Overview

• Preview builds 26120.6772 (Beta) and 26220.6772 (Dev) remove known local-account mechanisms, disabling commands such as start ms-cxh:localonly after bypassnro was axed earlier this year.
• Hands-on tests by outlets verified that Home and Pro installs no longer surface a local-account path, with Shift+F10 tricks and registry toggles failing both online and offline.
• Microsoft’s rationale is that these workarounds skipped critical screens, so completing setup now requires an internet connection and a Microsoft account to ensure devices are fully configured.
• Simpler bypasses have been patched; avoiding an online account now typically requires preinstallation image edits or an unattended answer file, which are far more complex for most users.
• Insider changes commonly roll to broader channels within weeks, and Microsoft is also adding a command-based option to set a custom user folder name during setup.