During initial setup of Windows 11 Home and Pro for personal use, Microsoft requires users to sign in with a Microsoft account. For some time, clicking 'Learn More' at the account prompt skipped straight to the screen where a local name and password could be entered. The Register tested the trick on Intel hardware and confirmed it worked, but no longer does.
Bob Pony, who first documented the bypass, said the loophole was “quietly patched server side.” That approach makes sense, since Microsoft was unlikely to leave the workaround open for long.
Alternative hacks still exist, but they rely on unofficial Windows setup routes and are beyond the average user's skill. For consumers who do complete setup without an account, daily use can still be awkward, since services such as OneDrive require authentication. Microsoft is not the only operating system vendor to require an account during setup, though many Linux distributions do not.
The move is the latest round in an ongoing game of cat and mouse between Microsoft and users who want a local account. Another bypass may yet emerge.