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Microsoft Ends Local Account Workarounds in Latest Windows 11 Build
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).
Previously, scripts like BypassNRO.cmd and registry hacks allowed users to force creation of local accounts during setup -- paths Microsoft said inadvertently skip critical setup screens. Per Microsoft:
We are removing known mechanisms for creating a local account in the Windows Setup experience (OOBE). 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. Users will need to complete OOBE with internet and a Microsoft account, to ensure device is setup correctly.
The change follows Microsoft's earlier removal of the 'BypassNRO.cmd' script from Windows 11 in March of this year, a move the company said was intended to enhance the security and user experience of Windows 11, and ensure that users do not leave the setup process without Internet access.
Going forward, users installing Windows 11 will be required to complete setup while connected to the Internet with a Microsoft Account. Microsoft frames this as necessary to ensure devices are fully configured. In other words, during OOBE there's no official “local account only” path. Microsoft cited concerns that bypassing online account setup could leave devices in incomplete states.
That said, Build 26220 also brings features worth noting beyond account policy. Windows Hello's Enhanced Sign-in Security is being extended to support external fingerprint readers, allowing biometrics beyond built-in sensors. The "Click to Do" experience gains improved object selection in images and inline unit conversion of things like distance, temperature and weight. You can now name your default user folder during OOBE by issuing a script in the early setup -- though that only applies after you accept the Microsoft Account route. File Explorer also gets a smoother and more consistent dark mode across prompts like copy, move and delete.