Title I do not want a Microsoft account. Microsoft doesn’t need any more info about me than they already have. Thanks
“Install Linux” isn’t the answer you’re looking for I assume?
When you reach the screen asking for your Microsoft account info hit shift + F10 to open a command prompt and type in oobe\bypassnro. Your laptop will restart and you’ll start over with the setup process. Disconnect from WiFi/Ethernet and go through the setup process, including setting up a local account.
This works because there is a
bypassnro.batfile in theoobedirectory, which modifies the relevant registry entries. If it gets removed, you’ll need to find its contents online and type them into the command prompt manually.Or use this as an opportunity to learn Linux. It’s been very usable for a while. If you’re confused by distro selection, try Mint Cinnamon first.
Doesn’t work anymore if the computer has been updated on Windows 11.
Two of my family members bought two different laptops from Walmart on the same day about a month ago and asked me to help them set them up. This method worked on one but not the other. Nothing I did on the second worked. I even got Task Manager to open and close the OOBE but then the computer restarted and wouldn’t let me do that again.
Edited for clarification: Both computers never connected to the Internet prior to or during initial setup of Windows. I always try to set up a computer without connecting to the Internet because of crap like this. The second computer simply hit a virtual brick wall and wouldn’t let me proceed until I connected to the Internet to sign into a Microsoft account.
I ended up having to sign in with my Microsoft account and then create a local account/andmin and then delete the account with my Microsoft account attached.
Matter of Time… Take note folks
This is the answer. That’s how i did it for my client
Setting up a new laptop - How do I get around needing a Microsoft account?
I use Linux. Not trolling, it’s just what I decided to do so I could avoid Microsoft spying craziness… and their bloatware, too.
If Linux is not an option for you, maybe an utility like Win11Debloat could help you use Windows whiled minimizing (removing?) all the spying and bloat? https://github.com/Raphire/Win11Debloat
We got one!
I would recommend “Sophia script”. It is a highly customizable debloat script for Windows 10 & 11.
So much bad advice on here. On Windows 11 Pro, just select “Domain join instead”.
Googling this is unreliable because Microsoft keeps patching out ways to do it. I couldn’t get what I read online to work when I got my Windows 11 laptop back in May, but what did work was using the keyboard button that turns on airplane mode.
I get why Microsoft (acting in its own best interest) wants to discourage offline accounts but trying to ban them completely is ridiculous (especially since Windows 11 works just fine with the offline account). I think I would have returned the laptop out of spite if I couldn’t get an offline account to work, but I’m probably much more spiteful than most people.
You can skip the windows account part and just install with a local account, don’t you?
Here you go!
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-set-windows-11-without-microsoft-account
AtlasOS is also pretty good to set up after windows is installed but before anything else is set up.
Atlas OS is definitely a good option.
I’ve been running it on my home media PC and it does the trick.
As far as getting to the point where you can sign in to run the atlas installer, I’ve had good luck with downloading a Windows ISO and burning it to a USB stick with Rufus with the setting in Rufus set to create a local admin account.
Dont connect to wifi or ethernet. You won’t be able to make an online account without a connection
You switch to Linux. Windows 10 was the last operating system from Microsoft that still allowed local accounts and no wifi connection.
Windows 11 no longer allows that and it requires an internet connection and a microsoft account to use the OS. You might want to use Windows 10 until 2025 and then switch to Linux or get a microsoft account and deal with Microsoft Recall spyware. KDE Plasma DE looks alot like Windows 10 if the UI is the problem. Or if breaking the system is a concern, get yourself an atomic distribution (VanillaOS, Fedora Kinoite, Bazzite, etc.) If you are afraid your games won’t run on Linux, check ProtonDB and decide.
I use android, always have. I don’t particularly like apple or their OS. If I see someone asking for help with their iPhone, I either say the answer if I know it, or I don’t comment at all. I’m not gonna bust in and start telling them they should use android instead.
Maybe they like apple, maybe they have to use an iPhone. Maybe they are helping an elderly relative set up their new iPhone. But the reason doesn’t matter. I either answer their questions if I can, or I move on.
Comments like this are why I can’t stand the Linux community.
That’s you. Everyone is different. I prefer to tell people my opinion. If you don’t like it, you are free to ignore it.
Yes, you’ve already made clear what sort of person you are.
good
If you use Rufus to create a W11 Bootable ISO, you can check the Mods section and setup a username for a local account out of the box.
Ah yes forgot about Rufus, good tip! Never tested it with the current installer for Windows 11 Home but hopefully it still works fine.
Worth a try, last time I tried it - about 3 months ago - it worked.
Destiny doesn’t run on Linux. By far its best feature.
Shit life sucking fucking game
Ars Technica’s How to install Windows 11 on supported and unsupported PCs, 24H2 edition says to use Rufus. I say to use the Swirl.
Seriously, Linux. It’s way overdue that regular consumers switch. How much longer do people want to be Microsoft’s bitches?
Be free.
There are quite a few distros that are very beginner-friendly, such as Mint and Ubuntu, Zorin - and my favorite Elementary. It’s seriously gorgeous.
Can recommend ZorinOS. My mom was still on Win7 a few months ago and her computer was slow as hell.
Wiped Windows off the drive, repurposed it for storage, bought an SSD and installed Zorin. She loves it.
Oh absolutely an SSD. Especially now they’re ridiculously cheap! My first ever one was a Samsung Evo 840 and it was crazy spendy. However, it is still in the same laptop which is an insanely resilient laptop. I think they didn’t market it much because it was too good lol.
But now, among my machines I have like two dozen SSDs. They’re so affordable and a lot of good brands.
I’d go with ElementaryOS though because it’s just so polished and elegant.
Take a look at Zorin. I was really impressed by its UI. Simple and effective.
Yeah I have used Zorin a long time ago and I’ve seen it in recent times, too. It’s okay. It’s just never been the best available for me. But each user has their own needs.
Haven’t tested this with the most recent Windows 11 installer but in the past what I do during the install is select that I’m setting the system up for a corporate / domain account. From there it allows to enter a normal Windows username/password like normal (you don’t actually need a domain name but you can make one up if you want).
That is only an option on the Pro version. Most computers come with Home.
True, forgot all about the Pro/Home differences. Yet another reason to avoid Windows Home editions. To be fair OP didn’t mention if they are on Windows 11 Home or Pro but perhaps you’re right maybe they’re on a Home edition.
Another comment mentioned Rufus which works well for Windows 11 Pro but I haven’t tested it with a current Windows 11 Home installer so can’t be sure how well it works for that.
I use Linux, so I haven’t run into this myself, but I assume that one can buy a copy of Windows 11 Pro separately from the PC itself, even if one doesn’t currently have the Pro edition.
kagis
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/windows-11-pro/dg7gmgf0d8h4
Yeah. Though this says that they’re currently out-of-stock of the USB installer.
Easiest way is to get Windows 11 LTSC from MAS
I do believe there are some registry keys u can mess with. Ive done it previously can also disablw tpm and system requirements. Alternatively check out tiny11 its a minimal installation no bloat and i think it bypasses account requirements as well.
There should be an option to use a local account. I think the text is small and borderline hidden.
edit: Looks like this is only for Windows 10 and older. I did find that if you type fake@fake.com and fake as your password on the MS account it will say there was a problem and let you proceed without an account.
Nope, requires using a command prompt and executing the
OOBE\bypassnro.batbatch file that does the neccessary registry changes and restarts.
