How to Setup Windows 11 Without Microsoft Account (100% WORKS OFFICIAL)

In this video I show you how to skip the Microsoft account and set up Windows 11 with a local (offline) account instead. You don’t need any tricks or CMD commands. You only need to choose the right options during the first setup.

In this article

1. Before you start
2. How to set up Windows 11 with a local account
   1. Step 1: Choose “Set up for work or school”
   2. Step 2: Open “Sign-in options”
   3. Step 3: Choose “Domain join instead”
   4. Step 4: Create your local account
3. If this method does not work for you

Before you start

• Windows edition: this method works on Windows 11 Pro (and the Enterprise and Education editions). Windows 11 Home does not show the “Set up for work or school” option.
• Internet: in the video my laptop was connected to the internet during setup. That is fine, because this method still creates a local account.

Warning: On a new laptop, Windows setup may download and install a BIOS (firmware) update. In the video, my Dell laptop did exactly this. Never turn off the computer while a firmware update is running, because it can damage the BIOS and the laptop may not start anymore.

How to set up Windows 11 with a local account

Start the first setup as usual: choose your country and keyboard, connect to the internet, accept the license terms and name your PC. After the restart, continue with these steps.

Step 1: Choose “Set up for work or school”

On the How would you like to set up this device? screen, select Set up for work or school and click Next.

Step 2: Open “Sign-in options”

On the next screen, Windows asks you to sign in with a work or school account. Don’t type anything. Click Sign-in options below the box.

Step 3: Choose “Domain join instead”

Select Domain join instead. This option creates a local (offline) account, which works without an internet account.

Step 4: Create your local account

1. Type a name for your account and click Next.
2. Type a password, or leave the field empty if you don’t want a password, and click Next. If you set a password, Windows also asks you to choose three security questions.
3. On the privacy settings screen, turn off what you don’t want (I turned off advertising) and click Accept.

Windows finishes the setup, which can take a few minutes. That’s it: Windows 11 is ready with a local account, and no Microsoft account was needed.

If this method does not work for you

• You have Windows 11 Home: try the method in How to set up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account (Enable Local Account).
• The options are missing on a new Windows build: Microsoft has been removing local account workarounds from Windows 11 setup. Read Microsoft blocked local accounts: how to bring them back.
• You already set up Windows with a Microsoft account: you can still add a local account later. Follow How to create an offline account on Windows 11.

If you have any questions or problems, write me a comment below.