Install Windows 11 without a Microsoft account

Microsoft is urging Windows 11 users to set up a Microsoft account. Until recently, those who did not want to do this had the option of using the oobe/bypassnro command to set up Windows with a local user account instead of a Microsoft account when setting up the device for the first time. However, Microsoft has now blocked this option from version Windows 11 24H2 onwards.

Another command now helps:

You start Windows 11 for the first time and click the Windows key + the letter R and enter the command cmd, which you execute with the Return key. Then enter the following command in the command console and execute it:

start ms-cxh:localonly

You can then set up Windows 11 using a local account instead of a Microsoft account.

Related products

Windows 11 Home

Windows 11 Pro

Windows 11 Pro upgrade licence