A workaround has been found to bypass needing a Microsoft account on Windows 11. By pressing Shift + F10 during setup, users can input "start ms-cxh:localonly" to create a local account. Education ...

Microsoft's relentless push for users to sign into Windows with a Microsoft account is hard to ignore, especially with Windows 11 making it tougher to bypass this requirement.

The workaround, shared by X user @witherornot1337, lets users set up Windows 11 with a local account instead of being forced to log in with a Microsoft account.

You can remove the Microsoft account requirement, skip all the data collection-related questions, and create a local user account, all in one go, making for a much quicker and easier setup.

A previously unknown trick lets you easily bypass using a Microsoft Account in Windows 11, just as Microsoft tries to make it harder to use local accounts.

Microsoft has removed its guide on how to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account on Windows 11. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Windows 10 allowed users to create local accounts by default, and even early versions of Windows 11 Pro included a local setup path.

If you're on the latest version, Windows 11 provides multiple ways to change your password, whether the account is configured with a Microsoft account or you use a local account.

This new method feels far more baked in and may last a little longer. Still, if you're planning to install Windows 11 and want to do it without a connected account, now would be a great time to do so.