A new, simple workaround has emerged that lets people install Windows 11 Home without signing in with a Microsoft account, something Microsoft has been increasingly insistent on during setup in recent years. The method, spotted and demonstrated by a user called "Bob Pony" and verified by The Register, involves clicking a "Learn more" link during the Out-of-Box Experience, which then reverts the installer to the older-style local account setup asking only for a username and password.

The trick applies specifically to Windows 11 Home edition, making it most useful for people setting up a new PC for friends or family who want to avoid the account requirement, while Pro edition users and administrators already have other routes to bypass it. Microsoft has a history of closing such loopholes, having shut down a popular one in 2025 in the name of security and consistency, so this method may not remain available for long. In the meantime, it offers users a straightforward, click-based alternative to the third-party scripts and tools previously needed to skip the Microsoft account requirement.