If you've been hoping for an easy way to make a local account with a Windows 11 installation, apparently your wish has come true - via an improbable sounding bug.
Windows Latest brought our attention to this new 'workaround' which is seemingly a glitch that allows you to avoid having to tie your fresh install of Windows 11 to a Microsoft account. The bug was first discovered by Bob Pony and posted on X as you can see above.
How does it work? During Windows 11 setup when you reach the screen where the OS wants you to add your Microsoft account, all that needs to be done is to click the 'Learn more' link in the explanatory text (under sign-in options) - not the larger 'Learn more' link at the bottom of the panel. You'll then be whisked away to the screen for creating a local account (weirdly).
There's no need for any arcane workarounds or disconnecting from the internet, just one click on a link (that you'd never think to click on) and you're through to the local option.
While Windows Latest found this to be true with a preview version of Windows 11, PC Gamer tried the trick in a release version of the OS and found that it still worked.
Given that this is a bug, it's probably not going to be long before Microsoft patches it out.
That said, there were hints dropped earlier this year that a local account installation is something that Microsoft is working on for Windows 11 (courtesy of Scott Hanselman, a VP at the company). So, an official option could be coming, or maybe it's currently being implemented - and that could have something to do with this glitch creeping in, perhaps.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Does this trick work on the current release version of Windows 11 or only preview builds?
What exactly is the difference between the two "Learn more" links during Windows 11 setup?
Has Microsoft said it plans to add an official local account option to Windows 11?
Is the local account option available during a clean install as well as first-time setup?
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At any rate, if you want a local install for Windows 11, seemingly you can choose one easily enough in setup - at least for the time being.
