New Method to Install Windows 11 Without Microsoft Account

Since 2022, Windows 11 has mandated both an internet connection and a Microsoft Account login while setting up new PCs. Many users who prefer local accounts have relied on the "oobe\bypassnro" command prompt entry, which enabled a button to skip connecting to the internet, circumventing the Microsoft Account requirement.

With the release of the latest Windows 11 Preview Build 26200.5516, Microsoft has noted that the company is removing the bypassnro.cmd script from the build to enhance the security and user experience of Windows 11. Microsoft says this will ensure all users exit setup with internet connectivity and a Microsoft Account.

After this announcement, the decision has triggered significant discontent within the tech community. Many users didn’t want to add Microsoft Accounts to their Windows system and loved to only have local accounts.

So, tech enthusiasts have discovered a new, more efficient method to bypass Microsoft’s requirement for a Microsoft Account during Windows 11 installation

1. Adding Bypassnro command

If you install Windows 11 latest build 26200.5516, or the later version, you may find errors while using the Bypassnro method because Microsoft has removed the bypassnro script. But it is still possible to re-add the bypassnro command to your system by modifying the registry. 

You just need to create a new Registry value by following these steps —

1. On the “Let’s connect you to a network” screen, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt.
2. Type regedit to open the Registry Editor.
3. In Registry Editor, navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE
4. Right-click on the blank space in the right panel and select:
5. New > DWORD (32-bit) Value
6. Name it exactly: BypassNRO
7. Double-click BypassNRO, and set the value data to 1.
8. Close Registry Editor.
9. Restart.

However, Microsoft may soon remove this tweak by removing the registry value, enabling the command to work again.

If so, you can try the next tweak, which is credited to X (formerly Twitter) user @witherornot1337, who uses a different command prompt entry and offers a more direct approach.

2. New ByPass Method (start ms-cxh)

The new method involves opening the command prompt during Windows 11 setup (accessible by pressing Shift + F10) and typing "start ms-cxh:localonly" into the prompt. This command directly enables local account creation without the intermediate step of skipping the internet connection.

While Microsoft has removed the "oobe\bypassnro" command, it's worth noting that the underlying registry entry that enables the "skip internet connection" button remains intact. This means users could still manually create the registry edit themselves, though this approach would be considerably more cumbersome than using a simple command prompt.

This newly discovered command offers a welcome alternative for Windows users who prefer local accounts as Microsoft continues to evolve its operating system’s setup requirements.

We haven't seen any updates from Rufus, as it also provides another way to create a local account and install Windows 11 with local accounts. Rufus can also get updates if the upcoming stable version of Windows 11 arrives without bypassnro command.