Microsoft Is Plugging More Holes That Let You Use Windows 11 Without an Online Account
- Reference: 0179686340
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/10/06/2338211/microsoft-is-plugging-more-holes-that-let-you-use-windows-11-without-an-online-account
- Source link:
> "We are removing known mechanisms for creating a local account in the Windows Setup experience (OOBE)," [2]says Amanda Langowski, the lead for the Windows Insider Program. "While these mechanisms were often used to bypass Microsoft account setup, they also inadvertently skip critical setup screens, potentially causing users to exit OOBE with a device that is not fully configured for use."
>
> The changes mean Windows 11 users will need to complete the OOBE screens with an internet connection and Microsoft account in future versions of the OS. Microsoft already [3]removed the "bypassnro" workaround earlier this year, and today's changes also disable the "start ms-cxh:localonly" command that Windows 11 users [4]discovered after Microsoft's previous changes. Using this command now resets the OOBE process and it fails to bypass the Microsoft account requirement.
[1] https://www.theverge.com/news/793579/microsoft-windows-11-local-account-bypass-workaround-changes
[2] https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2025/10/06/announcing-windows-11-insider-preview-build-26220-6772-dev-channel/
[3] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/03/30/2115253/microsoft-attempts-to-close-local-account-windows-11-setup-loophole
[4] https://x.com/witherornot1337/status/1906050664741937328
Who would have thought (Score:5, Insightful)
That Microsoft wants to force users to have an online account when installing Windows. Seems to me they have an ulterior motive.
Re: (Score:2)
My account is outlook@0123456789 if anybody wants to join me.
You don't say (Score:5, Insightful)
An online setup system is an order of magnitude more complicated to develop than a simple app that runs locally on the machine. They didn't spend that money just to give their users the finger (though that is definately a side effect). They want user data, location and telemetry, simple as that.
Unfortunately this is what happens with near monopolies (and I exclusively use Linux but I don't fool myself its going to be used by the majority of PC users anytime soon). Any semblance of giving a shit about their customers goes out the window though with MS that happened years ago.
Re: (Score:1)
When I had the chance of trying steam + proton, it became clear that I had to give a real try.
It has been almost a year now, and all my workstation are running either arch or debian. I don't think I would want to ever go back and re-invest myself in the Microjunkie ecosystem that gonna tell me the meteo that I didn't ask for, and try to sell me some specific stocks or tell me about their political view (news), all while forcing me to register an account that nobody want and of course a bunch of telemetry th
Re: (Score:2)
Your 'Microsoft account' gives them the legal justification for downloading all of your data from 'your' computer. By breaking that, you make it immeasurably more difficult for them to grab everything they want. They can still grab a lot without the account, but the data is more valuable with your involvement.
Re: You don't say (Score:2)
s/years/decades
Re: (Score:2)
On top of the sinister shit already said, there are several advertised windows features that rely on online accounts, e.g. ransomware protection of Documents folder relies on OneDrive sync.
The ulterior motive is the same as Google's. A lot of functionality is created with online accounts, and a lot of benefits to the account provider (i.e. datamining your stuff).
Bought a Mac, never had to look back (Score:1)
My 2009 iMac is still running strong with OpenCore.
Although Apple has its quirks, life is so much easier.
Except trying to use that botched up version of Excel but you know who makes that.
Re: (Score:2)
Can you setup a Mac without an online account(iCloud)?
Re: (Score:3)
Yes, although you have to tell it you don't want an iCloud account. But it doesn't bug you again.
Re: (Score:2)
I've not had much Mac experience but sitting down in front of an old i7 iMac 27" was a joy. The display is crisp and clear. Apple seems to cater to the art and photo crowd but never CAD or engineering. I'd love to design PCBs and do CAD on an iMac. Yeah yeah yeah linux and KiCad.
Is opencore slower? (Score:2)
I recently tried opencore on a 2016 macbook pro (16gb ram model) to run MacOS v15 (Sequoia) and it was quite slow. It felt more like not optimized (i.e. missing drivers) and yes I did do the post install patching. Put the macbook back on the latest version of MacOS it could run and a lot smoother and responsive.
Out Of Body Experience? (Score:3)
Does Windows really freak people out to that degree?
Glad I use Linux!
Re: (Score:2)
> Does Windows really freak people out to that degree?
> Glad I use Linux!
Windows freaked me out to that degree even in the XP days - and that was still a usable OS. That's why I've been on Linux for going on 20 years.
I occasionally end up using my wife's personal Windows 10 computer. I feel like taking a shower afterwards. But Windows is all she's ever used, and she's been mostly OK with it up until recently. Her experience with Windows 11 - forced on her via her work computer - is dismal and abysmal even for her.
Rufus still works with Win 11 25H2 (Score:5, Informative)
Installed Windows 11 a laptop with 25H2 (the latest version) yesterday (10/6/25). Prepped my installer flash drive with Rufus and set a local account via that.
Worked just fine -- no Microsoft account needed.
[1]https://rufus.ie/en/ [rufus.ie]
[1] https://rufus.ie/en/
Re: (Score:2)
Local account still needs to exist for a wide variety of reasons, so it's unlikely to go away.
What is increasingly going away is a way for a home user to install the entire OS using only a local account. Custom ISOs will likely continue to offer an option to enable local account only.
Re:Rufus still works with Win 11 25H2 (Score:5, Interesting)
My understanding is that Rufus uses, internally, the same OOBE option that is now going away.
See directly from source: [1]https://github.com/pbatard/ruf... [github.com] - all the option does is add a registry key for OOBE.
So hang on to your ISO image.
[1] https://github.com/pbatard/rufus/blob/master/src/wue.c#L134
Re: (Score:2)
If they directly add the registry key, then removal of oobe.cmd would have no effect. It's just a script that can perform some setup functions.
Come to think of it, we could probably copy it onto the USB install stick and still use it during setup.
Re: (Score:2)
I was also able to use bypassnro in versions where they said it had been removed.
I don't understand why they are doing this. No screens get skipped, that's just flat-out false.
10 (Score:2)
Just another reason to stay on 10.
LTSC (Score:3)
The only edition of Windows thatâ(TM)s really worth installing is LTSC. Unfortunately, Microsoft makes it deliberately difficult to purchase or even find. On the plus side, it doesnâ(TM)t force you to use an online account, Secure Boot, or TPM.
Re: (Score:2)
> deliberately difficult to purchase
There's no legal way a single end user gets access to this as licenses are not provided without a volume license agreement. And for people who the system is designed for it is trivial to purchase.
Technically ... (Score:5, Informative)
Microsoft Is Plugging More Holes That Let You Use Windows 11 Without an Online Account
Technically, they are plugging more holes that let you set up Windows 11 without an online account. Once you've done that, I presume you can still create a local admin account and zap the account used during setup. Now if they were to remove the ability to create local accounts entirely, that would be a problem.
Re:Technically ... (Score:5, Interesting)
Yes, you can. I do exactly this when I set up new, preloaded, Win11 boxes at work. I have a bogus M$ account I use just to get the machine configured. First thing I do after getting the machine to a desktop is create a local admin account and nuke the online one.
Re: (Score:2)
This is likely going to be the only way forward until they disable that option...
I know that Apple very tightly links MacOS with apple accounts, but it is still completely possible to set up a Mac with local account only.. whether you find MacOS useful without an Apple ID associated is entirely another story.
With MS I have never found a compelling reason to want/need/use a MS account directly tied to my windows login. Yes if one uses OneDrive and/OR Office365 or if you want to use your MSDN subscription et
Re: Technically ... (Score:2)
I did that - after installing Win 11 I setup a local account for daily use. I also setup another local account I only use for financial stuff. I've always done that.
I didn't delete that Microsoft account, though, because I still use it but learned you don't want to logon to your MS account while logged in to that local account.
I highly recommend uninstalling OneDrive before setting up the local account or doing anything else.
OneDrive has become greedy, and wants to do things you didn't ask for and pretends
BeauHD kisses the ring (Score:2)
> Microsoft Is Plugging More Holes ...
BeauHD is bending the knee to Microsoft, let me fix that.
Correct title: Microsoft forces more customers using Windows 11 to share their data.
I've seen no one mention my metheod (Score:2)
So I'm gonna keep it to myself.
Re: (Score:1)
Don't leave us hangin' bro
Re: (Score:2)
Running Lisp on a Symbolics machine?
For Sale (Score:2)
Amanda Langowski's family information.
Seems only fair to return the privacy violation in kind.
Doesn't matter (Score:2)
No one gives a fuck what MS wants anyway ... so whatever-
Red Hat requries an account too (Score:1)
So does Ubuntu if you want their pro subscription, so Linux is just as bad.
Re: (Score:2)
> So does Ubuntu if you want their pro subscription, so Linux is just as bad.
I use Mint
Re: (Score:1)
Just as bad? Pro is *optional* not *compulsory*, do you understand the difference? I run Kubuntu, upgrade every two years when a new LTS arrives, and have no need of "pro". Most people don't need "pro". And if you don't like Ubuntu, you might possibly acknowledge that Linux is much, much more than RH+Ubuntu. There's Debian, run by a foundation, not a company. Do you think Debian is "as bad" as Windows when it doesn't even have the option of an account? Arch? Mint?
Basically, people like you are just so hopel
Re: (Score:2)
> So does Ubuntu if you want their pro subscription, so Linux is just as bad.
No. Some parts of the Linux ecosystem have a few bad practices and attitudes in common with Microsoft. That in no way makes Linux "just as bad".
Red Hat and Ubuntu provide a lot that many alternative distros rely on. So if they were to either go away or start locking stuff away behind non-libre licences, it would hurt. But Linux would still be OK. There might be a few bumpy transitions ahead, but Linux - as a libre OS and as a community - would survive.
Re: (Score:2)
Well, Debian does provide a lot. Use Devuan to get rid of the crappy parts. But what does Red Hat provide?
Re: (Score:2)
Use Devuan, Gentoo, Arch, etc.
That some Linux distros are enshittifying does not at all mean that Linux is bad. Unlike the situation with Microsoft and Windows.
Answer file (Score:2)
Headline is BS. Read the article - you can still use an answer file (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/update-windows-settings-and-scripts-create-your-own-answer-file-sxs?view=windows-11)
Use last Windows 11 ISO that allows local account. (Score:2)
If you have to use Windows 11, use the last Windows 11 ISO that allows creation of a local account (using the well-known CLI commands), then let Windows Update do its thing.
8 years from now. when Windows 11 goes EOL and we'll be forced to Windows 12, we'll reminisce about how this was possible.
Here's a hint (Score:2)
I don't think users like uploading all their files to OneDrive, but they're out of space, so they go to remove it, and then you erase all their files.
Tends to piss people off.
Re: (Score:2)
Given someone a 5GB limit and automatic opt-in on account setup. Before you are done transferring your data to it you already have a problem. Disconnecting OneDrive doesn't erase the files, but it sure does make a mess of the directory structure. Everything stays under C:\user\OneDrive even after turning it off. I've even had errors trying to relocate the folders to default locations manually (even when empty).
no way of installing without an Ms account (Score:2)
no installation then .
Re: (Score:2)
Does the IoT or Embedded versions of Windows 10 or 11 require a Microsoft account? I can't imagine that it would. IoT and Embedded product producers don't want that kind of overhead.
Question: When is it forced on current users? (Score:4, Informative)
They keep working on the setup process, but after every update it also tries to push you into a Microsoft account, with "online backup" and all the other nonsense I intentionally avoided during setup. At what point do they start removing the option to skip this "critical security step" after an update? Because that day will be the day I give up even keeping a load of Windows around to run my DAW system. Hopefully by then Linux audio isn't a complete shit-show for real production.
Re: (Score:2)
That will be the day I "domain join" all my computers to whatever Samba server I can throw together. This might also be the bypass to get in and then create a local account for a computer that has Pro.
Re: (Score:2)
Curious what's not working now? Jupiter Broadcasting uses Linux for all their podcasting and live audio, and they say PipeWire is way ahead of anything that's on Windows or Mac and very solid. Windows seems to require third-party software like Banana to do what they are doing with Linux out of the box.
Re: (Score:2)
> Curious what's not working now? Jupiter Broadcasting uses Linux for all their podcasting and live audio, and they say PipeWire is way ahead of anything that's on Windows or Mac and very solid. Windows seems to require third-party software like Banana to do what they are doing with Linux out of the box.
The biggest hurdles for me::
A) Audio stability on-system. I have one interface that can remain stable on Linux over the course of the last ten years or so. All others seem to cause momentary pauses that the system doesn't even register as a pause, but can play absolute havoc mid recording session.
B) Plugin compatibility, and the iLok usage required to use the plugins I find necessary to keep myself running. I wish iLok wasn't used by so many plugin makers, but even my drum plugins require it these days.
Re: (Score:2)
> critical security step
It's already tied to security. Several Windows Defender functions depend on OneDrive. Specifically ransomware protection. It's already a critical security step to have an online account.
Debian 13 "Trixie" FIRST LOOK! (Score:1)
[1]Debian 13 "Trixie" FIRST LOOK! Here's Everything They Changed (2025) [youtube.com]
“The wait is finally over! Debian 13 “Trixie” is almost here, and it’s one of the biggest Debian releases in years. In this video, we take a detailed first look at everything new in Debian 13 — from GNOME 48 and KDE Plasma 6.3, to the Linux Kernel 6.12, RISC-V support, tmpfs performance boosts, and major security enhancements like Intel CET and ARM PAC/BTI.”
“We break down all 11 major new fea
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-u-_n4RS-I
Zune, windows phone, hotmail, outlook email (Score:2)
Sothe transition for Apple was a lot smoother because you needed an account to use an iphone and needed one for iPods. The same account is used for Mac OS. If Zune and windows phone hadn’t been flops nearly everyone would already have a windows account. I used to have a hotmail address. I do have an outlook one I don’t use for anything, but I wanted to claim the name/address.
Re: (Score:2)
> needed one for iPods
I can't speak about iPhones. But my iPod has been running fine for almost 20 years without an account.
Re: (Score:2)
Okay, but you probably got your music from Napster and Kazaa instead of the iTunes Store. I got most most my tunes outside Apple’s ecosystem too, but we were the minority.
Re: (Score:2)
If you weren't an early adopter, Apple has only sold DRM-free music since 2009. It's just an AAC file and you don't have to have that particular syncing computer or iPod joined to the account at all.
Re: (Score:2)
> Okay, but you probably got your music from Napster and Kazaa
Ripping my own CDs.
Re: (Score:2)
I have a Microsoft account already and I still don't sign into my local account with it. It might be mostly on principle but I just don't like how it works when joined to an account.
Great single-point-of-failure (Score:3)
While MS software, cloud and OS gets worse and worse and less secure, they force people into closer dependencies. Great job!
These people need to be stopped before they cause a massive global catastrophe.
I solved this issue years ago (Score:1)
When I migrated to Linux.
This is an enormous antitrust violation (Score:2)
It's a classic case of forced bundling and it should be stopped immediately if we enforced antitrust law.
If you don't like this you need to take a long hard look at how you have been voting in the last 30 years and what you traded in exchange for antitrust law enforcement.
Remember netbooks? Remember when Linux started to get a foothold in the desktop environment? Remember how quickly Microsoft shut that down? All of that was illegal and the law was never enforced.
Don't like bureaucrats? Guess wh
Hey Nadella (Score:2)
Fuck you.
When something is good... (Score:2)
...people voluntarily choose it, and often pay for it
When something is forced on people, it's almost never good
Microsof Did Nothing Good Since Window 10 (Score:2)
There is not one redeeming feature that Microsoft added for Windows 11. Everything they did--has been against the user.
Return the defective item (Score:2)
If enough returns of defective items pile up, the retailers and manufacturers will be forced to act.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Linux is the universal fix. What will the Billionaires do if we all do that?
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
What they've already done - close it. See also Red Hat.
Re: (Score:2)
I saw Red Hat at the beginning, they sold support services for Linux. Not so bad. If the world were fair Linus would be Musk. Although I would not wish Musk's life on anyone.
Re: (Score:2)
> "What they've already done - close it. See also Red Hat."
Neither Alma nor Rocky require an online account to spy on you so that it can be installed or used. And neither requires "licensing." And there are lot of other distros as well that can be used for servers or desktops. Mint makes a great desktop, for example. And they are thinking so far ahead that they even have LMDE waiting in the wings in case Canonical goes rogue.
Re: (Score:2)
You're not thinking creatively enough. The way things are going, the argument will be that uncontrolled installation of unregulated Linux distributions empowers pedophiles to distribute CSAM, so government will start demanding new motherboards to only allow the installation of properly vetted operating systems that implement extensive, impossible to disable, system monitoring to make sure no CSAM can be distributed with it.
Only big corporations with a proven need for maximum performance (and governments, ev
Re: (Score:3)
I've been seeing a lot of people saying they ditched redhate recently, some of them even over their abuse of the GPL. I wonder what the numbers look like.
Re: (Score:2)
Sadly probably not much. Individuals yes, corporations no. It's the new "Nobody got fired for buying IBM" - literally.
Re: (Score:2)
> Individuals yes, corporations no.
The company I work for dumped RedHat at the RHEL 5 release, because we system admins saw the writing on the wall with the introduction of Entitlements/licenses. We've been all Debian (and will stay all Debian for the foreseeable future), and it's been glorious.
Re: (Score:2)
This is what the numbers look like:
[1]https://trends.builtwith.com/S... [builtwith.com]
Sadly, it seems the quality of Fedora is going down the gurgler too.
If they ever finish debian to use a single init system and actually have some consistency, it'd be soooo much nicer to use. I've been saying that the last 5-6 versions though.
That's the problem with debian - there's no central leadership for anything - so it only really seems to get 80% of the way there. If they could just get that extra 20% completed, it'd be a complete, h
[1] https://trends.builtwith.com/Server/CentOS
Re: (Score:3)
> If they ever finish debian to use a single init system and actually have some consistency
They did finish Debian to use a single init system, it is called systemd and it sucks. If you install another init system you have to do a shitload of work to un-systemd it, which is why Devuan exists. They do that work for you. Debian USED to use a single init system (init and compatibles, you could switch between them freely without having to do anything else) but then they added systemd support in the name of GNOME support, at a time when GNOME popularity was waning and while systemd was particularly ter
Re: (Score:2)
Hmm - that site [1]mixes operating systems with SSL usage on the same graph [builtwith.com]. But the other thing is - it's stats about public facing internet accessible sites. The majority of Red Hat clients are RHEL are internal or data centre, non-public. I'm struggling to get a link that works, but the 2025 estimate is around [2]around 43% market share [reddit.com], and I'm honestly surprised it's that low.
[1] https://trends.builtwith.com/Server
[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/Ubuntu/comments/1n8n5pz/interesting_2025_linux_market_share_stats/#:~:text=Red%20Hat%20Enterprise%20Linux%20(RHEL,most%20widely%20used%20Linux%20OS.
Re: (Score:3)
...Github, systemd/lennart... well at least purists think that's a Microsoft driven cancer
Re: (Score:1, Funny)
> Linux is the universal fix.
Yes. Windows sucks, so switch to something worse. Brilliant.
Re: (Score:2)
confused-nick-young.jpg
Re: (Score:2)
You can always spot the unskilled, lazy, seat warmers here. Just look for the ones that hate Linux.
Re: (Score:2)
I'll switch as soon as SolidWorks offers a linux build.
Re: (Score:2)
> I'll switch as soon as SolidWorks offers a linux build.
No old-but-functional spare computers in your house? If there are, dedicate your current Windows box to SolidWorks only, and set up a Linux box as a daily driver. Set things up so the Linux box has access to your SolidWorks output for sending work product wherever for manufacturing, printing, collaborating, sharing, etc..
At least then Redmond only knows about your SolidWorks stuff - everything else is beyond their prying eyes. Less time spent using Winbloat rentware / spyware / adware / shovelware = a happi
Re: (Score:3)
Yes, as someone who's used Linux for almost two decades I sit here and smile at how the masochistic Windows users are squirming :-)
Re:Universal fix (Score:4, Insightful)
the point is that 98% of users only use web browsers. Firefox is kickass. Enlighten me on how Windows may enhance my life beyond that.
Re: Universal fix (Score:2)
So, too early to proclaim 2026, the year of Linux desktop?
Re:Universal fix (Score:5, Insightful)
> And linux on desktop remains so god awful, that windows is still an obvious choice for a desktop PC.
Bullshit.
I'm a happy Linux Mint user. No problems whatsoever. I'm just your regular desktop user who doesn't give a damn about the CLI, and you know what? It actually works better than Windows. It doesn't change with each new version and doesn't vacuum up all your data.
And, no, I'm not a fanboy. I simply use it for my writing (ghostwriter), music (spotify) and browsing needs (firefox). It doesn't get in my way and allows me to tweak it to my liking. All point'n click.
Re: (Score:2)
So, you're admitting that you're an edge case?
I bet most of those specialized software and non steam games can also be run in WINE with a little effort.
iTunes doesn't sync under Linux (Score:3)
My roommate tried that patch with my help, and iTunes stopped being able to sync purchased music to her iPhone.
I researched online and found these limits:
- iTunes app for Windows uses a driver called Apple Mobile Device Service to sync to an iPhone, which (like other drivers) Wine cannot run
- libimobiledevice for Linux can sync files but cannot update the music library
- The Music app included with iOS can play only music from the music library and cannot import files
- VLC app can play music from files but c
Re: (Score:2)
If you're using apple music you can play it directly from the phone itself, you don't need itunes at all.
Be that as it may... (Score:2)
For anyone who is interested in privacy, Windows is clearly the wrong choice.
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah, tell me what screen gets skipped. I've done plenty of windows installs and I've never seen bypassnro skip a screen.
Re: (Score:2)
It skips the online account creation/login. Weasel words to say the same thing.
Re: (Score:2)
Lies, FUD, and other crap. What else is new with the MS scum...
wait... (Score:3, Funny)
... hold my beer!
Re: (Score:2)
When I see; "Upgrade to Windows 11", I click on: "remind me in three days". Yes, please Microsoft, hold my beer.
Re:wait... (Score:5, Informative)
> "While these mechanisms were often used to bypass Microsoft account setup, they also inadvertently skip critical setup screens, potentially causing users to exit OOBE with a device that is not fully configured for use."
Complete bullshit.
Re:wait... (Score:5, Insightful)
>> "While these mechanisms were often used to bypass Microsoft account setup, they also inadvertently skip critical setup screens, potentially causing users to exit OOBE with a device that is not fully configured for use."
> Complete bullshit.
Not really. They meant not fully configured for THEIR use. Not yours.
Not like you own the damn thing anyway. You bought a license to use it. And they mean use it THEIR way.
Re:wait... (Score:4, Insightful)
This is why we need a GDPR law on steroids.
Re: (Score:2)
+1 insightful
Re:wait... (Score:5, Insightful)
They don't want you to opt out of onedrive, targeted ads, or more telemetry.
Re: (Score:2)
What's a checkbox mean anyways? Won't they do whatever anyway?
Re: (Score:2)
Not really. Critical setup screens include several that require online accounts to work, e.g. OneDrive. It may sound like nothing but it also removes Windows 11's anti-ransomware mechanics which rely on OneDrive to sync files in the Documents folder.
Now *YOU* may not want this, but the clueless user is advertised a feature set of windows, who at the behest of some techie is told to setup windows with a local account and now sees that feature doesn't work for them.