Windows 11 Install to Require Internet and Microsoft Account
Microsoft (via Will Dormann, Hacker News):
We’re removing the bypassnro.cmd script from the build to enhance security and user experience of Windows 11. This change ensures that all users exit setup with internet connectivity and a Microsoft Account.
A previously unknown trick lets you easily bypass using a Microsoft Account in Windows 11, just as Microsoft tries to make it harder to use local accounts.
[…]
When installing Windows 11 and you reach the screen asking, “Let’s connect you to a network,” you can use the Shift+F10 keyboard combination to open a Windows command prompt.
At this prompt, type
start ms-cxh:localonlyand press Enter on your keyboard to open a “Microsoft account” window where you can create a new local user for the Windows 11 install.
During my recent adventure reinstalling old versions of macOS, I found that it’s now commonly recommended that Mac users have an Internet connection when installing, even if they’ve made a full installer disk. Otherwise it may not succeed. I also found that, even when using a freshly downloaded .pkg of the latest version (of that cycle), the installer would often download what seemed like gigabytes of files. I have little confidence that Mac users still have control over reinstalling archived versions of the OS onto their own hardware without Apple’s verification/meddling. This seems to also be the case when restoring an IPSW file.
Previously:
- How External Bootable Disks Work With Apple Silicon Macs
- Error 702 Installing macOS on an External Drive
- Windows 11 Requires Microsoft Account
Update (2025-10-08): Tom Warren (tweet, Hacker News):
Microsoft is cracking down on bypass methods that let Windows 11 installs use a local account, and avoid an internet requirement during the setup process. In a new Windows 11 test build released today, Microsoft says it’s removing known workarounds for creating local accounts as they can apparently cause issues during the setup process.
Update (2025-10-29): EchoGecko795 (via Hacker News):
Videos from several [YouTube] creators have been taken down on topics including how to install Windows 11 without logging into a Microsoft account and how to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware.
Previously:
Update (2025-11-07): Sourav Rudra (via Hacker News):
Now, a popular tech YouTuber, CyberCPU Tech, has faced the same treatment. This time, their entire channel was at risk.
[…]
Two weeks ago, Rich had posted a video on installing Windows 11 25H2 with a local account. YouTube removed it, saying that it was “encouraging dangerous or illegal activities that risk serious physical harm or death.”
Days later, Rich posted another video showing how to bypass Windows 11's hardware requirements to install the OS on unsupported systems. YouTube took that down too.
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You can't set up a new Mac without connecting it to the Internet. It has to be 'activated'. It absolutely insists on phoning home to Trumpistan (aka USA).
Chalk one up for Linux. I used various linux and BSD flavours between 1999 and 2005, and after recently loading up a VM, it’s nice to see it has really come a long, long way.
I’m no fan of all the phoning home and requiring accounts, and this slow creep towards less user ownership and control is not something I’m happy about
“This ensures the security and integrity of that process and prevents an attacker from starting that Mac up without credentials.”
Sure, but so does encasing the Mac in concrete—just depends how committed you are to security.
Recently, this prevented me from installing Windows on an AliExpress mini PC. During installation, Windows detected neither the WiFi card nor the Ethernet port. I could have figured out how to bypass the online requirement or get the installer to load drivers for my hardware, but instead, I just installed Linux, which worked on the first try.
It seemed less work than googling solutions and seeing which one still works.
So much Newspeak and Thoughtcrime prevention. In the release notes Microsoft says this is to improve the customer experience and ensure that everyone exits the installer with an Internet connection and a Microsoft account.
They know for a fact that the users do not always want this. So much so that they will go to these means to work around being forced to do it. And Microsoft considers these vulnerabilities and removes them.
But they absolutely will not address that directly. Just with this thought control Newspeak "improve the customer experience" enshittification.
I am avoiding Windows 11 as long as I possibly can. Hopefully by the time needing it becomes unavoidable, I'll be able to find a good hacked installer for something like the LTSC version that has all of the telemetry, adware, useless features, and Microsoft account crap removed from it.
> The second Lightroom Classic works on Linux
There's darktable. I haven't used Lightroom Classic, so I don't know how it compares.
> a good hacked installer
Plume, I hear you, but after almost 20 years of data in Lightroom and building up muscle-memory, I don't want to switch :)
You sir are a god! Installing fresh Windows 11 and the NRO switch no longer seems to work but I was able to use the command above to install on a standalone PC I use for running utilities and testing.
