Solved Cannot bypass the Microsoft Account setting during a new Windows 11 installation

Al_user_al · Jan 17, 2024

After reading this forum I realised that the topic of setting a local account is quite hot. So was for me.

Setting:
The system I'm trying to freshly install: Windows 11 Pro 22631.2861.
Ubuntu 22.04 is the original system on a Dell Precision 5570.

As was suggested many times here, I created a bootable USB with Rufus with ticks on 1) Disable Microsoft online account, 2) Local account ...

Before that I used NTLite to install Dell drivers (the full set available on the Internet for my Laptop.

During the installation and setting up, on the step "Let's connect you to a Network" I press SHIFT + F10 and type OOBE\BYPASSNRO. It reloads. On the "Is this your country?" I again open Terminal and type ipconfig/release. It outputs "No operation can be performed on Wi-Fi/Local Area Connection/Bluetooth... while it has its media disconnected.". Nevertheless, continuing further it still asks me to connect to a WiFi and I can't ByPass this step anyhow to create local account...

Are there additional suggestions? I just already tried so many ways to reach the final steps I described. Thanks in advance.

trumpy81 · Jan 17, 2024

Rather than go that route, why not install Windows as usual using the ISO from Microsoft with no modifications and while installing Windows it asks you to sign into a Microsoft account, at that point simply use bogus credentials.

E.G. fred@bear.com and password = bear

It will then display a message "Oops! something went wrong" and then the installation will continue to setup a local account for you.

Al_user_al · Jan 17, 2024

trumpy81 said:
Rather than go that route, why not install Windows as usual using the ISO from Microsoft with no modifications and while installing Windows it asks you to sign into a Microsoft account, at that point simply use bogus credentials.

E.G. fred@bear.com and password = bear

Because connecting to a Wi-Fi already isn’t an option for me, there is smth happening when I do it, so I would rather ask if there is a solution without it. If there is one, of course

glasskuter · Jan 17, 2024

I installed 11 on a system just last night and had no problem setting up a local account using the method listed in the clean install tutorial going from step 16 in the tutorial to step 21 using the fake@fake.com method that Brink referred to.

Clean Install Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you step by step on how to clean install Windows 11 at boot on your PC with or without an Internet connection and setup with a local account or Microsoft account. Windows 11 has all the power and security of Windows 10 with a redesigned and refreshed look. It also comes...

www.elevenforum.com

trumpy81 · Jan 17, 2024

Then you could inject your WiFi drivers into the ISO so that it is setup for you.

How to Add/Remove Drivers to a Windows WIM/ISO Install Image | Windows OS Hub

You can simplify the deployment of the operating system on typical workstations (servers) if you add all the necessary drivers to the Drive Store of your Windows install image. In…

woshub.com

Are you able to connect via ethernet using a USB to ethernet adapter (assuming your laptop does not have ethernet)?

Al_user_al · Jan 17, 2024

trumpy81 said:
Are you able to connect via ethernet using a USB to ethernet adapter (assuming your laptop does not have ethernet)?

I haven’t tried yet, but I’m trying to set it without connecting to MS servers, i.e., only setting a local account.

So maybe there is a way to switch of smth in the WIM files or elsewhere, so it does all to do the OOBE\BYPASSNRO…

trumpy81 · Jan 17, 2024

You do NOT have to worry about connecting to the Microsoft servers during installation.

It may connect but it wont be able to verify anything because you will be using bogus credentials.

Do you really think that Microsoft wont know you are using Windows, if you don't connect during installation?

If you are that worried about it, setup uBuntu, they have no affiliation with Microsoft at all.

garlin · Jan 17, 2024

Al_user_al said:
Before that I used NTLite to install Dell drivers (the full set available on the Internet for my Laptop.

If you're using NTLite (even on free edition), remove the two OOBE Network components under System Apps:

Code:

        microsoft.windows.oobenetworkcaptiveportal 'Captive Portal Flow'
        microsoft.windows.oobenetworkconnectionflow 'Network Connection Flow'

This prevents OOBE (Out of Box Experience) from detecting there's a valid network connection (WiFi or ethernet), and allows BYPASSRNO. While you can resort to the fake user account, why not remove the network check from the image?

Bree · Jan 17, 2024

Al_user_al said:
During the installation and setting up, on the step "Let's connect you to a Network" I press SHIFT + F10 and type OOBE\BYPASSNRO. It reloads.

That is correct....

Al_user_al said:
On the "Is this your country?" I again open Terminal and type ipconfig/release. It outputs "No operation can be performed on Wi-Fi/Local Area Connection/Bluetooth... while it has its media disconnected.".

That step is redundant, if it's not connected to the network there's no IP configuration yet, so nothing to release....

Al_user_al said:
Nevertheless, continuing further it still asks me to connect to a WiFi and I can't ByPass this step anyhow to create local account...

Works for me, second time round there's an 'I don't have internet' option. Click that, confirm you really want to 'continue with limited setup' and you'll be able to create a local account.

I have just done the test above using the latest ISO, downloaded direct from Microsoft, with no modifications. That ISO installs 22631.2861 which will update to 22631.3007 through Windows Update when you finally connect to the internet.

pparks1 · Jan 17, 2024

I boot up, install like normal. When asked, I use nobody@nobody.com, make up a junk password hit enter and it says "oops something went wrong" and it lets me create a local user account. Seems so much easier than all of these other processes.

BamaInArk · Jan 17, 2024

Just FYI but you can use a Win11 flash drive created using Media Creation Tool from Microsoft and using the above method for bypassing the OOBE. No need for Rufus to modify the installer. Nothing wrong with using Rufus either however. There are several other methods that have been discovered as well.
Go to Youtube and look up some recent videos from a Youtuber channel called "CyberCPU Tech" He has some very recent videos where he shows several ways to bypass the Win11 requirements.

ThrashZone · Jan 17, 2024

Hi,
When you do get past the account mess take a look at this setting
This hit me a couple days ago on my new laptop and this is on a clean install about 45+- days ago lol

I just entered the same password and got by but looks like MS is making temporary passwords @Brink

right-click on the Start button, choose Computer Management from the menu,
and navigate to System Tools - Local Users and Groups - Users:
Double click your user name, and change the password settings as follows:

User must change password at next logon: Off

Password never expires: On

Brink · Jan 17, 2024

ThrashZone said:
Hi,
When you do get past the account mess take a look at this setting
This hit me a couple days ago on my new laptop and this is on a clean install about 45+- days ago lol

I just entered the same password and got by but looks like MS is making temporary passwords @Brink

Tired of the Your password has expired and must be changed prompts? Here is how to stop them.

Password expiration policies do not add security and should not be used. This article describes how to make Windows stop asking to change password.

www.winability.com

Enable or Disable Password Expiration in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable password expiration for an account in Windows 10 and Windows 11. When you enable password expiration for an account, the user will be forced to change their password the next time they sign in when it expires. A local account password will...

www.elevenforum.com

ThrashZone · Jan 17, 2024

Brink said:
Enable or Disable Password Expiration in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable password expiration for an account in Windows 10 and Windows 11. When you enable password expiration for an account, the user will be forced to change their password the next time they sign in when it expires. A local account password will...

www.elevenforum.com

Hi,
Yeah I searched dang it didn't see that one
I let rufus do the media them creating a local acc/... so it could of been triggered by their coding because they make you change password on restart.

Al_user_al · Jan 18, 2024

garlin said:
If you're using NTLite (even on free edition), remove the two OOBE Network components under System Apps:

Code:

microsoft.windows.oobenetworkcaptiveportal 'Captive Portal Flow' microsoft.windows.oobenetworkconnectionflow 'Network Connection Flow'

This prevents OOBE (Out of Box Experience) from detecting there's a valid network connection (WiFi or ethernet), and allows BYPASSRNO. While you can resort to the fake user account, why not remove the network check from the image?

Yes, addition of this modification actually worked! I was able to bypassnro, and set everything. Thank you for the tip! Much appreciate.