Anyone who has set up Windows 11 recently will know that Microsoft really wants you to set up a Microsoft account to finish the process. Many have been frustrated by this, and some have found clever ways of circumventing the process.

There are many reasons why someone might not want to use a Microsoft Account when setting up Windows 11. Perhaps they are building or repairing a computer for someone else, perhaps the PC is about to be sold, or perhaps it is intended to be a standalone device not connected to the internet.

Despite these valid use-cases, Microsoft has attempted to remove or hide the option to complete Windows setup using only a local user account. Microsoft has even taken action to block BYPASSNRO, a popular workaround. However, Twitter/X user WitherOrNot1337 discovered a new way to bypass the online requirement check.

This new local account workaround is easy

By pressing Shift and the F10 key during the initial setup and typing in “start ms-cxh:localonly” into the console window, the online requirement can be circumvented. This trick only works on Home and Pro versions of Windows 11. These versions of the OS lack the “I don't have internet' option, which can still be found in Enterprise, Education, and IoT versions of Windows 11.

Back in July 2024, Microsoft went into detail about the online requirements, explaining that using a Microsoft account can offer ‘seamless integration' of Windows services, as well as greater security and the ability to sync settings across multiple devices.

Many users, however, prefer to have greater control over the install experience and resent being forced to resort to this type of workaround. As user KoudeKletser said, “Microsoft hates consumers. Current OOBE is outdated. It’s 2025. If I want to install Windows without an internet connection (or other options), I should not have to do anything special. But no.”

Other users have started turning to Linux, SteamOS, or even older versions of Windows to avoid what many view as the overly intrusive requirements of Windows 11.

About the Author

Rebecca Hills-Duty

Writing and journalism experience at VRFocus, UploadVR, The Escapist, HTC, PC Gamer, Tech Radar+ and Dexerto. Can sometimes be found playing with retro tech.