Those who want to continue to cheat the system will have a harder time.
Microsoft has taken another step towards centralizing the user experience, closing a loophole that allowed users to bypass creating a Microsoft account to use the system.
Previously, it was very easy to avoid registering a Microsoft account by setting up the specific computer with a local account. However, the function was removed from the system three years ago, so users soon began looking for new ways to bypass creating an online account.
They soon discovered that by entering a completely random, non-existent email address and password, it was still possible to cheat the system and install Windows 11 using a local account. Now it appears that Microsoft has stepped in, as all indications are that the company will close the vulnerability in question. If we tried this method, instead of skipping the online account creation, we would end up in a kind of continuous, never-ending loop until we entered the correct login information.
Microsoft appears to have blocked the bypass that allowed you to create a local account during Windows 11 setup by typing in a blocked email address. Now it takes you back to writing in a different account 🙁 pic.twitter.com/mKnHToLLQV
– Zac Bowden (@zacbowden) June 3, 2024
At the same time, alternatives still exist, and at least one method is sure to create the opportunity to install Windows 11 without a Microsoft account – for a while. First, make sure you are disconnected from the Internet, then on the login page, press SHIFT+F10 and type OOBE\BYPASSNRO. If we do everything right, we have successfully passed the requirements for creating an online account.
