforces Microsoft Account and internet requirements in Windows 11 setup
@aibot What do you think about Microsoft tightening Windows 11 setup to require Microsoft Accounts—does this improve security or just limit user freedom to create local accounts?
Microsoft Cierra el Último «Truco» para Instalar Windows 11 sin Cuenta Online
Microsoft ha lanzado una nueva vista previa de Windows 11 que elimina las facilidades para crear cuentas de usuario locales durante la instalación del sistema operativo. La compañía justifica esta acción por supuestos fallos en la configuración inicial (OOBE), exigiendo ahora una conexión a Internet y una cuenta de Microsoft obligatoria para la correcta configuración . Esta medida frustrará a muchos usuarios avanzados, aunque todavía existen métodos alternativos para evitar el registro en línea.
El cambio, introducido en la vista previa Build 26220.6772 de Windows 11 para el programa Insider, se centra en modificar la Experiencia de Configuración Inicial (OOBE, por sus siglas en inglés). Históricamente, los usuarios avanzados y administradores de sistemas habían descubierto y utilizado varios métodos sencillos o «trucos» que permitían saltarse el requisito de iniciar sesión con una cuenta de Microsoft (MSA) y, en su lugar, configurar una cuenta local fuera de línea .
Microsoft ha decidido eliminar estos bypass conocidos, argumentando que su uso provocaba problemas en el proceso OOBE y dejaba algunos dispositivos con una configuración incompleta. Para asegurar el «correcto» funcionamiento del sistema y la finalización adecuada de la configuración, la empresa de Redmond ahora exige la autenticación con una MSA activa y una conexión a internet durante el OOBE.
Esta decisión es vista como un paso más en la estrategia a largo plazo de Microsoft para migrar a todos sus usuarios hacia ecosistemas en línea. A pesar de los intentos de la compañía por suavizar el cambio (como ofrecer una opción para personalizar el nombre de la carpeta de perfil de la cuenta en línea), la obligación de pasar por una MSA para la configuración inicial se mantiene firme.
No obstante, el artículo señala que, aunque se cierran estas puertas fáciles, los usuarios con determinación y conocimientos técnicos aún disponen de alternativas para «ir por lo local». Herramientas de terceros como Rufus y Ventoy, así como las imágenes de instalación desatendidas, seguirán siendo viables para aquellos que busquen evitar el uso de una cuenta de Microsoft durante la instalación de Windows 11.
#arielmcorg #CuentasLocales #infosertec #InstalaciónWindows #microsoft #MicrosoftAccount #OOBE #PORTADA #tecnología #Windows11
Microsoft makes it even harder for users to use local accounts
In the series of non-ending mistakes that Microsoft did since the release of Windows 11, the biggest of them was to try to get people to sign in to their Microsoft account instead of using the local account when first setting up their Windows 11 installation, especially when targeting those who use the Windows 11 Home edition. Since then, Microsoft have been taking efforts to take down known bypass methods to get around the Microsoft Account sign in requirement, such as removing the bypassnro.cmd file from the %WINDIR%\System32\oobe folder, while still allowing the local-only workarounds with start ms-cxh:localonly.
Now, Microsoft continued to play their chess game at doubling down on requiring users to sign in to their Microsoft account by releasing a new Windows 11 Insider version v26120.6772. According to their official blog, Microsoft explained that they’ve removed all known workarounds, because 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. Users will need to complete OOBE with internet and a Microsoft account, to ensure device is setup correctly.”
According to Windows Latest, Microsoft is still testing the requirement, and it might make it to the final Windows 11 ISOs when 2026 starts, which is going to be the worst way to start the new year.
Basically, Microsoft had said “Checkmate” to all users who are planning to using local accounts in new installations, which is disrespectful to users who didn’t want an MSA to sign in to Windows.
We are absolutely not going to sign in to our Microsoft account in all our new Windows 11 installations, especially when dealing with virtual machines, due to our internal requirements we cannot specify. This change doesn’t account for situations where local accounts are necessary, such as temporary virtual machines, test machines, and enterprise-oriented machines. It also doesn’t account for situations where the internet access is limited or nonexistent, such as lab equipment or air gapped systems, or for users who prefer privacy first.
When creating bootable Windows USBs, Rufus already provides an option to remove the requirement for Microsoft Account when setting up your computer. When it’s enabled, it adds the same command to the deployment file.
If Microsoft is to block this method of bypass through the unattended file, it might have a negative impact towards major enterprise infrastructure. Local accounts require no internet connectivity to sign in to Windows, and has been this way since the introduction of Windows NT, while the Microsoft account sign-in to Windows function was added to Windows 8.
If a workaround is found other than the Rufus unattended file workaround, we’ll post it here to continue letting users to make their local account.
#microsoft #MicrosoftAccount #MSA #news #Tech #Technology #update #Windows #Windows11
"Microsoft Locked My Account – I Lost 30 Years of Photos and Work"
#HackerNews #MicrosoftAccount #LostPhotos #DataLoss #TechSupport #30YearsOfWork
Learn how to create a local user account in Windows 11—no Microsoft login, no cloud sync, just privacy and full control.
🎥 Watch now: https://youtu.be/A6Tx38oFjiE
#Windows11 #LocalAccount #MicrosoftAccount #UserAccount #howtoGuide #Tech #technology #TechTutorials #Windows
In Windows 11, a local account is limited to a single device, while a Microsoft account can be used across multiple devices and Microsoft services. Read the key Differences Between and Which Should You Choose in 2025? https://windows101tricks.com/local-account-vs-microsoft-account/
#windows #windows11 #MicrosoftAccount #LocalUserAccount #TechTutorial #TechGuide #HowToGuide #Microsoft
If you use a #MicrosoftAccount to log in to Windows, it automagically saves a #passkey that will let you into your online account, without needing Two-Step Verification.
The weirdness is: it does not work as a backup Two-Step Verification method when you use Chrome, or even an InPrivate Edge window!
https://superuser.com/questions/1896039/microsoft-account-passkey-login-only-works-correctly-on-microsoft-edge-non-priv
Microsoft Makes New Consumer Accounts Passwordless by Default
#Microsoft #Passkeys #Passwordless #Cybersecurity #Authentication #Security #WorldPasskeyDay #WindowsHello #MicrosoftAccount #TechNews
🙅♂️ Don’t want a Microsoft account just to use Windows 11? You’re not alone. Learn how to bypass the account requirement and set up your PC your way—quick, easy, and legit. #Windows11 #MicrosoftAccount
https://pupuweb.com/how-to-bypass-microsoft-account-requirement-in-windows-11/
New Windows 11 trick lets you bypass Microsoft Account requirement
#HackerNews #Windows11 #Trick #Bypass #MicrosoftAccount #TechNews #HackingTips
A better Microsoft Account bypass method
Following the event of where Microsoft has removed the bypassnro.cmd file from the oobe folder to attempt to force everyone to set up their PCs with a Microsoft account and a controversy following Microsoft’s statement of “This change ensures that all users exit setup with internet connectivity and a Microsoft Account,” the internet has blown up with outcry across several websites, especially Reddit:
Normally, you’d think that the bypass has been removed. However, people have recently uncovered the contents of the bypassnro.cmd file that will be shown below. Now, we have a completely new bypass method involving a single short command to be run in the command prompt.
reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE /v BypassNRO /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /fshutdown /r /t 0Checkmate, Microsoft!
A tipster at X has recently shown a video showcasing how to bypass the Microsoft account requirement without having to write the above commands. It involves running CMD and executing the “start ms-cxh:localonly” command. The tipster claims that it is only required for both Home and Pro editions.
At any point in the OOBE, you can perform the following steps:
start ms-cxh:localonlyDon’t fret by “Microsoft Account” in the title bar and references to “child or teenager accounts” in the dialog box itself; they are unrelated to the local account. If everything goes well, the OOBE should exit and proceed immediately to the “Setting up your PC” screen. You may be prompted to review your privacy settings.
We have saved a copy of the video, in case the video gets taken down. You can find it here.
Now, you should be in your empty desktop.
Image by diana.grytsku on Freepik
#BypassNRO #BypassNROCmd #microsoft #MicrosoftAccount #MicrosoftWindows #msCxh #msCxhLocalonly #msCxhLocalonly #news #Tech #Technology #update #Windows
Sunday March 30, 2024 at 3pm PT / 6pm ET
Why I don't trust Tom's Hardware Anymore - A Discussion of Concern #windows #windows11
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzP22iFL-RA
#windows #windows11 #careyholzman #careyholzmanreview #tomshardware #microsoftaccount #requirements #bypassnro
😂🎉 Breaking news: Microsoft has somehow found a way to make "mandatory" even more mandatory! Now, if you even think of using Windows 11, prepare to pledge your firstborn to a Microsoft Account. Welcome to the future, where "skip to content" means skipping to more sign-ins. 🔒💻
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/03/new-windows-11-build-makes-mandatory-microsoft-account-sign-in-even-more-mandatory/ #MicrosoftAccount #Windows11 #MandatorySignIns #TechNews #FutureOfSoftware #HackerNews #ngated
Microsoft removes bypassnro.cmd script from the latest Insider Preview
Microsoft has recently released a promising Windows 11 24H2 insider build known as 26120.3653 under KB5053658 that brings in many changes, such as the new Blue Screen of Death appearance for unexpected system restarts to match the latest Windows 11 design guidelines as you can see below:
However, that’s not all, as Microsoft has recently decided to remove the bypassnro.cmd script from the build located under the %WINDIR%\System32\oobe folder. This script was mentioned a lot when it comes to bypassing the requirement for the Internet connection and signing in to the Microsoft Account.
We know that signing in to Microsoft Account in computers that are under big deployment for businesses, computers that are used by multiple people, or computers that don’t need to be linked to any account doesn’t make sense, so how did Microsoft manage to push everyone further into signing in to their Microsoft Account for new installations? By removing this script!
They said that it was because they wanted to “enhance security and user experience of Windows 11” and that this change ensured that “all users exit setup with internet connectivity and a Microsoft Account.”
As a workaround, if you’re experiencing errors when trying to run this script in this build, likely due to it being nonexistent, use the below commands as that’s what bypassnro.cmd does:
reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE /v BypassNRO /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /fshutdown /r /t 0When creating bootable Windows USBs, Rufus already provides an option to remove the requirement for Microsoft Account when setting up your computer. When it’s enabled, it adds the same command to the deployment file.
#BypassNRO #BypassNROCmd #Computers #microsoft #MicrosoftAccount #MicrosoftWindows #news #Tech #Technology #update #Windows #Windows11
Upcoming Windows 11 builds cannot install without internet and Microsoft Account
https://infosec.exchange/@wdormann/114242475168860209
#HackerNews #Windows11 #InternetRequirement #MicrosoftAccount #TechNews #OperatingSystem
Microsoft removes the 'bypassnro' command in the latest #Windows11 preview build, ending the ability to skip Microsoft Account sign-in during installation. 🚫 #TechNews #WindowsUpdate #Microsoft #Windows11Insider #WindowsBuild #TechCommunity #MicrosoftAccount
Windows 11 is closing a loophole that let you skip making a Microsoft account
https://www.theverge.com/news/638967/microsoft-windows-11-account-internet-bypass-blocked
#HackerNews #Windows11 #MicrosoftAccount #Loophole #Bypass #News #TechUpdates
How to Remove #MobileDevices (phone) from #MicrosoftAccount (#MSA) on #Windows11 PC
https://www.elevenforum.com/t/remove-mobile-devices-from-microsoft-account-on-windows-11-pc.34265/
