Solved Running Windows 11 with a local account

lexster · Oct 2, 2021

This is more of question than a statement, but this thread can become a place to log info for a tutorial.

So, the question is this: Is there a known method to force Windows 11 Home to use a local account and bypass microsoft account creation?

Deleted member 3249 · Oct 2, 2021

Welcome to the Eleven Forums community Lexster. There was a similar post you can look into, Install Windows 11 Home using Local Account. It is either through commands, custom ISO or just disconnect your Wi-Fi.

How to Install Windows 11 with Local Account

Here's how you can install Windows 11 with a Local Account and omit the Microsoft Account requirement. It forces the latter by default if you have

winaero.com

You can try these as well but note that these may not work in the final build of Windows 11 after October 5th.

NavyLCDR · Oct 2, 2021

See step 16 in this tutorial:

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

Make sure you are not connected to a network during the install. When Windows 11 asks to connect to a network during setup, press Alt + F4. Note, some keyboards, especially laptop keyboards, may require alt+Fn+F4.

lexster · Oct 3, 2021

Shawnlovehorses said:
Welcome to the Eleven Forums community Lexster.

Thanks for the Welcome!

Shawnlovehorses said:
or just disconnect your Wi-Fi.

Tried that, didn't work. I even disabled the Wifi in the BIOS(Dell Laptop) and it still asked to connect and create an account.

NavyLCDR said:
See step 16 in this tutorial:

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

Make sure you are not connected to a network during the install. When Windows 11 asks to connect to a network during setup, press Alt + F4. Note, some keyboards, especially laptop keyboards, may require alt+Fn+F4.

This I did not know about. Will give it a try and report back!

Thank You both for the response.

By way of an FYI, am trying with 22000.194.

ThrashZone · Oct 3, 2021

Hi,
Similar threads search looks like it's working alt-f4 that's a new one sad ms is doing this crap

Install Windows 11 Home using Local Account

The information we have at the moment is, that Windows 11 Home edition cannot be installed using local account. A Microsoft Account, as far as we know it, will be obligatory. I can confirm it at least when using build 21996. I spent last night with testing all to me known tricks, nothing...

www.elevenforum.com

lexster · Oct 3, 2021

NavyLCDR said:
press Alt + F4

This did not work. Followed the tutorial. Pressing Alt+F4 did nothing.

ThrashZone said:
Hi,
Similar threads search looks like it's working alt-f4 that's a new one sad ms is doing this crap

Install Windows 11 Home using Local Account

The information we have at the moment is, that Windows 11 Home edition cannot be installed using local account. A Microsoft Account, as far as we know it, will be obligatory. I can confirm it at least when using build 21996. I spent last night with testing all to me known tricks, nothing...

www.elevenforum.com

As the OP of that post stated;

Kari said:
That doesn't work anymore with Windows 11 HOME edition, as @Bree told above. You cannot get through OOBE without Internet connection.

View attachment 5861

Kari

As you can see it seems microsoft has removed the in-built bypass. I agree with you, it's crap.

Deleted member 3249 · Oct 3, 2021

Hello, though it shouldn't really matter if you use a Microsoft account, it will benefit a lot with windows 11. You can always delete it later and anyways this required part is probably in the terms and conditions here. or you can just stay on 10

LeLibran · Oct 3, 2021

From MS Windows 11 pages: Find Windows 11 specs, features and computer requirements

"Windows 11 Home edition requires internet connectivity and a Microsoft account.
Switching a device out of Windows 11 Home in S mode also requires internet connectivity. Learn more about S mode here.
For all Windows 11 editions, internet access is required to perform updates and to download and take advantage of some features. A Microsoft account is required for some features."

Badger · Oct 3, 2021

This works on Pro don't know about home? During that part of the installation there is if I remember correctly a choice that says login options. If you choose offline from that option you'll be able to just enter a name and no account creation will be required.

lexster · Oct 3, 2021

Shawnlovehorses said:
Hello, though it shouldn't really matter if you use a Microsoft account, it will benefit a lot with windows 11.

I disagree. I don't want a microsoft account and feel I should not have to have one to use my own PC.

Shawnlovehorses said:
or you can just stay on 10

That is not a solution.

Deleted member 3249 · Oct 3, 2021

lexster said:
I disagree. I don't want a microsoft account and feel I should have to have one to use my own PC.

That is not a solution.

Do note that this Account requirement is only for clean installs. If you are do a in place upgrade it won't affect you.

Deleted member 3249 · Oct 3, 2021

Dell put an official video about this upgrade getting ready and they state that you will need an account. There is no way out of it,

https://www.youtube.com/user/TechSupportDell

LeLibran · Oct 3, 2021

lexster said:
I disagree. I don't want a microsoft account and feel I should have to have one to use my own PC.

That is not a solution.

Well Microsoft sets its own conditions for installing and licensing it's own software. If you are not prepared to accept those conditions you are certainly free to choose not to use the software on your computer. The complete solution is relatively straightforward, just choose a different operating system that doesn't require you to commit to those/similar conditions.

Bree · Oct 3, 2021

lexster said:
This did not work. Followed the tutorial. Pressing Alt+F4 did nothing.

That used to work, but MS disabled that workaround in build 22000.132. Now you cannot install Home without connecting to the internet. Home does not give an option to skip this step, only Pro has that option.

The first thing Setup does on connecting is check for updates. However, once it has done that you can disconnect and continue the install of 22000.132 Home with just a local account by the method I tested in post #36 here....

Install Windows 11 Home using Local Account

Do you think peoples will be upset to learn about this fact? I mean, it was a bit hard to find the option to use local account in Windows 8 and 10, but it almost looks like Microsoft wants you to have an account just to use your OS...Doesn't that sound ridiculous?

www.elevenforum.com

I haven't tested in any later builds yet, I'm waiting for the release version on the 5th before repeating my tests.

lexster · Oct 3, 2021

LeLibran said:
Well Microsoft sets its own conditions for installing and licensing it's own software.

They can say whatever they wish, I couldn't care less. We users have rights too. And we do not have to tolerate artificial limitations and forced compliance with requirements which are, to say the least, poorly thought out and tread upon our rights to privacy among other problems.

LeLibran said:
If you are not prepared to accept those conditions you are certainly free to choose not to use the software on your computer.

That is not how things work. But not going to argue the point either. You are welcome to your opinion. I do not agree.

LeLibran said:
The complete solution is relatively straightforward, just choose a different operating system that doesn't require you to commit to those/similar conditions.

That is not a valid solution, nor does it solve the problem which is the topic of this thread. Kindly withhold suggestions like that. I intend to purchase Windows 11 as it is much improved over the steaming pile that is Windows 10. I will not, however, run it microsofts way.

Bree said:
I haven't tested in any later builds yet, I'm waiting for the release version on the 5th before repeating my tests.

Been testing every built since 22000.1 on an ongoing basis and have been documenting as much as is useful over at TechPpowerUp(@lexluthermiester). Discovered this site and thought I'd check in here to see if anyone has discovered a way to bypass the Home account requirement as several users have expressed an interest in using 11 but not the Pro version as it is much more expensive..

~~It might be down to people simply buying and using Pro or using custom ISOs.~~
Scratch that! As detailed further on in this thread, methods are known and have been tested successful.

Bree · Oct 3, 2021

lexster said:
I intend to purchase Windows 11 as it is much improved over the steaming pile that is Windows 10

11 is a free upgrade for 10 - no purchase required. And upgrading 10 Home that only has a local account is another way to get 11 Home with only a local account.

lexster · Oct 3, 2021

Bree said:
11 is a free upgrade for 10 - no purchase required.

While that is going to be true, I'm not going to do the free upgrade. I pay for my software.

Bree said:
And upgrading 10 Home that only has a local account is another way to get 11 Home with only a local account.

Has this been confirmed? If not, I'm willing to do a test to see if it'll actually work.

Bree · Oct 3, 2021

lexster said:
Has this been confirmed? If not, I'm willing to do a test to see if it'll actually work.

Yes, I've been running an W11 Home system with local accounts only for the past two months that was an upgrade of a W10 Home system. Click 'My Computers' below my post and look at my 'System One'.

Bree said:
I have now wiped this 'test run' and officially migrated my 'main machine' to it's new home. It's running on Windows 10 until 5th October, whereupon I will have no hesitation in upgrading to 11 as soon as it is offered through Windows Update.

https://www.elevenforum.com/t/summed-up-nicely.1535/post-36842

By the time I wiped the system three days ago and restored W10 it had updated to the latest 22000.194 build without any signs of MS wanting/forcing me to use a Microsoft account.

MTA · Oct 3, 2021

Upgrading Home to Pro is a solution.

Bree · Oct 3, 2021

lexster said:
I'm not going to do the free upgrade. I pay for my software.

I don't understand the logic in this. 10 was a free upgrade from 7 or 8, and 11 is a free upgrade for 10. In fact there is no change in the digital licence, a PC with a digital licence for 10 Home activates a clean install of 10 Home or 11 Home. Even the generic key for Home is the same in 10 and 11:
YTMG3-N6DKC-DKB77-7M9GH-8HVX7
(and the same goes for Pro)