Windows 11 Users Lose Another Microsoft Account Bypass Trick

Microsoft has quietly patched a workaround that allowed users to install Windows 11 without an internet connection or Microsoft account.

The trick involved clicking the Learn more link on the Microsoft account sign-in screen during Windows 11 setup, allowing users to bypass the usual requirements.

Microsoft disables the workaround through a server-side change

Windows enthusiast Bob Pony reported that Microsoft disabled the workaround through a server-side change, preventing users from taking advantage of the loophole.

The method worked exclusively on Windows 11 Home, while Windows 11 Pro users could not use the same trick.

Microsoft closed the loophole less than a month after its discovery, and the workaround no longer works on recent Windows 11 builds.

Microsoft makes the change without mentioning it in updates

Microsoft did not mention the change in its recent cumulative update changelogs, suggesting the company quietly addressed the issue without releasing a dedicated Windows update.

The server-side change also means Microsoft can block this type of workaround without requiring users to install additional updates.

With this loophole closed, Windows 11 Home users have one fewer option for completing setup without a Microsoft account or internet connection.

In other news, Microsoft reversed its plan to remove Copilot from the Teams chat list. The company also warned that Chromium changes will break RD Web Access in Edge and Chrome, while Microsoft 365 Copilot is getting a new safeguard against email-based prompt injection.

Via Neowin