Microsoft clamping down on Windows 11 local account setup — latest Insider build removes ‘local-only commands,’ skipping Microsoft account sign-in will crash setup process

The Out of Box Experience (OOBE), what Microsoft refers to as the setup process for a new Windows install, just received a significant update — it’s now even more difficult to bypass restrictions in order to use a local account. For ages, people have employed creative tricks to circumvent signing into a Microsoft account before getting into Windows, but the company is making it increasingly clear that it’s not an option to skip this part.

In the patch notes for Insider Preview Build 26220.6772,…