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3 Steps To Setup Windows 11 Without A Microsoft Account

 · 3 mins read

Microsoft Thought They Could Get Away With One

Windows 11 now forces you to login with a Microsoft account during initial setup (unlike Windows 10).

For some (including myself), the last thing you want to do is create a Microsoft Account.

Especially since Microsoft has come under fire in recent times because of the way they’re collecting user data.

Not all hope is lost though. You can in fact setup Windows 11 without a Microsoft Account using a clever workaround.

This method works as of 11/27/2022 (this could change though).

Now let’s get started…

Step 1: Disconnect Your Internet Connection

When Microsoft prompts you to Select Your Region on initial setup, you will want to disconnect from the internet.

selecting your region - windows 11 setup

You can do the following to disconnect from the internet…

  • Press Shift + F10 on your keyboard. This will open the Command Prompt.
  • Inside the Command Prompt enter:
ipconfig /release

typing ipconfig \release inside the command prompt

Now don’t close the Command Prompt just yet.

We still need to perform another step…

Step 2: Enable Out-Of-Box Experience and Disable Internet Requirement

With the Command Prompt still open, enter the following:

oobe\bypassnro

typing oobe/bypassnro inside the command prompt

Please note that this command is a single phrase without any spaces.

This command will disable the internet requirement during initial setup. You will then be able to setup Windows 11 without a Microsoft account.

After entering this command, your computer will reboot automatically.

When the Windows 11 setup resumes, you will start back up at the Select Your Region screen.

Step 3: Proceed With The Windows 11 Setup Process.

Now for the easy part…

All that’s left is to go through each setup page to finish setting up Windows 11.

  • First, you’ll want to Select Your Region.
  • Then click the Yes button.

Windows 11 Setup - Select Your Region

  • Next, you’ll want to Select Your Keyboard Layout.
  • After selecting it, click the Yes button.

Windows 11 Initial Setup - Select Keyboard

  • Afterwards, click the Skip button when adding a second layout.

Windows 11 Initial Setup - Skip Second Keyboard Layout

  • You’ll then be prompted to Review the Windows License Agreement.
  • After reviewing it, click the Accept button.

Windows 11 Initial Setup - Accept License Agreement

  • Next up is Entering Your Name for your computer (this will be the name used to sign in).
  • Then click the Next button.

Windows 11 Initial Setup - Enter Name For Device

  • After entering your name, you’ll then be prompted to Create A Password for the account.
  • Then click the Next Button

Windows 11 Initial Setup - Create Your Password

  • If you created a password, you will be required to complete three security questions to recover the account in case you forget your password.
  • All that’s left is Choosing Your Privacy settings.
  • After choosing your privacy settings, click the Accept button.

Windows 11 Initial Setup - Create Your Password

Windows 11 will then get things ready for you.

It will take just a few minutes before you have Windows 11 up and running.

And that is it!

You’ve just setup Windows 11 without needing to create a Microsoft account.

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