Can you still have a Local account?

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The answer is:  I can’t test for sure to give you an answer. So first an apology. You aren’t getting a video tonight. I was all set to demonstrate wit
[See the full post at: Can you still have a Local account?]

Susan Bradley Patch Lady

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Tom-R, abbodi86, Average-Jane, NetDef, GreatAndPowerfulTech, fk5353, Mele20, Alex5723

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I bought a new computer with Windows 11 Pro preinstalled, but not yet activated.
I still have to start the machine for the first time (I’m waiting for a wired keyboard and mouse that I ordered).

The question is: shall I be able to get out from under (decline) the Microsoft account when I run the machine’s very first setup?

1 Desktop W11
1 Laptop W10
Both tweaked to look, behave and feel like Windows 95

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It’s still under the old build where I know for sure that you can unhook the Internet right as you get to that Microsoft account spot and you can get around it.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady

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E Pericoloso Sporgersi

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I can confirm that PC’s preinstalled with Windows 11 Pro have Windows 11, version 21H2 installed right out of the box. In fact, when the “Let’s connect you to a network” screen appears, you can select “I don’t have internet”, and then “Continue with limited setup”. This skips the Microsoft account part completely after the “Please review the license agreement” screen. If you do connect to a network, you’ll see the “Please review the license agreement” screen followed by the “Let’s name your PC” screen. After these screens, you’ll see the “How would you like to set up this device?” screen. On that screen, select “Set up for work or school”, select “Sign in options”, and then “Domain join instead”. Either way, you will see the “Who’s going to use this PC?” screen.

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Susan,

You can download an Aria2 batch file from the UUP dump site that will create an ISO of the Win11 Pro preview build 22577 directly from Microsoft’s official servers.

• Create aria2 download package

Download/extract the zip file, and run uup_download_windows.cmd (an Aria2 batch file) to create the ISO.

BTW, the site allows you to download Aria2 batch files to create an ISO of pretty much any version of Win10 or Win11 all the way back to Win10 1909!

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cadprofessor, georgea

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Back to Win10 1703

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aboddi86:

How old is Win10 1703?

Carpe Diem {with backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender
offline▸ Acer TravelMate P215-52 RAM8GB Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1265 x64 i5-10210U SSD Firefox106.0 MicrosoftDefender
online▸ Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1778 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox114.0b8 MicrosoftDefender

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April 5, 2017 (earliest) – EOL March 9, 2021

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/windows-10-update-history-83aa43c0-82e0-92d8-1580-10642c9ed612

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geekdom

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Use this Feedback Hub link – https://aka.ms/AAfrn4x.

Remember, Microsoft really does pay attention to the Feedback Hub.

 

--Joe

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GreatAndPowerfulTech

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joep517 wrote:

Use this Feedback Hub link – https://aka.ms/AAfrn4x. Remember, Microsoft really does pay attention to the Feedback Hub.

I used the Feedback Hub to convey my opinion.

But instead of your link, I used the link provided in Windows 10’s
Start > PC Settings > Accounts > Your info > Give Feedback.

 

1 Desktop W11
1 Laptop W10
Both tweaked to look, behave and feel like Windows 95

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joep517 wrote:

Remember, Microsoft really does pay attention to the Feedback Hub.

and the moon really IS made of green cheese…

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Cybertooth, Save_Us_from_MS

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If enough of us complain – and remember this time it’s impacting IT pros.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady

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Average-Jane

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I only have a local account on my Win10 system.  When I tried to use the Feedback Hub in the past it hassled me for a Microsoft Account so I muttered numerous expletives in the privacy of my home and moved on.

They’ll do anything to sink their hooks as deeply as possible into users’ systems!

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Cybertooth

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Susan Bradley wrote:

the Feedback Hub in the past it hassled me for a Microsoft Account so I muttered numerous expletives in the privacy of my home and moved on.

You *can* use the Feedback Hub anonymously (if you insist), but then only Microsoft can see/read your feedback, nobody else.

1 Desktop W11
1 Laptop W10
Both tweaked to look, behave and feel like Windows 95

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You may want to edit your post — it’s quoting me, not Susan Bradley. 🙂

I was referring to an instance where a different person had reported an issue and asked for others to chime in — a feedback hub link to their report was available.  However, when I attempted to add my 2 cents to the reported issue the feedback hub refused access since I didn’t provide a Microsoft Account.

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EricB wrote:

You may want to edit your post — it’s quoting me, not Susan Bradley.

I would if I could. But the limited editing grace time is long gone. Sorry.

1 Desktop W11
1 Laptop W10
Both tweaked to look, behave and feel like Windows 95

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Try this method.

https://gizpie.com/install-<wbr />windows-11-without-microsoft-<wbr />account/

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E Pericoloso Sporgersi

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This doesn’t work with the new insider Windows 11 Pro.

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Have you tried this? The last image shows this was done on Windows 11 Home
Evaluation copy. Build 22557.ni_release-220210-1445

Note 22557 versus 22577 (typo?) mentioned here…

anonymous wrote:

The link in my previous comment no longer works, so here is a new link this time with simplified step by step instructions in pictures: https://imgur.com/a/bKC0cAA

HP Compaq 6000 Pro SFF PC / Windows 10 Pro / 22H2
Intel®Core™2 “Wolfdale” E8400 3.0 GHz / 8.00 GB

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Even if you choose this approach? This is the other option in that and many other links on this topic for preview build 22577.  [No I haven’t tried it].

taskkill /F /IM oobenetworkconnectionflow.exe

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Unfortunately, Microsoft has patched it in build 22557 and later. This means it will not work anymore. In fact, there are new screens including “Oops, you’ve lost internet connection” and “Let’s connect you to a network – Looks like you’ve lost your internet connection which you’ll need to continue setting up your device”.

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georgea

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Not sure where the build number 22577 being talked about is from.  The latest Insider build is 22557.

Here’s a visual step by step on how to install Windows 11 Pro with a private local account – hint it’s buried deeply now!!  No tricks with network connection needed.

Install and OOBE sequence:

With no network you get a warning:

NIC connected, lets go!

Select Work or School:

(to be continued)

~ Group "Weekend" ~

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(continued)

Looks like we are being highly encouraged to use a MSA for a Work or School selection.

Click Sign in options on this screen!

On the Sign in Options screen, select Domain Join.  Don’t worry if you are not on a AD network here, it will not force you to use an actual corporate domain account!

Give the account a name, this will be a local private account.

. . . and create a password

(to be continued)

~ Group "Weekend" ~

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Cybertooth, AlexEiffel

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(continued)

And finally create three security questions and answers (just like before when creating local admin accounts on a new install)

Following that are the typical privacy settings screens . . .

And finally a login screen:

And here’s the new install with a local admin account ONLY, no MSA required.

The only change is that they buried the option one level deeper than before.  Used to be if you selected Work or School the option to create a local account was on the following screen.  Now it’s one layer deeper under Domain Join (even though you don’t have to join a domain.)

 

~ Group "Weekend" ~

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Some notes on the above to think about:

All of that was for Windows 11 Pro on the latest advanced Preview version.  If, during the OOBE account pages one selects Personal instead of Work or School:  I cannot find a way to create a local account.  That used to be there, although it was a very small inobtrusive link on the page asking for an MSA.

Regarding Windows 11 Home on the same Preview version:  without resorting to “hackery methods,” there appears to be no method I can find that still allows a local account to be created.  Even the old trick of unplugging the ethernet cord or turning off Wi-Fi at the right time does not appear to work reliably.

~ Group "Weekend" ~

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For a  11-Pro Personal account [yes 22557, not 22577 from the original story], would this [from links above] work?  taskkill /F /IM oobenetworkconnectionflow.exe

Is there a down-side selecting work/school for a non-work “standalone” install?  I’m unclear on the functional difference.

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On the “Pro” edition, you don’t need the taskkill workaround at all, not at this time for any release nor preview version.  Nor do you need to unplug the network at any time.

Just follow the steps I outlined above:  Select the Work or School option, then Sign-on Options, then Domain Join instead (even if you don’t have a Domain Controller.)  The following pages will step you through creating the first account as administrator for a brand new install.

Be certain to not fill in the fields asking for a Microsoft (email) Account. (MSA)

There is NO functional difference in Windows 11 Pro based on whether you select ‘Personal” versus “Work or School” during the first time setup.  Those labels are only used to tell the setup wizard which way to go in further steps.

Additionally, should you then wish to add other accounts, including local only or MSA accounts – you can do that from the Settings > Accounts page.

~ Group "Weekend" ~

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There is of course, a ton of difference in how the add-ons for Windows work (Sync, OneDrive, Teams, Email, etc) if you run as a local account versus a MSA account.  That’s a debate for another thread (and believe me, it’s being debated!)  But that has nothing to do with the Setup question you asked about.

~ Group "Weekend" ~

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georgea

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In anticipation of the questions about “why ask for a MSA account when I select Work or School?”

Microsoft is doing that to make my real world job easier.

Corporate networks can now remotely provision workstations for their staff at home or office via some really cool Azure features. If a user buys a new computer, and uses their corporate MSA account in that step – and corporate admins have setup the Azure side correctly – we can push install approved updates and even applications for their work without them having to do any heavy lifting.

It’s very cool, really useful, and honestly I might have to find a new job once this gets widely used.

Wait a darn minute . . .

~ Group "Weekend" ~

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Apologies I type in the build number wrong.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady

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It’s all good!  I only spent five minutes panicking that my normal dev source didn’t show that build!  (yet?)

😉

~ Group "Weekend" ~

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One more thing…

Regarding Windows 11 Pro build 22557 and later, If you select Work or School followed by “Sign in options”, and then “Domain join instead”. It will ask “Who’s going to use this PC?”. On that screen, type in any name you want (for example, User). Then, when you see “Create a super memorable password” screen, you do not need to set a password. Just click Next to move on to the “Choose privacy settings for your device” screen.

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NetDef:

Would you please breakout your instructions (for generating Windows 11 without a Microsoft account) to a separate topic? A separate topic would be very useful.

Please include your warnings, too.

Thank you.

Carpe Diem {with backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender
offline▸ Acer TravelMate P215-52 RAM8GB Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1265 x64 i5-10210U SSD Firefox106.0 MicrosoftDefender
online▸ Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1778 x64 i5-9400 RAM16GB HDD Firefox114.0b8 MicrosoftDefender

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I’ll do a step by step and video for the Knowledge base.  Hang loose.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady

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geekdom, NetDef

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alejr wrote:

Use this Feedback Hub link

I even had problems with that link on my Windows 10 Pro computer but I finally got a small feedback window and told Microsoft that after over 22 years of Windows usage that I will move to Apple for computer hardware (already have iPhone XR and Apple Watch ver. 5) if Microsoft removes the option to have a local account when setting up a new computer. As I told them, that is even though I have THREE Microsoft accounts but I use them when I need to (not because I am forced to) and my computers have always been set up with Local Accounts.

It was interesting that Feedback showed me what it thought were similar posts but NOT ONE of them had anything to do with this issue!

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Cybertooth

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Do you think that the Microsoft Monolith takes account of feedback?

Dell E5570 Latitude, Intel Core i5 6440@2.60 GHz, 8.00 GB - Win 10 Pro

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You may choose to believe the actual Microsoft people who work on the Insider Program or not. They say that the feedback hub plays an important part in their data collection and analysis.

--Joe

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Yes you can 🙂
We’ve tested the unattended installation in our editorial room and slipstreaming the local account works!

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Microfix, NetDef

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Sysprep presets and answer files definitely still work, including the options to skip account creation screens during the OOBE and use a pre-defined local account.  I’ve tested this on Windows 11 Pro preview v 22557 with success.  Not tested Home edition, although in theory it should still work.

~ Group "Weekend" ~

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Microfix

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Unfortunately, this is way beyond most of the (average) Users out there.

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abbodi86, Microfix, NetDef

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Very true, it’s also a ton of extra work for a single fresh install.

~ Group "Weekend" ~

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Microfix

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only one fresh install is necessary if a good backup/image regime is adhered to, put in what you want out of it 😉

Keeping IT Lean, Clean and Mean!

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NetDef

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I am sure that an autounattend.xml that only does a “user”/”password” creation will be broadly available on forums with a hint “just drag this into your installation pendrive” 🙂

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I’m kinda expecting rufus and others to circumvent this during iso burning to a usb stick or DVDR 😉

Keeping IT Lean, Clean and Mean!

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I have seen at least two computers with no option to avoid connecting to the network. I found a method to bypass the microsoft account, but it requires carefulness. Of course, you can always remove the microsoft account later in settings and use a local account.
* If you are forced to connect to a network without an option to connect later in the lower left corner, then (sigh) join a network).
* once it updates you will be asked to log into microsoft. Either disconnect the Ethernet cable now or: Hold down the shift and F10 keys at the same time to reach a command prompt.
* Type in netsh interface show interfaces to see the network (ethernet or wifi).
Type in: Netsh interface set interface Wi-Fi disabled
* Click the back button on the upper left and it will try, then return to the User setup and give you the option to create a local user account.
Once you set it up, you can re-enable the network interface afterwards. You will know if you forget 😉.

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Cybertooth

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Question: If you currently have a local account on Windows 10 (have never had a MS account), will the upgrade to Win 11 via Windows Update install with the local account or force you to use the MS account? On all subsequent upgrades since Windows 8 the local account has survived the upgrade process. With MS tightening the screws, wondered if this was still the case. I would consider the update if I knew I could keep the local account.

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Local account will be respected during an upgrade.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady

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It would appear that I have found a new workaround.

 

The work around is as follows:

 

1. Press SHIFT + F10 to open a command prompt window when you see “Let’s connect you to a network”
2. Type “OOBE\BYPASSNPO” (without quotes), and then press ENTER.
3. Now, you should see “I don’t have internet”.
4. Click on “I don’t have internet”, and then “Continue with limited setup”.
5. You can now create a local account.

Here is the link to learn more: https://www.neowin.net/news/here039s-how-you-can-setup-your-windows-11-device-without-an-internet-connection/

On Windows 11, version 21H2, the steps work on Windows 11 Home. You don’t need to follow the steps on Pro.

 

I’m sure it may work in Windows 11 build 22557 and later for Home and Pro editions, but I haven’t tested it out yet, so I can’t guarantee if it works or not. If you guys have a virtual machine to test it out, please do so. I would really appreciate it if it works or not.

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Tom-R

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Sorry, for step 2, I meant “OOBE \BYPASSNRO”.

Also, here’s a link to the YouTube video for more information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-Ecj1eU6Uo

Also, here’s a Reddit thread for more information: https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows11/comments/symv3r/microsoft_to_officially_provide_bypass_for/

If you’re having trouble loading Reddit, here’s the alternate link: https://old.reddit.com/r/Windows11/comments/symv3r/microsoft_to_officially_provide_bypass_for/

The author of the Reddit post in the links above claims that it works on Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 build 22557 and later, but it’s only a matter of time before Microsoft closes this loophole.

 

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