Seems as though MS is closed bypassnro loophole to bypass MS acct requirement in Beta

cheaterslick · Apr 2, 2025

Bree said:
Me, I think Bitlocker is overkill for a home PC. I set mine up with local accounts and my first act on signing in is to turn off device encryption

I turn it off, too. I have no need for it.

- On a company machine, I can see where it needs to be turned on.

- On a personal laptop that one travels around a lot with, I can also see where it's probably a good idea to turn it on.

But for a computer that's stationary and never leaves my house, it's overkill. The big fear then is either losing the key, OR the (old) key for some reason no longer works. Then you're screwed.

No thanks.

BrianInEngland · Apr 2, 2025

cheaterslick said:
I turn it off, too. I have no need for it.

- On a company machine, I can see where it needs to be turned on.

- On a personal laptop that one travels around a lot with, I can also see where it's probably a good idea to turn it on.

But for a computer that's stationary and never leaves my house, it's overkill. The big fear then is either losing the key, OR the (old) key for some reason no longer works. Then you're screwed.

No thanks.

I don't use secure boot, device encryption or bitlocker

Scannerman · Apr 3, 2025

BrianInEngland said:
I don't use secure boot, device encryption or bitlocker

I currently have CSM enabled on this system. I don't like it but I like the idea of keeping my data safe. Of course nothing is 100% safe but this platform has not been blessed with Microsoft's Win 11 compliance protocol despite the fact that it has TPM2 enabled. You might say that I'm the guy who fell through the cracks. Sadly, with secure boot enabled and Other OS checked my system still refuses to afford me dual boot to Linux with these settings. This is terribly annoying because if I have to keep changing settings to boot to Linux then it defeats the purpose in running a multi-boot PC for me. Admittedly, I am also running Windows 7 Ultimate on this build and it boots fine to that. The whole thing smacks of a monopoly on my hardware and I resent it.

Currently working on a newer build that is Windows 11 compliant. I rather doubt it will make a difference.

PCUser · Apr 3, 2025

glasskuter said:
I always thought that MS could and would at some point shut down all the loopholes we've been using to bypass a MS account as well as those used to install 11 on older hardware. If this article is to be believed, it appears this may be the company's first step.... the bypassnro command is disabled in the latest beta build.

Microsoft wants Windows 11 installs to use a Microsoft Account — confirms removal of popular setup bypass

The popular "bypassnro" command, which let users to skip connecting to the Internet and signing into a Microsoft Account, is being removed.

www.windowscentral.com

The way I read it, as of right now, the script can still be enabled into a system by adding the registry key - HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE /v BypassNRO /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f shutdown /r /t 0″
By the time this gets to the release channel that may no longer work. Probably will, though, as MS is famous for taking things away a little bit at a time rather than everything all at once. I'm sure they feel it's less of a shock their customer base by doing it that way. Doesn't change that ultimately, their demand is met whether their customer base likes it or not.

@glasskuter

Instead of bypassnro, try this . . .

SHIFT + F10
on command prompt type:
start ms-cxh:localonly

Enjoy!
Good Luck

Scannerman · Apr 4, 2025

PCUser said:
@glasskuter

Instead of bypassnro, try this . . .

SHIFT + F10
on command prompt type:
start ms-cxh:localonly

Enjoy!
Good Luck

That works too. (Usually.) What concerns me is that it is quite evident what the intention is here with respect to making it extremely difficult for the average end user to establish a local account. Ethically, they shouldn't have to resort to such measures simply establish a Windows operating system on their PC. Many people simply want to check their email, social network, maybe watch some videos and do their taxes. They don't need a Microsoft account to do this and they shouldn't have to be obligated to subject themselves to something so ridiculously unnecessary simply because they want a local account.

jimbo45 · Apr 4, 2025

Provided you have W11 Pro (or above) the old way still works -- use school / work computer during setup and then select join domain. Then it all proceeds with a local account.

I'm not sure why so many people seem to ignore this simple method but go for all sorts of registry fixes, enter odd keys and commands during OOBE etc etc.

Still if that's your thing - who am I to say !!!

reminds me of those huge consultancy companies who can infest a site like cockroaches - once they arrive you can never get rid of them and their universal motto is "Why have just 1 person doing a simple job when 94 can do it !!.

cheers
jimbo

Scannerman · Apr 4, 2025

Admittedly, I'm lazy. I just used Rufus on my last Win 11 install. Quick and easy.

hsehestedt · Apr 4, 2025

jimbo45 said:
I'm not sure why so many people seem to ignore this simple method but go for all sorts of registry fixes, enter odd keys and commands during OOBE etc etc.

If I ha to guess it might be that disclaimer that this method only works on Pro or better, not on Home. But I still don't get all the panic over this. There are some methods, like an answer file that I just cannot envision them shutting down any time soon. The need to have a local user account is just too deeply intertwined in Windows to make that an easy task. But, who knows for sure? All we can do right now is simply be thankful that there are still multiple methods that work now.

pseymour · Apr 4, 2025

Agreed. This is much ado about nothing. It doesn't help that it was amplified by Neowin-type folks like Titus.

Scannerman · Apr 4, 2025

hsehestedt said:
But I still don't get all the panic over this.

I get it. The issue is a nothing burger for someone who is PC literate enough to deal with it.

The reality is that most people are not.

I found myself wondering exactly when would be the right time to 'panic'. Should we kick up a fuss after the fact or make our views known before it becomes written in stone? The gap is tightening but does that mean it will be closed? It's certainly moving in that direction. So when should the end user sound the alarm?

hsehestedt said:
There are some methods, like an answer file that I just cannot envision them shutting down any time soon.

Any time soon is the scary part of it. The fact that they are taking active steps toward it is indicative of the direction they are taking. Indeed it's only a matter of time and the less people complain about it the sooner it is likely to happen.

hsehestedt said:
But, who knows for sure?

Precisely. It pays to stay vigilant. Not hard to tell which way the wind is blowing here.

dagar7 · Apr 4, 2025

I read an article yesterday with a method I haven't tried but wonder if anyone else has:
"The new workaround, discovered by Wither OrNot on X (and was confirmed to work by BleepingComputer) takes advantage of one line of code that is implemented into the command prompt during a Windows 11 install.

Only two steps are required: Pressing Shift + F10 to get into the command prompt when the Windows 11 installation wizard appears, then executing the command “start ms-cxh:localonly” in the CMD field".

Windows 11 local account workaround discovered just as Microsoft closes previous loophole in Insider Build

pseymour · Apr 4, 2025

@dagar7 It’s been discussed by knowledgeable folks here. Just hit the Search page and look for “localonly.”

Winuser · Apr 4, 2025

Scannerman said:
Currently working on a newer build that is Windows 11 compliant. I rather doubt it will make a difference.

I have to ask, are you allowed to work on it or just watch?

hsehestedt · Apr 4, 2025

Bear in mind as well that the only thing they have removed so far is the BypassNRO script. That functionality still works. The script simply contained these lines:

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

So, just create your own and drop it on your installation media and execute that script.

Bree · Apr 4, 2025

dagar7 said:
I read an article yesterday with a method I haven't tried but wonder if anyone else has:
"The new workaround, discovered by Wither OrNot on X .... “start ms-cxh:localonly”....

Lots of people have claimed to have discovered that one.

It's in the Ten Forums tutorial, Step 15.

Clean Install Windows 11

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

pseymour said:
It’s been discussed by knowledgeable folks here. Just hit the Search page and look for “localonly.”

I think @thepineapple was one of the first, back in October last year .....

New Local Account Method (Access Unused Setup Screen, S Mode Supported)

Hey everyone, I have recently put together a brand new method that can be used to bypass the Microsoft Account requirement for the Windows 11 setup. The benefit of this new method is that it can get through setup faster than the well-known OOBE\BYPASSNRO method. Additionally, devices shipped...

www.elevenforum.com

pseymour · Apr 4, 2025

Bree said:
I think @thepineapple was one of the first, back in October last year .....

New Local Account Method (Access Unused Setup Screen, S Mode Supported)

Hey everyone, I have recently put together a brand new method that can be used to bypass the Microsoft Account requirement for the Windows 11 setup. The benefit of this new method is that it can get through setup faster than the well-known OOBE\BYPASSNRO method. Additionally, devices shipped...

www.elevenforum.com

Maybe here, but garlin pointed
out a researcher listed a bunch of these URIs years ago.

A new way to create a local user account - better than oobe\bypassnro

garlin · Apr 4, 2025

phantomofearth, another highly respected Windows Insider expert points out -- the underlying reg key still works (for now).
Which means Rufus can do it for you, as it's been doing for a few years...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1905675160859910229

Scannerman · Apr 4, 2025

Winuser said:
I have to ask, are you allowed to work on it or just watch?

You'll have to watch and see. Some interesting stuff coming. Just got a notification for some very nice looking DDR4 RAM by Crucial on the way. I may just be relegated to the role of camera man but not on the prized Legacy build.

Seems as though MS is closed bypassnro loophole to bypass MS acct requirement in Beta

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