Set Up Windows 11 With Only a Local Account – Still Working in 2026

It’s possible, just well hidden.

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Setting up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account is still possible.
A bright and photorealistic thumbnail showing a desktop computer screen. The desktop computer is modern and sleek, prominently positioned in the center of the image. The screen of the computer vividly displays Welcome to Windows with clear, legible textThe environment around the computer is minimal and professional, focusing the viewer's attention on the screen. The lighting is well-balanced, highlighting the details of Windows, and the overall image composition is designed to be eye-catching and engaging for viewers interested in learning about installing or setting up Windows.
(Image: DALL-E 3 & askleo.com)

Microsoft has been pushing us to use Microsoft accounts to sign into our Windows computers for some time. In recent versions of the Windows 11 setup process, it seems that there’s no choice but to sign in with a Microsoft account.

While it may be well hidden and obscure, the choice is still there. It’s not even that difficult.

I’ll show you how.

Update: March, 2026: I can confirm that this technique still works, at least sometimes (there may be other factors involved). I was able to reinstall Windows 11 Home 25H2 with only a local account.

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How to Back Up Photos and Never Lose Them Again: the Steps You Need to Take

Your photos are irreplaceable.

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Your photos capture moments you can never get back, but one lost phone or crashed hard drive could wipe them out forever. Protecting them is easier than you think. Here's a simple plan to make sure your memories are never just one accident away from gone.
an individual in a park taking a photo of their Corgi with their mobile phone
(Image: Gemini)

Do you back up photos and videos?

Everyone with a smartphone has a camera, and they use ’em right and left to snap photos and shoot videos. Add in digital cameras, and there is a lot of digital media being created every day.

Much of it isn’t getting backed up. The goal? Multiple copies of your photos and videos in multiple places.

If it’s in only one place, it’s not backed up.

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How Can I Send a Document to Someone Securely?

Encrypt it.

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Sending private documents by email feels risky because it is. What's the safest way to get sensitive information to the right person without it falling into the wrong hands?
one corgi handing a sealed envelope containing obviously secret information to another corgi
(Image: Gemini)
Question: I recently had to send some very private identification papers over email. Now normally I wouldn’t do this, and I would use snail mail instead, but this was very urgent, and I thought I would take a chance. As far as I know, no ill has come of it, but I was wondering: what ways are there to send emails securely across all platforms and also be sure that the right person on the other end gets it?

I’m occasionally faced with this dilemma. Either for expediency or convenience, I want to email something I wouldn’t want to fall into anyone else’s hands.

While there are many approaches, there’s only one practical approach.

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What Can a Technician With Remote Access Do?

Anything.

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You thought it was tech support, but it was a scam. You gave a stranger full access to your computer. How worried should you be?
a Corgi sitting at a desktop computer which has a human hand reaching out of its screen reaching for the keyboard.
(Image: Gemini)
Question: I called a number that I thought was the support center and was immediately connected with a technician who skillfully asked my permission to allow him access to my computer so that he could diagnose the problem, and I agreed. After he informed me that I had over a thousand errors that needed to be erased and that he could do this for me for only $250, I realized that this was some kind of scam, and I promptly ended the call. What kind of risk have I exposed myself to?

First, good on you for terminating that call. I hear about many people falling for scams like this.

You let a stranger with possibly malicious intent use your machine remotely. How worried should you be?

Unfortunately, there’s no clear answer.

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How Do You Remove Bloatware?

My controversial position: don’t waste your time.

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Your new computer came loaded with software you never asked for. Before you reach for a debloating tool, here's my controversial take on what you should and shouldn't do about bloatware.
f two computers on a desk. One computer is a PC tower bulging as if "overweight", and the other is a normal tower, sprouting muscular human arms flexing biceps.
(Image: Gemini)
Question: I just got a new machine. How do I get rid of all the cr*p that’s on it that I don’t need or want?

There’s no argument that Windows comes with a bucketload of pre-installed software, much of which we never use, typically referred to as bloatware. Because it’s never used, many people look for a quick way to get rid of it all — debloating — leaving only a presumably leaner, meaner operating system behind.

There are several approaches, ranging from bloatware-cleaning tools to manual individual uninstalls.

Then there’s my approach: for the most part, I do nothing.

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How to Protect Your Credit Card Information

An ongoing challenge, to be sure.

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Your credit card info can be stolen in stores or online. From tap-to-pay to virtual card numbers, I'll walk you through the best ways to keep your credit card safe.
A hand tapping a contactless credit card on a modern payment terminal, with a glowing green checkmark appearing on the screen, set against a bright, clean retail background.
(Image: Gemini)
Question: As a recent victim of identity theft, I am struggling to install preventive and defensive measures. Assuming my credit card info was stolen somewhere, either at a point of sale or an online sale, what should I be doing to lock down my credit card numbers in the future?

While I’ve fortunately (knock on wood) never been a victim of actual identity theft, I’ve definitely had a credit card compromised a time or two over the years. It’s frustrating, a little scary, and once it was extra inconvenient, as I was travelling when it happened!

Some aspects of transaction technology have changed in recent years, making credit card use safer than ever… if you take advantage of them.

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What’s the Difference Between Outlook, Outlook, and Outlook.com?

So many Outlooks. So much confusion.

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Microsoft continues to confuse us with repetitive product names. I'll clarify the difference between Outlook, Outlook, and Outlook.com, and help you decide which you want.
Outlook Icon
(Screenshot: askleo.com)
Question: I use Outlook.com. Does that mean I don’t need Outlook? Are they just two names for the same thing? If not, how do they relate to each other?

Note: I periodically update this article because Microsoft just can’t leave things alone. My caveat is that things may change in the future, and this article may or may not still apply.

The short answer is: Outlook, Outlook (classic), and Outlook.com are three different things, none of which really relate to each other.

They have three things in common: they’re all related to email, they all have the word “Outlook” in their names, and their icons are easily confused.

Let’s wade into the mess.

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I Lost My Two-Factor Authentication Device. How Do I Recover?

How to prove you’re you without your second factor.

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Losing your phone can lock you out of your accounts if it’s your second factor for authentication. Here’s how I recovered while traveling, the backup options that saved me, and the steps you can take now so you’re never stuck without access.
A Dead Phone
A dead phone. (Image: canva.com)

I went to take a photo of my dogs, and apparently, it was cuteness overload for my phone, because it just shut down the moment I tapped the button.

I forced a reboot and took another photo, which worked. A few seconds later, while viewing the photo, the screen went crazy and the phone started squealing. I forced it off again. It came back one more time, worked for a bit, and then shut down one last time. All further attempts to revive it were unsuccessful.

I was now the proud owner of a brick.

The biggest problem? The phone was my second factor for all my multi-factor-enabled accounts — and I was traveling. Could I sign in to my important accounts without it?

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What If My Passkey Doesn’t Work or I Lose the Device It’s On?

You do something else.

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Passkeys are supposed to make signing in easier and safer, but what happens when it stops working or your device is gone? I'll show you what to do if your passkey fails or is lost and a technique that makes passkeys work everywhere.
A laptop, tablet, and smartphone arranged in a sunny, colorful flat-lay, each displaying a small golden key icon, showing passkeys working across multiple devices.
(Image: Gemini)
Question: So if I get a passkey and it doesn’t work, what happens then?? How can I change it… or can I change it?

A common variation of this question is, “What if I lose the device on which my passkey is stored?”

Passkeys are easy to use and complicated to explain.

Fortunately, this question has a fairly straightforward answer: just start over.

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How Do I Find Who Hacked My Email Account?

TL;DR: You don’t.

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Someone hacked your email and you want answers. Who did it? Where are they? Can you track them down? Here's what you should do.
an individual examining an email message with a magnifying glass
(Image: Gemini)
Question: I just want to tell you that someone has hacked one of my email IDs and he sent email from my ID to someone else. Now, please tell me how I can find out from which computer and from which place this email has been sent. In other words, how do I find who hacked my email? Your cooperation will be highly appreciated.

When accounts are hacked, folks really want to be able to figure out who did this to them. How did it happen? What computer were they on? Who are they?

The short answer is, you’re extremely unlikely to figure out who hacked your email account. Here’s what to do instead.

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What’s a Zero-Day Attack? A Diagram of the Vulnerability Timeline

Infected before you know there’s a risk.

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Yes, your computer can get hacked even when it's fully updated. Zero-day attacks exploit vulnerabilities that your antivirus software doesn't yet know exist. I'll explain how these attacks work and what you can do to protect yourself.
A dramatic stopwatch frozen at zero, with streams of glowing red computer code racing through the clock face. Dark background with electric blue and red lighting creates urgency and tension.
(Image: Gemini)
Question: Can you tell me more about zero-day attacks? I experienced one on my fully updated and patched Windows computer (automatic Windows Update ON), which has the latest anti-malware tools. I saw the hacked behavior and immediately turned off my computer. Scanning both before and after this attack showed no prior or present malware infection. Is this the best response for such attacks, as it appears to have successfully prevented malware infection by this attack that I experienced?

The very nature of zero-day exploits is that your malware scanner would show that you were clean both before and after being infected. It’s not until your security software provider updates their databases and you take that update that your malware scanner knows what to look for.

Yes, that means you may still be infected.

Let’s go through the timeline that got you here.

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Windows Administrator Explained

Why you are and are not the administrator of your own computer.

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Why will your computer sometimes tells you "access denied" when you're the only user? Windows has a system of administrator account types that are easy to misunderstand. I'll describe which type of account you likely have, and what the other options can and can't do.
An individual wearing a baseball cap labelled "Adminstrator capable". On a table next to him are baseball caps labelled "Administrator" and "Standard User".
(Image: Gemini)

The concept of the “administrator” in Windows is somewhat confusing. It’s not uncommon for people to be disallowed from doing something on their PC because they’re not the administrator, even though their account is the only one on the machine.

Administration has several forms. Let’s explore what they are and what it means to be administrator… even when you’re not.

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Why Doesn’t My Machine’s IP Address Match What I’m Told on the Internet?

IP addresses versus IP addresses.

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Ever wonder why your computer shows one IP address, but websites see something totally different? They're both right. I'll describe how your router juggles two addresses behind the scenes and how that protects you every time you go online.
a computer and router on a desk with a symbolic connection from the computer to the router, and from the router to the cloud representing the internet
(Image: Gemini)
Question: Using tools on my machine, I can see that my IP address is one thing (in my case, 192.168.1.100). But when I go to an internet site that shows me my IP, it shows me something completely different. Which is right?

They both are.

Your machine has one IP address, but it isn’t necessarily the IP address that is used to connect to the internet.

The IP address that appears depends on who’s looking and from where.

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How Do I Uninstall Windows?

You can’t. But you can do something else.

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Stuck with a version of Windows you can't stand? You're not alone, and you're not trapped. "Uninstall" isn't a thing, but there are a few options you might not know about.
A photorealistic image of a crisp, clear Windows logo on its screen with the international 'no' symbol, a red circle with a diagonal line, overlaid on top of it.
(Image: DALL-E 3)
Question: I installed the latest version of Windows. I don’t like it. I want to get rid of it, but there is no uninstall program. How does one get rid of this program? I’m moving to Linux.

It happens with every version. People love the version they have, or they at least tolerate it, but the new version? Intolerable.

So they want to jump ship. Great! There are many other fine-looking and capable ships to jump to.

But you’re correct: there is no uninstall.

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Why Password Managers Are [Still] Safer than the Alternatives

Password vaults are the most secure solution.

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If you're not using a password manager, you're likely compromising your security more than necessary. Here's why using one is safer.
a locked and secure bank vault
(Image: Gemini)
Question: Recently, I tried to use RoboForm for an account at a large financial institution, but I couldn’t get it to work. In response to my inquiry, this institution said they do not permit logins using credentials that are stored on software because the security of the password could become jeopardized if my computer were hacked, invaded, etc. Is this true? Am I safer not to use tools like RoboForm?

Some people believe using password managers presents a single point of failure. Very technically, they are correct: if someone gains access to your password manager, they have access to everything in it.

Not so technically, I believe they are misguided.

Using a good password manager is significantly safer than any alternative.

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How to Identify Your Machine’s Network Connections

There are probably many more connections than you expect.

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Your computer might be chatting with hundreds of servers right now, including sites you might not expect, without you knowing! I'll show you free tools that let you see what your machine is up to online.
a magnifying glass looking at a computer screen that's displaying a network performance graph
(Image: Gemini)

Our machines are pretty much constantly connected to the internet these days. That means the software running on your device is connected to remote servers and services, either constantly or as needed, and probably with little indication.

I’ll show you a few ways to see what your machine is up to, using built-in and free tools.

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Can I Have Different Passwords for YouTube and Gmail?

Keeping services separate is possible, though not obvious.

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A Google account includes Gmail, YouTube, and much more. If you want to keep those services separate, you'll need separate Google accounts.
Google & YouTube
(Image: canva.com)
Question: Can I have a different password for YouTube and Gmail? I want to keep them separate.

There’s a way to keep them separate, but it’ll have a side effect you may or may not care about.

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How Do I Tell Which Wi-Fi Protocols My Computer Supports?

They keep changing.

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Ever wondered if your Wi-Fi card can handle the latest speeds, or why it won't connect in certain places? I'll show you exactly how to check which Wi-Fi protocols your computer supports, and what those cryptic "802.11" labels actually mean.
A Wi-Fi access point with the items 802.11b, 802. 11g, 802.11n, 802.11a, 802. 11ac, and 802.11ax floating around it.
(Image: Gemini)
Question: I don’t know if my Wi-Fi card is 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, so my first question is, how do I find which I have?

If you’re having trouble connecting to a Wi-Fi hotspot — open and public, or otherwise — it could be a mismatch between the capabilities of your Wi-Fi hardware and the hotspot providing the wireless networking.

To do this, we need to figure out which protocols — that whole “802.11” thing — your card is capable of. Once we have that information, we can make a few assumptions.

Fortunately, your card’s capabilities are easily discovered.

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Don’t Fall for It: Social Engineering and How Scammers Hack Your Brain

How to recognize, avoid, and beat the scams.

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Think you're too smart to fall for a scam? Think again. Scammers aren't targeting your intelligence; they're targeting your humanity. I'll share the sneaky mind tricks they use every day and help you spot the red flags before it's too late.
A used car salesman with a speech bubble containing the words "Trust me!"
(Image: Gemini)

You’ve probably heard the term social engineering. It’s behind almost every scam.

Social engineering isn’t about technology, trickery, or even intelligence or the perceived lack thereof; it’s psychology, pure and simple. It’s about pushing your buttons.

And we all have buttons to be pushed.

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How Do I Gain Administrative Access to a Secondhand Computer?

Here be dragons. Maybe.

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It’s important to understand the risks of buying a used computer.
one person handing a desktop computer to another person
(Image: Gemini)
Question: My dad bought a computer from a yard sale. The problem is that they forgot to take off the password. I’m logged in as a user, but not an administrator, so I don’t have admin privileges. How do I become an administrator?

This is frightening for many reasons.

It’s not you who should be scared. We’ll probably be able to get you into the computer. It’s the previous owner who should be concerned; it’s clear they didn’t take a few important steps before selling their computer.

You still need to tread very carefully. I’ll explain why.

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Can You Get Hacked When Your Computer Is Sleeping?

It depends. It’s also extremely unlikely.

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Worried your sleeping computer might get hacked? The short answer is no, but there's a catch. I'll explain what that is and why you're still probably safer than you think with basic security in place.
a laptop on a desk, "sleeping"
(Image: Gemini)

I have a love-hate relationship with the sleep function. It puts the computer into low-energy use, pausing active tasks and storing open applications and files in memory. People like it because it keeps the computer powered on and ready to work again.

I love the concept, but I hate most implementations. I often find it results in unexpected behavior. Only if a specific device has proven its sleep function to be generally stable will I use it. It’s a determination I make for every single computer that might sleep, because every machine behaves differently.

So, with that little gripe out of the way, can your computer still get hacked if it’s in sleep mode?

Maybe.

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