Ask Lemmy

You switch to Linux. Windows 10 was the last operating system from Microsoft that still allowed local accounts and no wifi connection.

Windows 11 no longer allows that and it requires an internet connection and a microsoft account to use the OS. You might want to use Windows 10 until 2025 and then switch to Linux or get a microsoft account and deal with Microsoft Recall spyware. KDE Plasma DE looks alot like Windows 10 if the UI is the problem. Or if breaking the system is a concern, get yourself an atomic distribution (VanillaOS, Fedora Kinoite, Bazzite, etc.) If you are afraid your games won't run on Linux, check ProtonDB and decide.

Setting up a new laptop - How do I get around needing a Microsoft account?

I use Linux. Not trolling, it's just what I decided to do so I could avoid Microsoft spying craziness... and their bloatware, too.

If Linux is not an option for you, maybe an utility like Win11Debloat could help you use Windows whiled minimizing (removing?) all the spying and bloat? https://github.com/Raphire/Win11Debloat

Googling this is unreliable because Microsoft keeps patching out ways to do it. I couldn't get what I read online to work when I got my Windows 11 laptop back in May, but what did work was using the keyboard button that turns on airplane mode.

I get why Microsoft (acting in its own best interest) wants to discourage offline accounts but trying to ban them completely is ridiculous (especially since Windows 11 works just fine with the offline account). I think I would have returned the laptop out of spite if I couldn't get an offline account to work, but I'm probably much more spiteful than most people.

When you reach the screen asking for your Microsoft account info hit shift + F10 to open a command prompt and type in oobe\bypassnro. Your laptop will restart and you'll start over with the setup process. Disconnect from WiFi/Ethernet and go through the setup process, including setting up a local account.

did you Google it? hundreds of sites and posts on how to skip it, pretty elementary stuff

I do believe there are some registry keys u can mess with. Ive done it previously can also disablw tpm and system requirements. Alternatively check out tiny11 its a minimal installation no bloat and i think it bypasses account requirements as well.

Here you go!

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-set-windows-11-without-microsoft-account

AtlasOS is also pretty good to set up after windows is installed but before anything else is set up.

https://atlasos.net/

Haven't tested this with the most recent Windows 11 installer but in the past what I do during the install is select that I'm setting the system up for a corporate / domain account. From there it allows to enter a normal Windows username/password like normal (you don't actually need a domain name but you can make one up if you want).

Easiest way is to get Windows 11 LTSC from MAS

There should be an option to use a local account. I think the text is small and borderline hidden.