Microsoft Just Blocked A Popular Way To Set Up A Local Account In Windows 11 - Here's What Still Works

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Microsoft is blocking different measurement to take a section relationship successful Windows 11.
• You'd unit a section relationship by disconnecting from nan network.
• The artifact is presently successful spot successful nan latest Windows 11 Insider build.

Microsoft has been connected a never-ending ngo to forestall Windows users from choosing section accounts arsenic they group up their PCs. Now, nan institution is squashing yet different workaround that forces Windows 11 to judge a section relationship by disconnecting your machine from nan internet.

Little choice

In a blog station published Monday, Windows Insider Program lead Amanda Langowski revealed really nan latest Insider build of Windows 11 is leaving users pinch small prime but to usage a Microsoft account.

Also: Can't upgrade your Windows 10 PC? You person 2 weeks to enactment - and 5 options

"We are removing known mechanisms for creating a section relationship successful nan Windows Setup acquisition (OOBE)," Langowski said. "While these mechanisms were often utilized to bypass Microsoft relationship setup, they besides inadvertently skip captious setup screens, perchance causing users to exit OOBE pinch a instrumentality that is not afloat configured for use. Users will request to complete OOBE pinch net and a Microsoft relationship to guarantee nan instrumentality is group up correctly."

Here, Langowski is referring to a popular workaround that group could usage during Windows setup to take a section account.

At nan first Windows 11 setup and earlier you scope nan relationship screen, you would property Shift+F10 to unfastened a bid prompt. At nan prompt, you'd type start ms-cxh:localonly. Your PC past reboots, placing you backmost astatine nan Windows setup. You proceed wherever you near disconnected but make judge you're still disconnected. The relationship surface should past inquire you to participate your sanction to proceed pinch a section account.

Also: Microsoft's ultra compact Windows 11 25H2 update is present - get it successful a azygous restart

That instrumentality will apparently nary longer beryllium imaginable erstwhile nan latest Insider build reaches nan wide Windows 11 populace. And this is conscionable nan latest move by Microsoft to unit group to use Microsoft accounts. In March, nan institution blocked a erstwhile method that besides disconnected your PC from nan network. In that case, you'd type nan bid oobe\bypassnro; otherwise, nan steps were nan same.

An even older workaround fto you group up a section relationship by utilizing a bogus email address, specified arsenic no@thankyou.com aliases a@a.com. But Microsoft put nan kibosh connected that instrumentality immoderate clip ago.

Yep, it's each for illustration a crippled of whack-a-mole. Savvy Windows users observe immoderate measurement to unit nan OS to fto group take a section account. Microsoft finds and disables it. Users move to a different method. Microsoft disables that one. Rinse, repeat.

Working workarounds

There are still different ways to take a section relationship successful Windows 11. You tin group up your PC pinch a Microsoft relationship initially and past move to a section one. You tin besides move to a third-party inferior for illustration Rufus, which allows you to prime a section relationship earlier you instal Windows.

Also: This free instrumentality installs Windows 11 connected unsupported PCs - without immoderate bloatware

Why is Microsoft truthful intent connected preventing you from mounting up a section account, particularly erstwhile nan action still exists? The company's return is that Microsoft accounts are much secure, much personalized, and much integrated. But pinch this type of account, Microsoft tin besides stitchery information astir you for nan intent of sending targeted ads and promotions. You tin ever tweak your settings to amended sphere your privacy, but that requires immoderate effort.

New relationship option

There is 1 useful caller relationship action successful nan latest Windows 11 Insider build. When you group up your PC pinch a Microsoft account, Windows automatically creates nan sanction of your personification files based connected your existent name. But you whitethorn not for illustration nan assigned files name.

Also: How to clear your Windows 11 PC cache (and why it makes specified a large difference)

With nan caller setup, you'll beryllium capable to sanction your ain default folder. The process is unwieldy successful nan existent build, arsenic you person to do this astatine a bid prompt. But hopefully, Microsoft will slap a GUI connected it to make it much user-friendly.

The caller Insider build besides tweaks different features, including Windows Hello, Click to Do, and File Explorer. As nan latest changes are conscionable now rolling retired for Insiders, we astir apt won't spot them popular up for each Windows 11 users for astatine slightest respective much months.

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