Don't miss out on our latest stories. Add PCMag as a preferred source on Google. Microsoft is closing more loopholes that allowed users to set up Windows 11 with a local account. Users will now be ...

Microsoft is tightening the screws on Windows 11's setup process, and if you've been dodging the Microsoft account requirement with sneaky tricks, your days of rebellion might be numbered. In the ...

A newly discovered trick allows Windows 11 users to bypass Microsoft’s online account requirement during setup, raising questions around user control and privacy. The workaround, shared by X user ...

A popular method to bypass a Microsoft Account during setup is to use a script named 'C:\windows\system32\oobe\BypassNRO.cmd.' When run during Windows 11 setup, it creates a Registry value that ...

Microsoft's latest Insider Preview, Build 26220.6772, introduces a significant policy change: removal of known workarounds to skip Microsoft Account setup during Windows 11 installation (OOBE).

Microsoft is blocking another way to choose a local account in Windows 11. You'd force a local account by disconnecting from the network. The block is currently in place in the latest Windows 11 ...

Of the many minor to medium-size annoyances that come with a modern Windows 11 installation, the requirement that you sign in with a Microsoft account is one of the most irritating. Sure, all ...

Microsoft Makes It Harder to Set Up Windows 11 Without an Account Microsoft has blocked popular commands used to bypass key Windows 11 setup screens, stating they leave users with a device 'that is ...