Microsoft closes a Windows 11 account bypass that took one click

Microsoft has patched a Windows 11 setup route that let users create a local account without signing in with or creating a Microsoft account. The change closes a one-click workaround, but removes an option for people who prefer not to link their PC to an online account.

Previously, clicking “Learn more” on the sign-in screen opened a local account form. Users could enter a username, create a password, set security questions and finish setup without providing Microsoft account credentials. The link now opens a page explaining how Microsoft manages user data.

TechRadar reports that the change was patched quietly on the server side. The report attributes that description to Bob Pony, who posted on Bluesky after revealing a new way to skip the mandatory Microsoft account login in Windows 11 Home Edition one month earlier.

Local accounts are still supported to a degree, according to the report. Creating one may require a third-party tool or command-line methods, or an enterprise version of Windows rather than a consumer edition. Signing in during setup can speed up integrations with OneDrive, the Copilot app and other Microsoft products, but the change limits the choice available to users who do not want to connect a PC to an online account.