If you're like me, you've been relying on technical workarounds to set up Windows 11 with a local account instead of the required Microsoft account. Unfortunately, Microsoft is shutting down more of those workarounds, which is just affirming my decision to replace Windows with Linux as my daily driver desktop.
Microsoft Is Taking Away Sign-in Bypass Methods
On October 6, 2025, Microsoft announced in the Windows 11 Dev and Beta patch notes that they had removed one of the few workarounds for setting up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account:
Local-only commands removal: We are removing known mechanisms for creating a local account in the Windows Setup experience (OOBE). While these mechanisms were often used to bypass Microsoft account setup, they also inadvertently skip critical setup screens, potentially causing users to exit OOBE with a device that is not fully configured for use. Users will need to complete OOBE with internet and a Microsoft account, to ensure device is setup correctly.
I'm guessing that Microsoft is referring to the command prompt workaround I used the last time I set up Windows 11 in my dual-boot configuration. While there remains one or two other methods that I'm aware of, that was the most straightforward means of getting a local account-only setup without signing in first.
For what it's worth, the patch at the time of writing is only in the Dev and Beta versions of Windows 11. That means you may still have a shrinking opportunity to use this workaround in the standard release. After that window (pun intended) closes, I believe the Rufus method will still work. Who knows how long that will last, though.
It may not be a coincidence that Microsoft is doing this the same month that Windows 10 reaches its official end of life, when everyone needs to upgrade to Windows 11 to keep getting updates. There are a few workarounds to keep getting Windows 10 updates for another year, but that's just delaying the inevitable. I won't be surprised if Microsoft uses those updates to dial up the upgrade pestering, anyway.
Linux Never Requires an Online Account
While Windows 11 appears to be plagued with some sort of technical issue hindering proper configuration without a login and a connection to remote servers, that has never been and still is not an issue on Linux. It's the default experience to set up your Linux desktop or server with whatever account name you want, be it your real name, a fictional character's name, or just a code word. You don't need a working email address; you only need a handle and a strong password you can remember.
If you happen to choose Ubuntu Linux as your distribution, it may ask if you want to register for an Ubuntu Pro subscription. It's never been required, though, and it's intended for businesses and professional administrators anyway. For most folks, local accounts are the expected and default experience.
You Can Still Use Your OneDrive on Linux
I appreciate that even if you don't want your operating system registered with an online account, you may still have use for a Microsoft OneDrive account. Cloud storage is undeniably useful. But if you think switching to Linux means giving up its convenience and being cursed to toiling with a self-hosted solution like Nextcloud, think again.
Ubuntu 24.04 and later comes with the ability to sync your OneDrive files with its Nautilus file browser just like you would with File Explorer. It prompts you to do this at setup so you can hit the ground running, but you can also do it later if you want to try living without OneDrive for a while.
On other Linux desktops, you can potentially keep using OneDrive, and even Google Drive, on your local Linux device using Insync. It's a paid app, but in my brief testing with its seven-day trial, it worked well for me.
Don't Want to Mess With Image Files? You Have Options
"Just switch to Linux" is of course easy for me to say. I appreciate that many reading this haven't been taught the technical know-how to replace an entire operating system. Even if you can learn and have the time for it, you may just plain not want to, which I completely understand.
If you're unaware, I'll lay it out for you. Fully replacing Windows with Linux typically involves downloading an image file, verifying its checksum for safety, writing the image to a thumb drive, accessing the BIOS, and manually selecting the boot drive so that you can finally reach the live environment and start the installer.
If that sentence put you to sleep, let me wake you with some good news: there's another way. Consider buying a desktop PC or laptop that comes with a Linux distribution preinstalled. When you first power it on, you'll walk through a setup wizard like you would on any other operating system, but it won't demand any online account from you. I recently reviewed the Kubuntu Focus M2 Gen 6 laptop and would generally recommend it.
Kubuntu Focus M2 Gen 6 8/10 Operating System Kubuntu 24.04 LTS CPU Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (2.7GHz up to 5.4GHz)
This laptop is purpose-built for developers and professionals who want a Kubuntu Linux-powered portable workstation and gaming platform. It features an Intel processor capable of hitting 5.4GHz and both integrated graphics and a dedicated NVIDIA 5070 Ti GPU for when you need extra power for machine learning or games.
GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (dGPU), Intel Graphics (iGPU) $2895 at Kubuntu Focus Expand Collapse
If you don't have the budget for a purchase like that, though, I recommend you lean on friends and community members. A tech-savvy buddy can probably handle it, and at libraries and maker spaces it's easy to find a geek with enough knowledge and enthusiasm to help you install a new operating system.
Be Sure to Back Up
As you likely understand if you've been using local account workarounds, keeping your data from Microsoft means being completely responsible for it too. On Linux, no one will be automatically storing your configuration preferences or your precious files. It's going to be up to you to keep your data backed up on Linux, especially if you're not going to use a synced OneDrive account.
A good external drive is invaluable for this. Using some sort of cloud backup is always going to be smart too, OneDrive or otherwise; multiple backup locations mean the failure of one doesn't guarantee disaster. Dropbox, Nextcloud One, and ownCloud offer native apps and integrations with both GNOME and KDE Plasma desktop environments.
If you're ready to make the jump and leave Microsoft accounts behind, installing Linux is relatively straightforward. You'll need to pick a Linux distribution first, though. You can give Linux a try without an external drive, if you prefer to test the waters before committing.