7 ways to make Windows 11 less annoying
ZDNET
Microsoft has fired its latest salvo in the battle against Windows 11 customers who would rather sign in with a local account than a Microsoft account. Announcing a new Windows 11 Insider build, the software giant revealed that it's removing a script known as bypassnro.cmd. Running this script has been a popular method for bypassing the requirement to use a Microsoft account.
Here's how it works, at least for now, as I described in an article from 2024.
Also:Microsoft's passwordless future is here for Outlook, Xbox, 365, and more
During the initial setup, before you reach the account screen, press Shift+F10 to open a command prompt. At the prompt, type oobe\bypassnro. Your PC will reboot, placing you back at the Windows 11 setup. Continue where you left off, but make sure you're still disconnected. The account screen should then ask you to enter your name to proceed with a local account.
Though Microsoft is removing the workaround only in the Insider build, expect this to reach the official production version of Windows 11 before too long. And in typical Microsoft fashion, the company is touting this as a positive move, claiming it is designed to "enhance the security and user experience of Windows 11." Further, Microsoft said that the change "ensures that all users exit setup with internet connectivity and a Microsoft account."
Workarounds
Does this mean you'll soon have no choice but to choose a Microsoft account when you install or refesh Windows? No, a few workarounds remain.
In a post on X spotted by Windows Central, one enterprising user suggested the following steps:
Open a command prompt during setup by pressing Shift+F10. At the prompt, type start ms-cxh:localonly. You'll then see a Windows 10-style interface that lets you create a username and password for a local account.
Also:10 pesky Windows 11 24H2 bugs still haunting PCs despite several patches
Windows Central confirmed that this bypass works. The question is, for how long? Microsoft will likely block this maneuver at some point in the future.
Another option is to set up Windows 11 with a Microsoft account and then switch to a local one. Just head to Settings, select Accounts, and go to the "Your info" screen. Click the option to "Sign in with a local account instead" and follow the steps to make the switch.
A third method I have used is to enlist the free, third-party Rufus tool. Designed to install Windows from an ISO file, Rufus lets you remove the requirements for a Microsoft account and automatically create a local account with a specific username.
Also:7 quick ways to make Windows 11 less annoying right now
This battle between Microsoft accounts and user accounts has been raging for years. And the back-and-forth salvos have played out in typical fashion. Microsoft removes a workaround that lets Windows 11 users set up a local account. Someone finds a different bypass method. Microsoft puts the kibosh on that one. Someone finds another method. And so on.
Microsoft account vs. local account
Why is Microsoft so intent on forcing people to use a Microsoft account instead of a local account? Of course, the company proclaims that this is for the benefit of Windows users, that such an account allows you to use the same credentials across multiple products, that it offers access to such services as OneDrive, and that it lets you sync various settings across different PCs.
Also:Goodbye Skype, hello Teams: How Microsoft is making the switch easy
But a Microsoft account also carries with it key privacy and security drawbacks. Microsoft uses this type of account to monitor and target your activities inside and outside Windows to sell you its products and services. That is why the company fights so hard to steer you toward this option and away from a local account.
In the long run, though, this shouldn't be a battle between Microsoft and its customers. Since local accounts are still a viable option, the company should leave the choice up to each user. But as always, Microsoft continues to choose what's in its own best interests over what's in the best interests of its customers.
More Microsoft