When you get a brand-new computer or fresh installation of Windows, you will be presented with a Windows OOBE (Out of Box Experience) screen. Earlier versions of Windows 10 and 11 allowed you to bypass creating a Microsoft account and instead utilize a local user account. However, with the new 22H2 version, Microsoft now requires clients to utilize a Microsoft account. This might be inconvenient for people who prefer the ease and privacy of a local account. Fortunately, the oobe\BypassNRO command and a registry modification may bypass the Microsoft account restriction. Here's how to accomplish it.

Info: If you're using a third-party tool to make Windows installation boot media, such as Rufus, when you click Start to create the USB media, Rufus will give you the option to bypass the online Microsoft account.

Method 1: Using the oobe\BypassNRO Command

  1. Start the OOBE Process: Begin the setup of your new Windows device as usual until you reach the screen prompting you to sign in with a Microsoft account.
  2. Open Command Prompt: Press Shift + F10 on your keyboard. This key combination opens a Command Prompt window.
  3. Enter the Bypass Command: Type the following command and press Enter: oobe\BypassNRO
  4. Restart Device: The system will restart automatically. After the reboot, you will be brought back to the OOBE screen, but now you should have the option to set up a local account instead of a Microsoft account. Such as something like "I don't have internet" and "continues with limited setup".

Method 2: Using a Registry Tweak

Alternatively, or if you prefer using the registry, follow these steps:

  1. Start the OOBE Process: Begin the setup of your new Windows device as usual until you reach the screen prompting you to sign in with a Microsoft account.
  2. Open Command Prompt: Press Shift + F10 to open the Command Prompt window.
  3. Add the Bypass Registry Key: Type the following command and press Enter: reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE /v BypassNRO /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
  4. Restart Your Device: After adding the registry key, restart your device by typing the following command and pressing Enter: shutdown /r /t 0
  5. Complete the Setup: After the reboot, you will be brought back to the OOBE screen with the option to create a local account. Such as something like "I don't have internet" and "continues with limited setup".

Conclusion

Using the oobe\BypassNRO command or a registry modification, you may quickly skip the Microsoft account requirement during the OOBE process on Windows 10 and 11. Some users prefer local accounts for several reasons, by doing that you have some benefits in the following areas and you can always go back to your Microsoft account later:

  • Simplicity: Local accounts do not require an internet connection for login.
  • Control: Users have more control over their data and do not need to link their activities to a Microsoft account.