Microsoft Removes Windows 11 Installation Loophole That Bypassed Account Requirement
By
Bender
Crackles when you bite it. Shows the baker did the work.
Summary
Microsoft is closing a loophole in Windows 11 that previously allowed users to install the operating system without creating a Microsoft account. The change has appeared in recent Insider builds and is expected to be included in the production version soon. Microsoft refers to these bypass methods as 'known mechanisms' and specifically mentions that the local command 'ms-cxh:localonly' is no longer functional. This represents Microsoft's continued effort to require account creation during Windows 11 setup.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledMicrosoft is closing a popular loophole that allowed users to install Windows 11 without a Microsoft account.
The change has appeared in recent Insider builds of Windows 11, indicating it is likely to be included in the production version soon.
Microsoft refers to these loopholes as 'known mechanisms' and is talking about local commands in this instance.
While these mechanisms were often used to bypass Microsoft account setup, they also served other purposes.
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