Overview
- Security researcher Bob Pony reported on October 9 that the one-click 'Learn more' link that previously led to local-account creation had stopped working, and testing by multiple outlets confirmed the change on fresh Windows 11 26H2 ISOs.
- Clicking the link now opens Microsoft’s data-policy page and the only navigation option returns users to the Microsoft account sign-in screen, blocking the earlier flow that let people set a local username, password, and security questions during Out‑of‑Box Experience (OOBE).
- Reports say Microsoft implemented the fix server-side without an entry in public update notes, so the change rolled out to consumer installs without an announced patch or documented changelog entry.
- Microsoft defends closing bypasses as preventing incomplete or improperly configured installs while emphasizing benefits of Microsoft account sign‑in such as OneDrive sync, Copilot integration, and device management.
- Local accounts remain possible but typically require technical routes like building custom ISOs with tools such as Rufus or using enterprise features like domain join on Windows 11 Pro, which makes a true one-click local setup impractical for most everyday users.