How to Set Up Windows 11 Without a Microsoft Account – IT Solver Support

Setting up Windows 11 typically requires a Microsoft account, but there are legitimate reasons to use a local account instead.

Overview

This issue affects new Windows 11 installations where users need or prefer to use a local account rather than a Microsoft account.

This guide will show you how to bypass Windows 11 Microsoft Account requirement during initial setup.

Affected Systems

Windows 11 Home
Windows 11 Pro
New PC setups
Fresh Windows 11 installations

Resolution Steps

1. Initial Setup

Start Windows 11 setup
Press Shift+F10 to open command prompt
Type OOBE\BYPASSNRO and press Enter
Wait for automatic reboot back to setup screen

2. Going Offline

For Ethernet Connection:

Simply unplug the ethernet cable, or
Use netsh command (see below)

For Wi-Fi Connection:

If already connected to Wi-Fi, you must use netsh command

Using netsh Command:

netsh interface set interface "Ethernet" admin=DISABLED
netsh interface set interface "Wi-Fi" admin=DISABLED

3. Complete Local Account Setup

When prompted to connect to network, click "I don't have internet"
Click "Continue with limited setup"
Follow prompts to create local account
Complete remaining setup steps

4. Restore Internet Access

Press Win+X
Select "Windows PowerShell (Admin)"
Enter commands:

netsh interface set interface "Ethernet" admin=ENABLED
netsh interface set interface "Wi-Fi" admin=ENABLED

Additional Notes

Method verified as of September 2024
You'll need a keyboard with function keys (F1-F12)
If command prompt doesn't open with Shift+F10, try fn+Shift+F10
If network names differ, use netsh interface show interface to view correct names
If PowerShell doesn't appear in Win+X menu, use "Windows Terminal (Admin)"
You can always add a Microsoft account later through Settings if desired

Follow Up

If you've encountered this issue and followed the steps outlined in this article, we'd love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below to share whether this solution helped resolve the problem. Additionally, if you found a different method that worked, we encourage you to share that as well. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us and others who may face similar issues.

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