Microsoft is plugging more holes that let you use Windows 11 without an online account

spapakons · Oct 7, 2025

antspants said:
Life’s too short.
- RUFUS.

Agree, but it's good to know if old methods still work. Besides on a virtual machine is easier to just mount the ISO and proceed than having to create a USB flash drive and then pass control from the host to the guest. I got tired even typing it!

Bree · Oct 7, 2025

spapakons said:
As I said I clean installed Windows 11 25H2 on a virtual machine....

It's not the current 25H2 ISO that's the problem. It's the one that's yet to come. Currently that's only in the latest Dev/Beta builds.

Brink said:
Starting with Windows 11 build 26220.6772 (Dev 25H2) and build 26120.6772 (Beta (24H2), Microsoft is removing known mechanisms for creating a local account in the Windows Setup experience (OOBE). 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.

That's why I tested with a 26220.6772 ISO.

Bree said:
I have downloaded the UUPDump ISO for Dev build 26220.6772 and performed a clean install.

CarlSD · Oct 7, 2025

Thanks for testing this, spapakons

Ah, yes - disconnect from the Internet when installing Windows. A lot of people (even tech article writers) seem to forget or overlook this important step.

I've been doing it since Windows 7.

antspants said:
Life’s too short.
- RUFUS.

lol... agreed. I've been using RUFUS for the last several years.

spapakons · Oct 7, 2025

Just finished reinstalling Windows on the virtual machine. I will test the other command and tell. Since this version of the general release 25H2 ISO works, KEEP A COPY!!! Newer versions may not work! You can always run Windows Update to reach the latest build.

cereberus · Oct 7, 2025

Bree said:
It's the one that's yet to come.

Wasn't that the reply by Deep Thought in HHGTTG when it answered 42 after 7.5 million years when asked what was the answer to life, the universe and everything, saying the answer was right but what was the question?
Deep Thought then said he could not define the question but said it would need a computer that is yet to come to get the question!

cheaterslick · Oct 7, 2025

CarlSD said:
Ah, yes - disconnect from the Internet when installing Windows. A lot of people (even tech article writers) seem to forget or overlook this important step.

Not quite. My wireless card searched for nearby neighbor's WiFi and wanted me to enter their password, instead. So you can't completely disconnect from the internet doing this.

Microsoft almost thinks of everything.

BrianInEngland · Oct 7, 2025

Everyone has a smartphone, yet no one seems bothered that they generally need an Apple or Google account and don't have a problem using one (yes I know you can set it up without) but a massive issue for Windows users to use an MS account

spapakons · Oct 7, 2025

cheaterslick said:
Not quite. My wireless card searched for nearby neighbor's WiFi and wanted me to enter their password, instead. So you can't completely disconnect from the internet doing this.

Microsoft almost thinks of everything.

What! If you only have Wi-Fi connection, it is even simpler! DON'T connect to any network! What if you were outside home without internet access?

UPDATE: I reinstalled Windows 11 25H2 gerenal availability on the virtual machine and this time I pressed SHIFT+F10 and typed the newer workaround command:

start ms-cxh:localonly

Immediately opened a new window to create a LOCAL administrator account and after doing that OOBE proceeded to the last questions (location, ads etc). So, YES, BOTH commands work, at least in the current ISO, so keep a copy! Future versions might not work.

pseymour · Oct 7, 2025

BrianInEngland said:
Everyone has a smartphone, yet no one seems bothered that they generally need an Apple or Google account and don't have a problem using one (yes I know you can set it up without) but a massive issue for Windows users to use an MS account

Same as the Windows 10 expiration thing. Who's still using a phone OS from 10 years ago (other than the people who don't know to tap the updates)? Who's still using a phone (the device) from 8 years ago?

cheaterslick · Oct 7, 2025

BrianInEngland said:
Everyone has a smartphone, yet no one seems bothered that they generally need an Apple or Google account and don't have a problem using one (yes I know you can set it up without) but a massive issue for Windows users to use an MS account

And for those who don't know, you actually don't.

https://en.androidsis.com/Can-you-use-Android-without-a-Google-account-Complete-guide/

How to Set Up iPhone Without Apple ID [Easy Fix]

Can I set up an iPad or iPhone without an Apple ID? Your concern about this question can be tackled with this post for the ultimate set-up tutorial in 2025.

www.aiseesoft.com

You lose features by not using an Apple ID or a Google account, but you don't have to. Only Microsoft Windows 11 requires it, which makes Windows unique in this respect.

spapakons said:
What! If you only have Wi-Fi connection, it is even simpler! DON'T connect to any network! What if you were outside home without internet access?

Mine searched. And it wouldn't let me pass until I entered my neighbor's password. The stupid WiFi kept thinking it was my WiFi it was trying to connect to instead of my neighbor's. I had already turned off my router and disconnected the ethernet cable before all this as I was instructed to do.

spapakons · Oct 7, 2025

BrianInEngland said:
Everyone has a smartphone, yet no one seems bothered that they generally need an Apple or Google account and don't have a problem using one (yes I know you can set it up without) but a massive issue for Windows users to use an MS account

I have setup an Android device many times for friends or relatives. I just skip creating a Google account and manually download the package (.apk file) for the apps or games I want. I then change Security settings to allow installation from unknown sources, tap on the file and install. In apps or games with multiple versions (ARM, ARM64 etc) just select ARM if unsure. I then give it to the owner and let him create his own Google account.

nikki605 · Oct 7, 2025

CarlSD said:
Might be a good idea to save the 24H2 ISO of Windows 11 like I have so if you need to do a clean install you just install 24H2 with a local account then update to 25H2 which is just a small enablement package anyway once you're up to date with all the other updates.

I'm sure MS wouldn't disable your local account and make you use an MS account if you did that? Or would they? Nothing about them would surprise me anymore.

I just ran the 25H2 enablement package on my 24H2 laptop and it is still running with my Local Account.

dacrone · Oct 7, 2025

spapakons said:
What! If you only have Wi-Fi connection, it is even simpler! DON'T connect to any network! What if you were outside home without internet access?

UPDATE: I reinstalled Windows 11 25H2 gerenal availability on the virtual machine and this time I pressed SHIFT+F10 and typed the newer workaround command:

start ms-cxh:localonly

Immediately opened a new window to create a LOCAL administrator account and after doing that OOBE proceeded to the last questions (location, ads etc). So, YES, BOTH commands work, at least in the current ISO, so keep a copy! Future versions might not work.

yeah... again... wrong iso. you're not reading the posts

spapakons · Oct 7, 2025

cheaterslick said:
And for those who don't know, you actually don't.

https://en.androidsis.com/Can-you-use-Android-without-a-Google-account-Complete-guide/

How to Set Up iPhone Without Apple ID [Easy Fix]

Can I set up an iPad or iPhone without an Apple ID? Your concern about this question can be tackled with this post for the ultimate set-up tutorial in 2025.

www.aiseesoft.com

You lose features by not using an Apple ID or a Google account, but you don't have to. Only Microsoft Windows 11 requires it, which makes Windows unique in this respect.

Mine searched. And it wouldn't let me pass until I entered my neighbor's password. The stupid WiFi kept thinking it was my WiFi it was trying to connect to instead of my neighbor's. I had already turned off my router and disconnected the ethernet cable before all this as I was instructed to do.

You may have clicked on the Wi-Fi by mistake. What if there were two or more networks? Would it choose at random? Anyway, I have read that the localonly workaround doesn't require to be disconnected, but I wouldn't dare to check it.

Bree · Oct 7, 2025

cereberus said:
Wasn't that the reply by Deep Thought in HHGTTG...?

Got it in one :thumbsup:

"A computer whose merest operational parameters I am not worthy to calculate—and yet I will design it for you."

spapakons · Oct 7, 2025

dacrone said:
yeah... again... wrong iso. you're not reading the posts

I never said I used the Insider's ISO. I just wanted to confirm that the usual bypass to create a local account still work on the regular (general availability) version of Windows 11 25H2. Since newer versions of the ISO may be "plugged", to use the thread title, grab a copy of the current ISO ASAP and keep a backup of the file. Also it crossed my mind that Insider's versions might enforce using a Microsoft account to verify you are registered as an Insider. If your Microsoft account is not already registered, it might be done automatically when first using it on an Insider's version. That doesn't necessarily mean that future versions of the 25H2 ISO or even 26H2 and later will prevent the workarounds.

dacrone · Oct 7, 2025

spapakons said:
I never said I used the Insider's ISO. I just wanted to confirm that the usual bypass to create a local account still work on the regular (general availability) version of Windows 11 25H2. Since newer versions of the ISO may be "plugged", to use the thread title, grab a copy of the current ISO ASAP and keep a backup of the file.

the entire thread is about upcoming; nobody said the current is blocked.

spapakons · Oct 7, 2025

Still it doesn't harm to check and confirm that current version is not affected. I had nothing better to do to pass my time. I wanted to contribute to the non-technical readers.

garlin · Oct 7, 2025

spapakons said:
I never said I used the Insider's ISO. I just wanted to confirm that the usual bypass to create a local account still work on the regular (general availability) version of Windows 11 25H2. Since newer versions of the ISO may be "plugged", to use the thread title, grab a copy of the current ISO ASAP and keep a backup of the file.

The file is literally:

Code:

@echo off
reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE /v BypassNRO /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
shutdown /r /t 0

If you use Rufus, it adds the reg value before getting to OOBE. Which removes the BypassNRO script's need to restart Windows.

If you don't like Rufus, you can copy a bare bones unattended file to the top of the USB drive, which does the same task.

spapakons · Oct 7, 2025

Enough said. Next time I have some free time I will download the Insider's ISO and confirm the workarounds do or don't work. I prefer to verify stuff myself than believe an online article that might not have been properly done. Not everyone giving technical advice on the internet is an expert. I have seen cases that the author THINKS he knows what he is doing, but he knows nothing useful.

Microsoft is plugging more holes that let you use Windows 11 without an online account

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