A new method has been found that lets Windows 11 Home users bypass the mandatory internet connection and Microsoft account creation during the initial setup process.
The discovery was made by Windows enthusiast Bob Pony. Instead of using command-line commands or third-party scripts, users only need to click a single link that Microsoft itself placed on the setup screen.
During the OOBE phase, the user opens the sign-in options section and clicks the Learn more link. This action switches the wizard to local account mode, allowing installation to continue without network access or Microsoft authentication.
The method currently works only on the Windows 11 Home edition. Users of Pro and other editions must still rely on older or more complex workarounds.
Microsoft has been systematically removing previous bypass options. The well-known OOBE\bypassnro command and the start ms-cxh:localonly method have already been disabled. The newly found link is likely an unintended interface element or leftover logic, so it may be removed in an upcoming update.
