Microsoft is plugging more holes that let you use Windows 11 without an online account

Microsoft is tightening its grip on Windows 11 setup by removing known workarounds that allowed users to bypass the requirement for a Microsoft account and internet access. The company is addressing issues where these workarounds inadvertently skipped critical setup screens, potentially leading to incomplete device configuration. In a new Windows 11 test build, Microsoft is disabling the "start ms-cxh:localonly" command and the "bypassnro" workaround, which were previously used to create a local account and avoid the Microsoft account setup. Going forward, users will need to complete the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) screens with an internet connection and a Microsoft account. While the changes aim to improve the setup process, they also limit the ability of Windows 11 users to customize their experience, such as choosing a custom user folder name. Microsoft is acknowledging this need and is now adding a way to name the default user folder, although it currently requires a command-line approach. The article highlights the ongoing tension between Microsoft's push for a more integrated Microsoft account experience and the desire of some users to maintain more control over their Windows 11 setup.