In the past, you could bypass the sign-in requirement by choosing ‘Offline Account’ or ‘Sign in with a local account instead.’ However, Microsoft removed this option in recent years, meaning you would need an active internet connection to create a Microsoft account for a new Windows 11 install.
Some users discovered that they could bypass this requirement by using the following blocked email addresses: example@example.com, a@a.com, or no@thankyou.com, and then typing in a random password. While this would let you fall back to proceeding with an offline account until recently, it now results in an ‘Oops, something went wrong’ message, which will return you to the same email input screen.
Thankfully, there remains another way to install Windows 11 without a Microsoft account. When you’re at the log-in screen, you can hit Shift + F10 and type OOBE/BYPASSNRO, which will let you create a local account instead if you do not have an internet connection (so disconnect the internet for this). However, non-tech-savvy users will likely not know this, so many would likely end up creating another unwanted online account.
This is just one of the controversial steps Microsoft has recently been taking, like including ads in the Start Menu, nagging Windows 10 users to upgrade, or adding a watermark if your PC does not support AI features.
It actually bypasses this when there’s no Internet access, which I had to force manually in order to work around this, as the console would not come up for me last time this happened.
I just set up new PC for my grandparents that I imaged myself using the latest windows 11 iso from MS. It wouldn’t let me bypass the account require when I was offline. It just stalled at the “no network” screen and wouldn’t continue unless I connected the PC to a network.
I had to use the OOBE/BYPASSNRO or whatever the command was
Same here. There has to be no network whatsoever. No wifi, no wired connection.
You can completely cut out any internet access to the device (via the router), and it will still cry like baby and say that you need to use a Microsoft account.
There is absolutely no reason why disabling this needs to require a special keystroke let alone command.
I setup my dad’s framework using this method a ~month ago - it took an extra 10 minutes but MS can blow me. I would have opted for no OS pre-installed/linux but he uses a critical application that is Windows-only, and 10 is no longer available…
I always setup my own new installs offline, with no Internet connected and assumed that the was the workaround this was referring to. Guess that’s my fault for not reading the article. I wasn’t even aware of the fake email bypass.
But my reasons were primarily because I wanted to disable as much telemetry as possible and tweak other settings before putting it on a network.
Just call anyone that has Linux they will gladly bring their favorite distro to your door on a flash drive. Be forewarned though, they will stick around and talk to you about it for at least two hours though.
Shift F10 just opens the command prompt. After that it’s the name of a batch file in the oobe folder. (Out of box experience.) You can tab complete the name so you just have to remember the oobe part. The biggest annoyance is if you buy a laptop that is in S mode, you can’t start command prompt to do this.
All it does is add a registry key, and reboot, but you would have to know how to do custom windows deployments to to create an image to skip it always.
I wasn’t able to open the console last time Windows updated itself and attempted to force me to link an email address. The solution was to disconnect from the network.
Summary:
Imagine having no internet for real when setting up Windows. I guess the hardware you bought is useless then
It actually bypasses this when there’s no Internet access, which I had to force manually in order to work around this, as the console would not come up for me last time this happened.
I just set up new PC for my grandparents that I imaged myself using the latest windows 11 iso from MS. It wouldn’t let me bypass the account require when I was offline. It just stalled at the “no network” screen and wouldn’t continue unless I connected the PC to a network.
I had to use the OOBE/BYPASSNRO or whatever the command was
Same here. There has to be no network whatsoever. No wifi, no wired connection.
You can completely cut out any internet access to the device (via the router), and it will still cry like baby and say that you need to use a Microsoft account.
There is absolutely no reason why disabling this needs to require a special keystroke let alone command.
There i$ ab$olutely no rea$on why di$abling thi$ need$ to require a $pecial key$troke let along command.
I setup my dad’s framework using this method a ~month ago - it took an extra 10 minutes but MS can blow me. I would have opted for no OS pre-installed/linux but he uses a critical application that is Windows-only, and 10 is no longer available…
Actually consume feces, Microsoft.
Don’t worry it’s not automatically connected without consent the moment he logged into email
This was a couple weeks ago for me. Interesting how the experience is different for each user.
Really? I seem to recall being shit out of luck when it couldn’t figure out my WiFi drivers and wanted me to connect via Ethernet instead.
That’s what worked for me the other week.
You can do this with 10 but not 11. Tested on both a VM and hardware.
I always setup my own new installs offline, with no Internet connected and assumed that the was the workaround this was referring to. Guess that’s my fault for not reading the article. I wasn’t even aware of the fake email bypass.
But my reasons were primarily because I wanted to disable as much telemetry as possible and tweak other settings before putting it on a network.
Just install Linux. You can download it… Oh
Just call anyone that has Linux they will gladly bring their favorite distro to your door on a flash drive. Be forewarned though, they will stick around and talk to you about it for at least two hours though.
What, you don’t already have multiple Linux ISOs on your Ventoy flash drive?
Nowadays you can use your phone to create a boota le USB.
That’s a crazy secret code requirement there
If it doesn’t work, make sure to type his first:
⬆️⬆️⬇️⬇️⬅️➡️⬅️➡️ B A Select StartThis unlocks the secret 30 license copy.
Yeah but they’re all for Netscape
That’s all you ever need
Do not quote the ancient magicks to me . . .
Ah, a co-op install.
Shift F10 just opens the command prompt. After that it’s the name of a batch file in the oobe folder. (Out of box experience.) You can tab complete the name so you just have to remember the oobe part. The biggest annoyance is if you buy a laptop that is in S mode, you can’t start command prompt to do this.
All it does is add a registry key, and reboot, but you would have to know how to do custom windows deployments to to create an image to skip it always.
I wasn’t able to open the console last time Windows updated itself and attempted to force me to link an email address. The solution was to disconnect from the network.