Microsoft has once again drawn attention with its requirement for users to sign in to a Microsoft account when installing Windows 11. However, users who find this requirement intrusive have discovered a new method to bypass it, making the setup process for Windows 11’s Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) much smoother. This new workaround, shared by X user @witherornot1337, takes a simple command-line approach to bypass the account sign-in process.
To execute this bypass effectively, you should be installing the Home or Pro editions of Windows 11. Users of other editions can select the “I don’t have internet” option during setup. For the bypass, when you reach the initial steps of installation, press “Shift + F10” to open the Command Prompt (CMD). Once there, type the command “start ms-cxh:localonly” and press enter. This will open a new window allowing you to create a local account, effectively removing the need to set up a Microsoft account.
It seems the command works by triggering the Microsoft Cloud Experience Host (CXH) to bypass internet and sign-in requirements, focusing instead on creating a local account. This is especially useful for those who prefer to dive into their new OS quickly and without additional online setup hurdles.
While this solution provides a convenient shortcut for now, it’s unclear how long this will remain an option. Microsoft has deemed the absence of a mandatory Microsoft account as a “security issue,” and they may address this in future Windows 11 updates. For the time being, though, this method offers a straightforward solution for those wanting to skip the Microsoft account setup.
