New W11 setup as local account

stevem5000 · Dec 30, 2023

Bought new Win 11 lapper about 1 week ago.....I used to set up with local account with shift+F10 then OOBE\bypassnro .......but this time it not work...did not bring up the CMD screen........Is there a work around.....some other way I can set up W11 with a local account and skip the Microsoft account...???

BamaInArk · Dec 30, 2023

It's worked the last multiple times I've tried it. However I have not tried it since the most recent update V2. Guess I'll go try on a test system.

Edit to update: Okay just tried to install with a brand new created Flash drive using Media Creation Tool. The Shift + F10 worked as advertised for me. I'm kinda curious whether on that Laptop the Function key(s), F10, might need to use an extra key to activate? Just curious.

Brink · Dec 30, 2023

Hello Stevem,

You can also still use the method in step 21 to set up a local account during a clean install of Windows 11.

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

ThrashZone · Dec 30, 2023

Hi,
Maybe F10 needs the fn key as well to work ?

glasskuter · Dec 30, 2023

Make and model of laptop would be helpful.

hsehestedt · Dec 31, 2023

Yet another way to create a local user account:

Take the text below and save it to a text file called autounattend.xml. Drop that file onto the root of your installation media. That is literally all you need to do.

NOTE: Make sure to use a plain text editor like Notepad and not something like Word to avoid getting any special formatting characters inserted into the file.

An autounattend.xml file is typically used to perform an unattended, automated installation of Windows. This is a stripped-down version of that file that does nothing more than select the version of Windows to install and create a local user account. It will NOT perform an unattended installation of Windows. This particular file will create a user named WinUser, with a full name of Windows User and a password of Password1. Simply modify this in notepad to whatever you want. Also, it will install Windows Pro. You can change the key to a generic Windows Home key if you wish. Here are the generic Windows Home edition keys:

Windows 11 Home Single Language: BT79Q-G7N6G-PGBYW-4YWX6-6F4BT
Windows 11 Home: YTMG3-N6DKC-DKB77-7M9GH-8HVX7

XML:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!--
Notes about this answer file:

The purpose of this answer file is to create a local user account and eliminate the need for an internet
connection during setup. It does NOT perform an unattended installation of Windows.

It includes a Windows 10 / 11 Pro key.

It will create a local user account named "WinUser" with a full name of "Windows User" and a password of "Password1".

END OF NOTES
-->
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <settings pass="windowsPE">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <ImageInstall>
                <OSImage>
                    <InstallFrom>
                        <Path>\install.wim</Path>
                    </InstallFrom>
                </OSImage>
            </ImageInstall>
            <UserData>
                <ProductKey>
                    <Key>VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T</Key>
                </ProductKey>
                <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
            </UserData>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="oobeSystem">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <UserAccounts>
                <LocalAccounts>
                    <LocalAccount wcm:action="add">
                        <Password>
                            <Value>UABhAHMAcwB3AG8AcgBkADEAUABhAHMAcwB3AG8AcgBkAA==</Value>
                            <PlainText>false</PlainText>
                        </Password>
                        <DisplayName>Windows User</DisplayName>
                        <Group>Administrators</Group>
                        <Name>WinUser</Name>
                    </LocalAccount>
                </LocalAccounts>
            </UserAccounts>
            <OOBE>
                <HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>true</HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>
                <UnattendEnableRetailDemo>false</UnattendEnableRetailDemo>
                <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
                <HideOEMRegistrationScreen>true</HideOEMRegistrationScreen>
                <HideOnlineAccountScreens>true</HideOnlineAccountScreens>
                <ProtectYourPC>1</ProtectYourPC>
            </OOBE>
        </component>
    </settings>
</unattend>

Bree · Dec 31, 2023

BamaInArk said:
Edit to update: Okay just tried to install with a brand new created Flash drive using Media Creation Tool. The Shift + F10 worked as advertised for me. I'm kinda curious whether on that Laptop the Function key(s), F10, might need to use an extra key to activate? Just curious.

It depend on which laptop it is. On mine there is an option in the bios for the the behaviour of the F1 to F12 keys, whether they have their F1-F12 function or their alternative functions when the Fn key is pressed. The default was to require the Fn key to use F1-F12.

Helmut · Dec 31, 2023

Just go to Settings > Accounts > Your info > Account settings click on the link for Local Account.
The dialogues are the usual weasel worded MS warning stuff, but it is not difficult.

You will need to know anyway as you can quite easily fall in to signing in with an MS Account whilst using a Local Account.
I have done this accidently many times from 2014 with Windows 8/10/11 for 9 years. I have several MS Accounts.

With a new Windows 11 Laptop the OOBE was done with the method you show. I had no Ethernet, WAP switched off. Windows was configured appropriately before connecting the internet.