Avoiding the Microsoft account requirement during Windows 10 installation still sparks heated discussions in specialized forums like PC Astuces, Comment Ça Marche, and Le Crabe Info. In 2025, the system requires even more online connections, but users who want to protect their privacy or simply quickly configure a loved one’s computer have several reliable approaches. This technical guide examines offline methods, creating a local account, post-installation conversion, and open source tools that facilitate the entire process. Each section is based on concrete examples collected from volunteer technicians, specialized publications such as Clubic and Next INpact, and numerous feedback published on CNET France and Zebulon. Bypassing the Microsoft account request during offline installation The simplest scenario is based on a basic principle: cut off all internet connections before launching the first phase of the installation. Since version 21H2, Windows 10 automatically detects the presence of the Internet and displays the “Sign in with Microsoft” page. Unplugging the Ethernet cable or disabling Wi-Fi in the BIOS eliminates this annoying step. As soon as the system no longer detects a default route, it displays the “Create an offline account” section. On a Dell OptiPlex test PC, this technique cuts setup time in half because no login details are required. Volunteer technicians on the Zebulon forum report that they always keep a small USB Wi-Fi adapter, removed at the last minute. This avoids the customer having to provide their password during the OOBE (Out-Of-Box Experience) phase. It obviously doesn’t cancel the activation: the digital license linked to the hardware remains valid and is reactivated as soon as the machine regains internet access after local configuration.As of summer 2025, however, several OEMs have locked the quick BIOS access keys. Testers at Next INpact mention, for example, a Lenovo ultraportable where you have to hold F2 for three seconds before the logo appears to disable the integrated network card. Although this step requires precision, it’s still the cleanest method, without scripts or third-party software. A CNET France reader shared a case where the installer continues to request a critical update despite everything. In this situation, going back from one screen to the next using the Alt + ← shortcut resets network detection; the system then prompts you to create a local ID. These “round-trip” tricks are reminiscent of old Windows XP hacks to avoid Windows Genuine Advantage.Download and install Windows 10 in offline mode easily. A complete guide to getting a version of Windows 10 without an internet connection, useful for a quick and secure installation. Why the official ISO remains the most reliable Many Internet users still download modified images found on obscure sites. However, using the ISO provided by Microsoft guarantees kernel integrity and limits the risk of backdoors. To maintain a clean environment, the open-source software Rufus allows you to inject the official ISO while preparing a UEFI USB key. On February 23, 2025, Rufus 4.6 introduced an option called “Remove requirement for online Microsoft account,” suitable for both Windows 10 and Windows 11. It skips the connected OOBE step by editing the answers.ini file before copying the sources. This feature appeals to teaching teams who provision entire classrooms without network exposure. In addition,
this discussion thread
details the step-by-step procedure and lists the SHA256 fingerprints for verifying the ISO image. Systematically testing the checksum remains essential, especially when you volunteer on family machines, like our main character, Luc, who troubleshoots his cousins’ computers every month. After the copy is complete, Luc intentionally lets the user plug in the Ethernet cable himself after the first reboot. This little educational ritual allows him to demonstrate the difference between a local profile and a Microsoft cloud profile: one remains confined to the PC, the other propagates to all Windows devices as soon as a connection appears. This initial approach highlights the general philosophy: if the network is down, Windows becomes surprisingly cooperative again. The next section goes further by explaining how to create a local account without having to disconnect anything.
Create a local account during installation without disconnecting the Internet
Since build 19045.4354, released in April 2025, the Windows 10 wizard offers an additional button called “Sign-in options.” Clicking it displays a new, discreet link titled “Access an offline account.” Microsoft doesn’t advertise it, but experts at the website Clubic spotted it in their quarterly test. This feature addresses the CNIL’s criticisms in 2024 regarding the mandatory data collection.
When Luc arrives at the login page, he knowingly enters an incorrect email address, for example, test@invalid. The OOBE then displays an error and a choice to “Create a local account instead.” The maneuver seems simplistic, but it works even when the computer is connected to a university campus’s Wi-Fi.
Next INpact
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YjHFnVLuac Another new feature: the “Enhanced Security Connection” page offers a PIN code, presented as more secure than a password. In practice, the PIN code remains stored in the motherboard’s TPM. If you want to maintain a truly portable configuration, it’s best to skip this step and settle for a strong local password of ten alphanumeric characters. Once the desktop is displayed, the user experience is minimally different. The Documents, Pictures, and Downloads folders will only sync in the future if you add a Microsoft account from Settings. Luc always takes five minutes to demonstrate the difference to his friends and family: he adds the Outlook app from the Microsoft Store and then immediately deletes it, just to prove that everything remains optional.
Case study: Grandma’s PC at the end of an ADSL line
Take the example of Yvette, 76, connected to a 5 Mbps ADSL line in a rural area. Creating a local account immediately saves her from downloading the Microsoft profile on three different devices: her all-in-one, her housekeeper’s tablet, and her granddaughter’s smartphone. By setting up a local account, Luc saves 30 minutes of profile updates and over 400 MB of synchronized avatars and settings. This example shows that in 2025, despite widespread fiber optic connectivity in cities, bandwidth remains an issue outside of major cities. Technicians who read
Comment Ça Marche
confirm these obstacles daily in the “Low Speed” section of the forum. They advocate local installation to alleviate aging connections. This method, unlike network outages, ensures that Windows still downloads first-run security patches. Let’s now move on to converting an already connected profile to a local profile, a common necessity for those who receive their computer pre-installed. Discover how to use or install Windows 10 offline: tips, advice, and practical guides to enjoy your operating system without an internet connection.
Convert an existing Microsoft account to a local account after installation
Many computers sold with Windows 10 Home arrive activated with an automatically generated Outlook ID. Some retailers’ marketing departments claim that deactivation is impossible. In fact, since the 22H2 update, the “Sign in with a local account instead” option remains accessible in Settings > Accounts > Your information. The operation takes less than two minutes and does not reinstall the system. When repairing a student’s HP laptop, Luc always starts by backing up the %USERPROFILE% folder to an external drive. Then he launches the conversion. Windows creates a new local SID (Security Identifier) but maintains the old tree structure. It simply renames the ProfileImagePath entry in the registry. This subtlety explains why the paths remain unchanged, a detail appreciated by indie game developers who store their saves in AppData. CNET France journalists measured that a Microsoft profile consumes an average of 70 MB more RAM than a local account due to the OneSyncSvc and CloudExperienceHost services. On a 4 GB ultraportable, freeing up this amount is equivalent to closing two Chromium tabs. Gamers or mobile graphic designers immediately gain responsiveness.The conversion doesn’t solve everything: some software purchased through the Microsoft Store still requires authentication. Luc therefore recommends using an alias address without personal data. Simply create it in Microsoft’s security settings and then add it occasionally during the download, without switching the entire account.
Clubic
estimate that in 2025, 35% of SMEs will still prefer perpetual licenses over Office 365, precisely to avoid cloud dependency.
Advanced Method: Automated PowerShell Script
System administrators mass-deploy a script called LocalRevert.ps1. It uses the Replace-MSAccount cmdlet for each domain user. This script, published under the MIT license on GitHub, includes a .CSV log listing each action: conversion, SID retention, OneDrive cache reset. With it, the migration of a 45-seat university lab takes less than an hour, compared to a full day of manual intervention.
However, this solution requires local administrator privileges and temporarily disables Windows Hello. It illustrates the ongoing balance between automation and fine-grained control. The following section precisely evaluates the advantages—and limitations—of using Windows without a Microsoft account on a daily basis. Find out how to use, install, or repair Windows 10 offline. Follow our tips to access your system offline and easily resolve your issues. Advantages and limitations of Windows without a Microsoft account in 2025
Adopting a local account first provides an obvious benefit: privacy. Without synchronization, Windows stores neither Edge history nor input settings in the cloud. Free software advocates often point out that “if it’s free, you’re the product.” This maxim resonates when you realize that keywords typed in the search bar are sent to Bing with an anonymous but stable identifier.
PC Tips
emphasize that maintaining Office licenses and synchronizing Wi-Fi passwords make life easier in a multi-user environment. A local user will have to manually manage these elements. Luc sometimes prefers to activate the cloud account temporarily, if only to recover the Office digital key after a disk crash.
Another advantage of offline mode: the reduction of targeted advertising. The dynamic tiles in the Start menu stop offering free-to-play games. This makes the experience less intrusive for children. Parents report better concentration during homework sessions.
As for limitations, the Microsoft Store prohibits the installation of certain paid apps without authentication. Users who use Netflix in UWP will have to go through the website. Furthermore, the “Find My Device” feature relies on the Microsoft account; a stolen PC will remain invisible if the service has not been activated. A major argument for cloud synchronization concerns accessibility settings. People with visual impairments appreciate that the magnifying glass, high contrast, and synthetic voice are replicated from one device to another. Without a Microsoft account, these settings must be exported and then imported via a .REG file, a process that’s not straightforward for a novice.
Tests conducted by Next INpact finally demonstrate that a local profile marginally reduces startup time: five seconds on average on NVMe SSDs. The difference comes from the absence of the Microsoft Account cloud service, which is not critical but is present by default.
Choose the right option according to your usage
Consumer users who frequently change PCs or already have an Xbox Game Pass subscription will be better off keeping their cloud account. Conversely, technicians preparing machines for an association, a FabLab, or a scientific laboratory will prefer local mode. Fortunately, Windows offers the ability to switch between them almost at will. This flexibility contrasts with the macOS experience, which is still tied to an Apple ID in the iCloud ecosystem.
One question remains: how can these settings be deployed quickly across multiple workstations while ensuring system integrity? Part 5 presents some open-source tools to industrialize the process.
Launched in 2023, O&O ShutUp10++ continues to evolve; version 1.9.1430, released in January 2025, adds an “Account-Free” profile that disables 27 services linked to the Microsoft account. A simple JSON export allows the configuration to be applied to dozens of machines. Combined with Chocolatey, the open-source package manager, we obtain a complete workflow: offline installation, post-configuration scripts, and deployment of open source applications.
Rufus, already mentioned, now offers a CLI for Windows: rufus.exe –local. This binary allows a batch script to prepare fifteen USB drives in parallel on a duplication station. Digital workshops in media libraries use it to reset their workstations every quarter.
The developers of the Ventoy open source project also integrated a “skipmsonline.json” plugin in 2025. Placed at the root of the Ventoy key, it injects an automated response into the OOBE. The benefit: making the key universal for Windows 10, Windows 11, as well as Microsoft 365 Apps evaluation images, while preserving free space for copying GNU/Linux distributions. This hybrid approach appeals to Linux communities, always quick to offer a supportive dual-boot. Luc, our volunteer technician, set up an Ansible workstation on Debian 12. With the win_domain_user module missing, he turned to the win_user module. The playbook adds a local user, removes the Outlook address self-created by the OEM, applies the group policy limiting telemetry, and installs Firefox ESR. A single Ansible call is enough to transition the new computer from cloud mode to an optimized local environment, ready to receive a free office suite. In the medium term, we can imagine Europe imposing greater transparency on Microsoft. The 2025 LTSC edition, already in preview, offers an “offline-first” switch. Journalists at Next INpact
believe this trend could migrate to consumer versions. However, the passion for tinkering isn’t over: as long as PowerShell scripts and custom USB drives exist, users will retain control of their systems.
The convergence between Windows Subsystem for Linux and open-source deployment solutions is changing the game. A local account is becoming almost “sufficient” to benefit from new features. Canonical even announced at Open Expo 2025 that a version of Ubuntu Pro would be available as an MSI outside of the Store. The lines are shifting; at each stage, the ability to remain without a Microsoft account remains a crucial choice, both for privacy and flexibility.
Ultimately, open-source tools, combined with a few networking tricks, make it possible to install, configure, and maintain Windows 10 without a Microsoft account, completely legally and without any major loss of functionality. The tech community, from the forums
Le Crabe Info to PC Astuces
, continues to innovate and share these practices that give users back control.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check that my Windows 10 installation hasn’t created a hidden Microsoft account?
Open Settings › Accounts › Your Information. If “Sign in with a Microsoft account” appears, you are using a local profile. No Outlook address should be visible in this section.
Can I activate OneDrive while still using a local account?
No. OneDrive requires cloud authentication. However, you can use open-source alternatives like Syncthing or Nextcloud to sync your files between devices.
Is there a risk of losing my Windows digital key after converting to a local account?
None. The license is tied to the hardware via the hardware ID stored on Microsoft servers. Changing account type does not affect activation.
Do Windows Updates continue to work without a Microsoft account? Yes. Windows Update uses the Windows Update Medic Service, which is independent of the user profile. You will receive all cumulative and security updates. What’s the easiest tool to prepare an account-free Windows 10 USB drive?
Rufus 4.6, thanks to the “Remove requirement for online Microsoft account” option, remains the most accessible solution. Simply select the official ISO, check the option, and start burning.