Well, it was bound to happen. Last month, someone discovered a simple trick for skipping the mandatory Microsoft account when setting up a new Windows 11 PC or reinstalling the operating system. Now, Microsoft has blocked the trick, making Microsoft accounts truly mandatory once again.
The trick was unbelievably easy. During Windows 11 setup, there was a page that prompted you to sign in with your Microsoft account. But if you clicked on “Learn more,” Windows 11 allowed you to create a local account with administrator rights, bypassing the Microsoft account requirement altogether. Unfortunately, this workaround no longer works.
According to Windows Latest, the most recently updated Windows 11 26H2 ISO file has changed up the setup process. Now when you click the “Learn more” link, you’re taken to the usual page that tells you how Microsoft manages your data. The only button on that page takes you back to the sign-in screen that demands a Microsoft account login.
UPDATE: This mandatory Microsoft account requirement workaround by clicking on the tiny "Learn more" hyperlink in the Microosft account sign in page during the Windows 11 OOBE has been recently quietly patched server side. 🥀 https://t.co/vVV7DPrDfa pic.twitter.com/AfOadeY0gj
— Bob Pony (@TheBobPony) October 9, 2026
On social media, user @TheBobPony (who originally discovered the trick) posted an update that talks about the workaround being patched server-side by Microsoft. This likely means Windows 11 is unable to bypass the Microsoft account requirement anymore, although Microsoft hasn’t mentioned this blocking measure in any of its changelogs.