Using a Microsoft account with Windows 11 is the best way to access all of its features, including Microsoft Copilot, OneDrive, and more. But some people just don’t want to use a Microsoft account and have all of their data connected to the cloud, and that’s fine. If you’re one of those people, or if you just plan to give the PC you’re setting up to a friend, you can follow these steps to use a local account instead.
How to set up a local account on Windows 11
One of the best and easiest ways to set up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account used to be by putting in a fake email address. When you did that, Microsoft would kick you to a screen to create a local account. While the company seems to have patched that trick in its most recent updates, there are still a few other ways to break through the Microsoft account requirement.
Unfortunately, most of the other options for setting up a local account require jumping through a lot of hoops, like using Rufus to set up an entirely new Windows ISO and then configuring it to work the way you want it to. While a longer workaround, this method is handy because you can customize other things, like whether Windows 11 checks for the various requirements Microsoft has set for it.
Use Rufus
To start, you'll want to download a Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft's website. You'll also need to install Rufus, a free third-party tool for creating bootable USB drives, and you'll need a USB drive with at least 8GB of free space. Make sure to back up any data on it beforehand as it will be erased in process.
Once everything is downloaded, connect the USB drive, then open Rufus. Select the USB drive in the control panel, then select the Windows 11 ISO you downloaded, and click Start. You should see a pop-up asking if you want to customize your Windows installation. Select Yes, then check these options:
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Remove requirement for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 (only needed if you're installing on an unsupported PC)
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Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account
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Create a local account with username
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Disable data collection (Skip privacy questions)
Let Rufus do its thing, then move the USB drive to the computer that you need to set up. Turn on the power once the USB drive is plugged in, then press F11 or DEL to bring up the boot menu. Select Boot from Drive, then follow the instructions that appear on-screen, which should allow you to install Windows 11 without any of the Microsoft account requirements. If you want more in-depth instructions on how to go through this process, you can check out our guide on how to upgrade an unsupported PC to Windows 11.
Trick Windows into letting you set up a local account
If you already have Windows installed, though, then using Rufus is going to be a bit of a pain. There is another method you can try, but it can be hit or miss. During your Windows 11's device setup, you'll need to press Shift + F10, then enter the command OOBE/BYPASSNRO and press Enter. This should force the system to reboot, and, once it does, you should see an I don't have internet option when you get to the network selection point of Windows setup. From here, Windows should allow you to create a local account, since you need internet to connect a Microsoft account here. Keep in mind this method has always been finicky, and Microsoft could patch it out at any point. They may even force you to turn your local account into an online account from Settings > “Your profile name” > Your Info > Sign in with an online account.
If all else fails, there are other ways to customize how you install Windows 11, like creating a fully customized Windows 11 install using Tiny11Builder. This option will not only let you install Windows 11 without a Microsoft account, but strips away all other bloatware and junk as well. It's a lot more in-depth, though, and should only be undertaken by folks who are confident navigating the multitude of steps required to pull it off.
Disconnect your Microsoft account from the cloud
If you already have Windows 11 installed with a Microsoft account, you're not out of luck. In fact, you can change it to a local account and disconnect your Microsoft account from the cloud. That way, you'll be able to access Microsoft account info you had saved previously, but your PC itself won't be locked to that account. Head to Settings > Account > Your Info > Sign in with a local account instead, enter a password for the new account, then confirm.
For more information about this method, check out our guide here.
What features do I miss out on when I use a local account?
One of the key reasons that Microsoft tries to get you to sign up for an online account is because of all the various features it offers. Now, I’m not going to go on a tirade about how these features tie into privacy standards, because like any online account, these features are intended to collect some data for you to help Microsoft in some way—whether that’s ads, training up Copilot, or just improving the features overall.
That being said, here’s a list of some key Windows 11 features you’ll miss out on if you don’t sign up for an online account:
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Copilot access
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OneDrive syncing
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The Microsoft Store
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Restoring Windows from backups saved to OneDrive
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Personalization syncing
Whether these features matter to you or not is personal, of course. But, if you want to get the most out of Windows 11 and all the things Microsoft is adding to it, you’ll probably want to sign up for an online account instead.
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