You can install Windows 11 Home without a Microsoft account using a local account even though the official specifications say you can’t. You only need to know the workaround.
Typically, you want to use a Microsoft account to set up a clean installation of Windows 11 because it’s a more secure approach and offers integration with various cloud services and content syncing across devices. However, many people still prefer to use a local account despite all the benefits. Also, configuring a new installation without a Microsoft account allows you to create a more personalized profile folder name that won’t use part of the email address. In addition, if you plan to use remote access, starting with a local account will help avoid problems establishing the connection.
If you create a local account during the installation, you can always connect it later to a Microsoft account through the Accounts settings page.
This guide will teach you how to install Windows 11 Home with a local account for a more private and traditional experience. If you are setting up Windows 11 Pro, you can use these instructions instead.
How to install Windows 11 Home with a local account
Windows 11 supports many ways of installation. These instructions will guide you to perform a clean installation using a bootable USB flash drive. However, since the option to create a local account is part of the out-of-box experience, the process will be the same.
If you choose this method, you also have to make sure the device can start from USB, which means you will have to change the BIOS or UEFI settings. Since these settings are different on most devices, refer to your manufacturer support website for more specific details.
To install Windows 11 Home with a local account without a Microsoft account, use these steps:
- Start the PC with the Windows 11 USB flash drive.
- Press any key to continue.
- Click the Next button.
- Click the Install now button.
- Click the I don’t have a product key option if you are reinstalling. (If “Windows 11 Home” was activated after the installation, reactivation would happen automatically.)
- Select the Windows 11 Home edition (if applicable).
- Check the I accept the license terms option.
- Click the Next button.
- Select the Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) option.
- Select each partition in the hard drive you want to install Windows 11 and click the Delete button. (Usually, the “Drive 0” is the drive that contains all the installation files.)
- Warning: When you delete a partition, it also deletes all the data on the drive. Also, it is not required to delete the partitions from a secondary hard drive.
- Select the hard drive (Drive 0 Unallocated Space) to install Windows 11.
- Click the Next button.
- Select your region setting after the setup on the first page of the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE).
- Click the Yes button.
- Select your keyboard layout setting.
- Click the Yes button.
- Click the Skip button if you don’t have to configure a second layout.
- If the computer uses an Ethernet connection, it will automatically connect to the network. If you have a wireless connection, you will need to set up the connection manually (a security key may be required).
- (Optional) Confirm a name for the computer.
- Click the Next button. (The computer will restart automatically.)
- Disconnect the network cable or turn off the Wi-Fi to block the internet connection to enable the offline account setup on Windows 11 Home.
- Click the Back button from the top-left corner.
- Specify a name to create a local account on Windows 11 Home during installation.
- Create a strong password for the Windows 11 Home local account.
- Click the Next button.
- Confirm the password.
- Click the Next button.
- Complete the three security questions to have a way to reset the password.
- Click the Next button.
- Confirm your privacy settings that best suit your situation by turning on or off the toggle switch for each setting.
- Click the Next button.
- Click the Next button again.
- Click the Accept button.
Once you complete the steps, Windows 11 Home will complete the installation with a local account without connecting to any Microsoft products. At this time, you can reconnect the network cable or turn on the Wi-Fi connection.
Start the PC with the Windows 11 USB flash drive.
Press any key to continue.
Click the Next button.
Click the Install now button.
Click the I don’t have a product key option if you are reinstalling. (If “Windows 11 Home” was activated after the installation, reactivation would happen automatically.)
Select the Windows 11 Home edition (if applicable).
Check the I accept the license terms option.
Select the Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) option.
Select each partition in the hard drive you want to install Windows 11 and click the Delete button. (Usually, the “Drive 0” is the drive that contains all the installation files.)
Select the hard drive (Drive 0 Unallocated Space) to install Windows 11.
Select your region setting after the setup on the first page of the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE).
Click the Yes button.
Select your keyboard layout setting.
Click the Skip button if you don’t have to configure a second layout.
If the computer uses an Ethernet connection, it will automatically connect to the network. If you have a wireless connection, you will need to set up the connection manually (a security key may be required).
(Optional) Confirm a name for the computer.
Click the Next button. (The computer will restart automatically.)
Disconnect the network cable or turn off the Wi-Fi to block the internet connection to enable the offline account setup on Windows 11 Home.
Click the Back button from the top-left corner.
Specify a name to create a local account on Windows 11 Home during installation.
Create a strong password for the Windows 11 Home local account.
Confirm the password.
Complete the three security questions to have a way to reset the password.
Confirm your privacy settings that best suit your situation by turning on or off the toggle switch for each setting.
Click the Next button again.
Click the Accept button.
