By default, you must possess (or make) or create a Microsoft account to download Windows 11 Home (and versions of Pro, which are built 22H2 or higher). Although Microsoft accounts are entirely free, there are many good reasons to use Windows 11 without one.
Perhaps you’d like to create an account local to your computer because you’re setting up Windows 11 on a child’s PC or a computer that you are planning to sell, donate to a person you know, or give to charity (without giving anyone else access to your personal information). You may prefer privacy and not want to establish an account with Microsoft initially.
Whatever the motivation behind using this method, it’s an easy method to download Windows 11 without using a Microsoft account. Note that Microsoft attempts to make it challenging to create a local Windows account, so the instructions, as shown below, have evolved a bit in recent times.
Installation of Windows 11 without a Microsoft account
Suppose you must set up a Windows 11 device without a Microsoft account. In that case, you have to go through the standard configuration and choose any available options that offer an out-of-box user Experience (OOBE).
Windows 11 setup wizard
This guide will help you navigate the Windows installation process cleanly if you’re setting up your new desktop or laptop installed by Windows 11. In that case,u can go ahead by using the “(OOBE) disable internet requirement” or “(OOBE) typing local account during account creation” options.
Beware: This procedure will erase everything that is on your computer. This is why it’s best to make backups of your computer.
To begin a fresh install of Windows 11, use these steps:
Begin your PC using a Windows 11 USB flash drive.
Note: In case you are unable to boot your computer using your bootable USB device, then follow these directions.
When prompted, Press any key you want to launch the device.
In Windows Setup, click the Next button.
Tips Quick tip: If your languages, time, and keyboard, as well as currency, differ from the standard choices, make sure you select the appropriate setting before you continue.
Click on the Install Now button.
If it’s a reinstallation, you must select to select the “I don’t have a product key” option to proceed. In other cases, type in the product code if it is the first time you have installed Windows 11.
Tips: It is possible to finish the installation anytime by activating it through the Settings application.
Select Next.
Choose the version that comes with Windows 11 (If applicable).
Click Next.
Choose”I agree” to the “I accept the license terms” option to proceed.
Click Next.
Select to select the “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)” option to proceed with a clean installation.
Choose the partition associated with the current installation (usually “Drive 0”), then click the delete button.
A quick tip To note: If “Drive 0” has multiple partitions, you need to choose and erase each one to let the setup make use of the entire drive in the new setup. In Windows 11, the Windows 11 setup will create the necessary partitions automatically as part of the setup process. Also, it’s not required to erase the partitions from the secondary drives.
Hit the “Yes” button.
Select the drive with no space (Drive 0 Unallocated Space) to begin the installation.
Click Next.
After you have completed the procedure, the procedure for installation will begin, following which you will be able to experience the”out-of-box” experience (OOBE). It is possible to move forward in two methods. The disable internet requirement steps to turn off the requirement in the initial setup process to set up your account with no Microsoft account. Also, you could type the information for your local account using these steps, resulting in an error traced back to the local account’s initialization.
Converting the Microsoft account into a local account following the installation
If you’ve used Windows 11 with a Microsoft account but want to change to a local version, Here are the steps!
Launch the Start menu by pressing the Windows icon in the lower left.
Choose “Settings,” which is an icon with a gear.
In the Settings Window, choose “Accounts.”
In the lower left-hand sidebar, click on “Your info.”
In the section “Manage my Microsoft account,” then click “Sign in with a local account instead.”
That’s it! Your account has been changed from a Microsoft account into a local one without reinstalling Windows 11.
Be aware that when you switch between Microsoft and local, you’ll have to give up access to specific options that need a Microsoft account. This includes setting to sync across devices and OneDrive.
My friend also had this problem and took these steps to convert his Microsoft account into one that is local. He restored control over his computer while using every feature of Windows 11.
Make use of an email address that is banned.
Microsoft has stopped emails that were utilized too often while creating accounts. It is possible to use this ban for your benefit since it lets you skip the Microsoft account registration or sign-in step during the setup. One benefit of this method is that it doesn’t need a restart or the running of an operation using your command line.
This is how the method performs (thanks, Neowin):
Choose Sign-In if the prompt comes to sign up or create an account to an existing Microsoft account in the setup.
Make use of your email address [email protected].
Select a password from the screen that follows.
Windows will show “Oops, something went wrong” on the following screen.
The next button opens a window where you can create your local account.
You may set a password on your account, or you can leave it unlocked.
Set up Windows 11 with a local account using the OOBE BYPASSNRO command.
Utilizing the OOBE command BYPASSNRO, You can download Windows 11 Home edition with only a limited setup.
1. During the Windows 11 installation process, you must press the keys Shift + 10 to open CMD, and the display requires you to connect an online source.
Step 2: Enter the following command: OOBEBYPASSNRO, and hit Enter. Enter key.
Step 3: After that, your computer will start up, and the installation wizard will be displayed. It will show you the button “I don’t have internet.
Step 4: After that, you can click Continue, with only a tiny setup option.
Step 5: Type in the local account details to continue. After that, you can continue the setup to start installing Windows 11 on your PC.
Bypass Windows 11 Online Account Requirement With Rufus
If this method doesn’t perform for you, then I recommend creating a Windows 11 bootable USB drive by using Rufus. It is a cost-free and open-source software. In the latest upgrade, Rufus now allows you to remove the Microsoft account prerequisite when you install a new version. It doesn’t alter the ISO image in any way, but it does remove the limitation and flashes the image. Therefore, if you wish to establish an account local to Windows 11, use Rufus to remove the requirement to have an account online.
1. You can download Rufus by clicking here. Be sure to install Rufus Version 3.18 or higher. Then, connect your USB thumb drive to your computer.
2. Then, you can click “Select” and add the Windows 11 ISO image. Learn how to install Windows 11 ISO from our related article legally.
3. Once you’ve done that, click “START,” and you will see a pop-up on the screen.
4. In this case, you must select your “Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account” checkbox. After that, you can click “OK”. If you wish to establish an account for local use and turn off data collection, as well as bypass any of the other Windows 11 requirements, you could do it, too.
5. At last, Rufus will start flashing the image. When it’s completed, you’ll be able to begin booting from the USB drive and then start installing Windows 11. After installation, the web-based Microsoft account page won’t show up in any way. Create an account local to your computer and move with no issues.
6. It is possible to switch over to the local user of Windows 11 from the Start menu, similarly to the Start.
USE OOBE\BYPASSNRO (WINDOWS 11 HOME ONLY)
To use Windows 10 Home for Windows 10 Home users only Do the following:
1. In the (“Let’s join you on an internet network”) on the OOBE option, hold Shift and F10 to display the Command Prompt screen.
2. Press Enter. Type in oobebypassnro. Enter.
3. The PC will automatically reboot. You may need to begin the OOBE process over and over.
4. You can now establish a local account rather than an account with Microsoft. Microsoft account.
The command you type will alter the configuration of OOBE to make the internet not required to set up Windows 11. Without internet connectivity, the page for account creation allows you to create an account locally.
How to Convert an Existing Microsoft Account to a Local Account
An easy solution using Rufus to download Windows 11 without a Microsoft account first appeared months before the launch of the 2022 update to Windows 11. So, the majority of people running Windows 11 will have Microsoft logins.
If you’re currently using BitLocker and switch to a local one without backing up your recovery keys, you may be permanently denied access to your information. Here’s how you can do this.
Happily, Microsoft has included a tool allowing you to change a Microsoft-based account to a local login. Launch the Settings application, then click”Accounts,” then click on the “Accounts” tab, then select “Your Info.”
It is possible to open the Settings application by pressing the Windows+i hotkey.
Go to the bottom of the page to click “Sign In With A Local Account Instead.” If you receive a significant message to back up your BitLocker key, take notice of the message. The drive is secure, and if something goes wrong, you lose access to your data without the key to recover.
It is essential to back up your BitLocker encryption key before you proceed to the subsequent instructions. It is necessary to select your username and password and a password hint. Finally, proceed to the next screen and select “Sign Out And Finish.”
How can I protect my Windows 11 password without a Microsoft account?
If you set up an account locally in Windows, give the account a password similar to what you’d do with a Microsoft account. The process begins when you create a user account process, where you are requested to type in the password you wish to use for your local account. If the account password protects the local account, the user has to input the correct password to log in to Windows.
But it’s optional for every user account to use the password. One can create an account locally without requiring a password by simply leaving the password fields empty in the account creation wizard.
If the local account you have doesn’t have a password, any user with access to your PC can access Windows without entering any password. If your computer is linked to a network, and you have enabled file sharing, any user connected to the network will have access to shared folders on your computer without entering passwords.
Can I Switch From A Local Account To A Microsoft Account After Installing Windows 11?
You can change your account from a local one to one that is a Microsoft account once you have installed Windows 11. Log into”Settings,” click on the “Settings” app, click on “Accounts,” and select “Your info.” There, you can choose “Sign in with a Microsoft account” to change to an existing Microsoft account.
Can I Use Gmail for My Microsoft Account?
It is necessary to have an email address to create an account with a Microsoft account. This means it is optional to have an Outlook account for the sole purpose of signing up. You can use Gmail, ProtonMail, Yahoo, and any other email provider’s account to register for an account with a Microsoft account. However, you must remember to establish an account with a Microsoft account by using an email address. There is no way to utilize an account with a Gmail account instead of a Microsoft account when using Windows 11.
How do I Install Windows 11 Home with a Local account?
To install Windows 11 Home with a Local account, follow the steps above. If you’re connected to an online source, it is necessary to end this Network Connection Flow program that is running behind the scenes. To do that, use Shift+F10 to launch the Command Prompt and type taskmgr to start the Task Manager. After that, locate that Network Connection Flow process, select it by right-clicking, and then choose the end task option. Then, you can close all the windows to continue the installation process.
What is the reason I am required to have a Microsoft account?
It is possible to manage everything from one place using Microsoft’s Microsoft account. Monitor the health and security of your PC. Keep an eye on your PC’s subscriptions and order histories, manage the family’s online life, modify your security and privacy settings, and get rewards.
Final Words
Even though Windows 11’s setup process heavily encourages users to use the Microsoft account, it’s an option to avoid this step if you prefer an account on your own or are concerned about your privacy. With the help of the strategies that are discussed in this article, you can bypass the Microsoft account configuration in the process of installing Windows or transfer to a local one after the installation. But, you must know the possible limitations and consequences when using a local account. Ultimately, the decision between an account with a Microsoft account and the local account is based on your individual preferences and preferences.