Microsoft reportedly closes a Windows 11 local-account setup workaround

Microsoft has reportedly patched a workaround that let people install Windows 11 without signing in to a Microsoft account. The change was reported by Windows enthusiast Bob Pony on October 9, who said the fix appeared to come through a server-side update.

The workaround, discovered in September, relied on a hyperlink during Windows 11’s initial setup, known as the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE). Clicking it could bypass the account requirement, according to Wccftech. The report describes the method as one of the simplest workarounds found so far.

Wccftech says Microsoft has closed another loophole in the installation process. The supplied report does not detail how the hyperlink behaved or identify which Windows 11 versions are affected. It also presents the server-side update as an apparent explanation, rather than a confirmed account from Microsoft.