Windows 11's easiest account bypass gets the Microsoft boot

Microsoft has closed a loophole that let users sidestep the need for an account during setup for consumer versions of Windows 11. If users clicked "Learn More" when the setup process prompted for a Microsoft account, the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) skipped directly to the point where they just had to enter a name and password. Windows prodder "Bob Pony," who first documented the loophole, reported its removal. We tried the original trick on real Intel hardware and found it was possible to skip the Microsoft account requirement by clicking a link, but no longer. Other hacks – for those who dare to use unofficial Windows setup routes – still exist, though they are beyond the skill set of the average user. Microsoft requires an account during initial setup of Windows 11 Home and Pro for personal use. For consumers, using Windows 11 without an account can be tricky because services such as OneDrive require authentication. Microsoft is far from the only operating system vendor to demand an account during setup, but many Linux distributions, by contrast, don't require one. According to Bob Pony, the loophole was "quietly patched server side," which makes sense. Microsoft was hardly likely to leave it flapping open for long. Microsoft has won this round of account workaround Whac-a-Mole, though another bypass may yet pop up. ®