How to set up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account

On Windows 11, Microsoft really wants users to set up their devices with a Microsoft account since it offers additional benefits, including better integration with cloud services (such as OneDrive and Office), content synchronization between computers, and better security.

Although there are additional benefits to using an online account, many users still prefer the more traditional experience with a local account. The issue is that the company is making it harder to set up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account. For instance, the software maker has already removed the option from the initial setup of the Home version, and now it has removed the option from the Pro setup.

However, whether you're installing the Home or Pro edition of Windows 11, you have a few workarounds (via Reddit) to set up an installation with a local account instead of an online account. 

In this how-to guide, I'll walk you through the different ways to set up a new installation of Windows 11 without a Microsoft account.

Install Windows 11 without a Microsoft account

If you have to set up a Windows 11 device without a Microsoft account, you must proceed with the traditional setup and use one of the available solutions in the out-of-box experience (OOBE).

Windows 11 setup wizard

These instructions guide you through the clean installation process. If you are setting up a new laptop or desktop pre-installed with Windows 11, you can skip these steps and continue with the "(OOBE) disable internet requirement" or "(OOBE) typing local account during account creation" solutions.

Warning: This process will delete everything on the computer. As a result, it's a good idea to back up your computer.

To start a fresh installation of Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Start the PC with Windows 11 USB flash drive.

• Quick note: If you cannot start the computer from the USB bootable drive, you can use these instructions.

2. On the prompt, press any key to boot from the device.
3. On Windows Setup, click the Next button.

• Quick tip: If your language, time and currency, and keyboard are different from the default selections, select the correct settings before continuing.

4. Click the Install now button.

5. If this is a reinstallation, click the "I don't have a product key" option to continue. Otherwise, enter the product key if this is your first time installing Windows 11.

• Quick tip: You can always complete the installation and activate it using the Settings app.

6. Click the Next button.
7. Select the edition of Windows 11 (If applicable).

8. Click Next.
9. Select the "I accept the license terms" option to continue.
10. Click Next.
11. Click the "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)" option to continue with a clean installation.

12. Select the partition with the current installation (usually "Drive 0"), and click the Delete button.

• Quick tip: If "Drive 0" has multiple partitions, you must select and delete each partition to allow the setup to use the entire hard drive for the new setup. The Windows 11 setup will create the required partitions automatically during the process. It's also not necessary to delete the partitions on secondary drives.

13. Click the Yes button.
14. Select the empty drive (Drive 0 Unallocated Space) to proceed with the installation.

15. Click the Next button.

Once you complete the steps, the installation process will occur, and then in the out-of-box experience (OOBE), you can proceed in one of two ways. You can use the disable internet requirement instructions to disable the requirement through the initial setup to configure an account without a Microsoft account. Or you can also mistype the local account information with the steps below, which returns an error that falls back to the local account creation.

Out-of-box experience (OOBE) disable internet requirement

To set up a Windows 11 device without a Microsoft account disabling the internet requirements, use these steps:

1. Disconnect then Ethernet network cable (if applicable).
2. Select your region.

3. Click the Next button.
4. Select your keyboard layout setting.

5. Click the Yes button.
6. Click the Skip button.

6. (Optional) Confirm a computer name.
7. Click the Next button.

8. Choose the "Set up for personal use" option.
9. Click the Next button.

• Quick note: This option is only available on Windows 11 Pro.

Once you complete the steps, you can continue with the steps below to configure an account without a Microsoft account.

Solution 1: Disable internet requirements

On the "Sign in" page, use these steps:

1. Use the "Shift + F10" keyboard shortcut to open Command Prompt.
2. Type the following command to release the current network configuration and press Enter: oobe\bypassnro

• Quick note: The command is a single phrase without spaces.

3. Computer will boot automatically, and you may need to start the out-of-box experience again.
4. Click the "I don't have internet" option.

• Quick note: If you are setting up a Windows 11 Home, the setup may skip directly to the local account creation. On Windows 11 Pro, you will need to click the "I don't have internet" and "Continue with limited setup" options.

5. Click the "Continue with limited setup" option.

6. Confirm the name for the local account.

7. Click the Next button.
8. Create a password for the account.

9. Click the Next button.
10. Complete the three security questions to recover the account (if applicable).

11. Click the Next button.
12. Choose your privacy settings.

13. Click the Next button.
14. Click the Next button again.
15. Click the Accept button.

After you complete the steps, the out-of-box experience will restart, letting you bypass the internet requirements to give you the option to create a local account.

Out-of-box experience (OOBE) typing local account during account creation

Alternatively, you can also type a local account and password instead of a Microsoft account in the "Let's add your Microsoft account" page (via @coreymccowan). When you do this, the "Oops, something went wrong" error will appear, and the system will fall back to the local account creation interface whether you are in Windows 11 Home or Pro.

To set up a Windows 11 device without a Microsoft account by typing a local account, use these steps:

1. Select your region.

2. Click the Next button.
3. Select your keyboard layout setting.

4. Click the Yes button.
5. Click the Skip button.

6. (Optional) Confirm a computer name.
7. Click the Next button.

8. Choose the "Set up for personal use" option.

• Quick note: This option is only available on Windows 11 Pro.

9. Click the Sign in button.

After you complete the steps, you can continue with the steps below to configure a local account.

Solution 2: Disable internet requirements

In the "Let's add your Microsoft account" page, use these steps:

1. Confirm a local account username in the "Sign in" setting.

2. Confirm a random password for the account.

3. Click the Sign in button.
4. Click the Next button on the "Oops, something went wrong" error page.

5. Create a name for the local account.

6. Click the Next button.
7. Create a password for the account.

8. Click the Next button.
9. Complete the three security questions to recover the account (if applicable).
10. Click the Next button.
11. Choose your privacy settings.

12. Click the Next button.
13. Click the Next button again.
14. Click the Accept button.

Once you complete the steps, you will be able to continue the setup of Windows 11 without a Microsoft account.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know