
Users have discovered a new method to install Windows 11 without linking it to a Microsoft online account—an approach that remains effective even in the latest builds, despite Microsoft’s recent efforts to close all known loopholes. One of the last remaining tools, the bypassnro.cmd script, was only recently removed by the company.
The discovery was made by an X user under the alias @witherornot1337. The solution, surprisingly elegant in its simplicity, involves pressing Shift + F10 during installation to open the command console, then entering the command start ms-cxh
. This triggers a process that allows users to create a local account without the need to connect to Microsoft’s servers.
Notably, this functionality is officially available in certain editions of Windows 11. Versions such as Education, Enterprise, IoT Enterprise, and LTSC include a dedicated “I don’t have internet” option, allowing users to bypass the online account requirement altogether. For those who prefer not to chase new workarounds each time Microsoft closes another gap, these editions offer a more permanent solution.
This newly uncovered vulnerability vividly illustrates the ongoing tug-of-war between a corporation intent on binding users to its cloud ecosystem, and a community determined to preserve the autonomy and privacy of their personal computing environments.