When you do a clean install of Windows 11 there is no obvious way to use a local Windows account.
Microsoft clearly wants to have you in its ecosystem, but by following these steps you can still set up windows with a local user account as you did in the good old days
Windows 11 Pro installation with local account
- During installation, when asked “How would you like to set up this device?” select “Set up for work or school” and click “Next“.
- In the next step “Let’s set things up for your work or school” click “Sign-in options and Domain join insted” (Domain joining is not required and will not be asked for).
- When asked “Who’s going to use this device?” write a name under “Enter your name” and select “Next“. This name will be the username for the first user, and the administrator of the computer.
- In the next slides select a password and security questions/answers and then “Next“.
- In the next steps select preferred choices, but select “No” on “Find my device“, this feature requires a Microsoft Account.
- Go trough rest of the setup, the installation will be Microsoft-account free!
Windows 11 Home installation with local account
- During installation, in the “Let’s connect you to a network” windows connect to the network as normal and click Next.
- When you arrive on the “Let’s add your Microsoft Account” page you must disconnect from the internet somehow. You can de this by removing the Ethernet cable, turning the WiFi radio off, take the computer out of range, or by turning off your WiFi access-point.
- When the network is disconnected click “Create one” right to “No account?“
- When asked “Who’s going to use this device?” write a name under “Enter your name” and select “Next“. This name will be the username for the first user, and the administrator of the computer.
