Setting up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account with a local account

If you plan to set up a computer with an installation of Windows 11 but don't want to use a Microsoft account, you can still have multiple ways to create a local account.

You can find my step-by-step guide to setting up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account here.

Before proceeding, previously, you were to use a fake email (such as "[email protected]" or "[email protected]") and password to skip the setting and continue with a local account configuration, but this workaround no longer works.?

However, there are still some options available. For example, if you are installing Windows 11 Pro, you can select the "Set up for work or school" and "Domain join instead" options during the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE) to create and continue with a local account.

If you have an installation of Windows 11 Home, you can still use the "OOBE\BYPASSNRO" command to bypass the internet requirement that also triggers the local account setting.

You can also use the Rufus tool to create custom USB bootable media that bypasses the requirements and even creates the local account automatically.

Windows 11 Home steps:

1. Select your region setting in the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE).
2. Click the Yes button.
3. Select your keyboard layout setting.
4. Click the Yes button.
5. Click the Skip button.
6. On the "Oops, you've lost internet connection" or "Let's connect you to a network" page, use the "Shift + F10" keyboard shortcut.
7. In Command Prompt, type the OOBE\BYPASSNRO command and press Enter.
8. Click the "I don't have internet" option.
9. Click the "Continue with limited setup" option.
10. Click the Accept button.
11. Confirm the name of the local default account on Windows 11.

Continue with the on-screen directions to finish the setup.

Windows 11 Pro steps:

1. Select your region setting in the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE).
2. Click the Yes button.
3. Select your keyboard layout setting.
4. Click the Yes button.
5. Click the Skip button.
6. Connect to the network.
7. Skip the computer name.
8. Click the Next button.
9. Select the "Set up for work or school" option.
10. Click the Next button.
11. Click the "Sign-in options" setting.
12. Click the "Domain join instead" option.
13. Specify a name to create a local account on Windows 11.

Continue with the on-screen directions to finish the setup.

Windows 11 setup with Rufus steps:

1. Download and launch the Rufus tool.
2. Select the flash drive to create the bootable USB media from the "Device" setting.
3. Click the Select button.
4. Select the Windows 11 ISO file.
5. Click the Open button.
6. Click the Start button.
7. Check the "Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account" option to use a local account and bypass the internet requirements.
8. Check the "Create a local account with username" option and specify a name for the account.
9. Click the OK button.
10. Continue with the Windows 11 installation until you arrive at the OOBE.
11. Select your region setting in the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE).
12. Click the Yes button.
13. Select your keyboard layout setting.
14. Click the Yes button.
15. Click the Skip button if you do not need to configure a second layout.
16. Choose the privacy settings.
17. Click the Next button.
18. Click the Next button again.
19. Click the Accept button.

The Windows 11 setup will skip the account creation portion because it was preconfigured when you created the bootable media with Rufus.