Microsoft wants you to use online accounts in Windows 11, yes, but they're not as mandatory as you might think.

Go to Microsoft Account privacy Check the App and service section and the app access. If you find anything suspicious, it’s best to remove it. Read: Microsoft Office keeps asking to sign in 3 ...

The removed "BypassNRO.cmd" script previously allowed users to bypass the mandatory Microsoft Account login during setup and create a local account instead.

For Windows, go to Settings > Accounts and Account settings and sign in with your local account instead to remove your current Microsoft account from the device.

If you cannot sign into Edge with a Microsoft account, remove your account from Microsoft Authenticator and try again. More suggestions here.

Microsoft keeps making it harder to use local accounts with Windows 11 In a sly move, Microsoft has removed the online help page that shows how to switch to a local account on its Windows 11 ...

Microsoft is killing the Windows 11 bypass trick — soon, all setups will require internet and a Microsoft Account, leaving privacy-conscious users with fewer options.

With the latest insider build for Windows 11, Microsoft is killing off a workaround that let you set up a local account instead of a Microsoft account.