As per Microsoft, it is implementing new measures to enhance security and user experience on Windows 11 by removing the bypass method.
The Script "bypassnro.cmd" Will Soon Stop Working, but Apparently, More Such Loopholes Still Exist
The popular bypass script "bypassnro.cmd" is about to become obsolete, but its removal is one of the major updates Microsoft plans to implement soon. Microsoft's latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5516 lists that the company is going to remove the script to 'enhance' the security and user experience of Windows 11.
This update will force users to use the internet and a Microsoft account to install Windows 11. For those who aren't familiar with this, Microsoft became stricter with the release of Windows 11 and required stringent hardware prerequisites like TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot in order for the systems to qualify for installing the new OS. With the launch of Windows 11 version 22H2, Microsoft required users to have both an internet connection and a Microsoft account in order to install Windows 11.
Since the move wasn't welcomed by a lot, a loophole was figured out that would let users bypass these requirements by using the "bypassnro" script in the Command Prompt, which would let users proceed with installation with a local account without having an internet connection. This worked for a while but Microsoft states security concerns for the same and will remove this bypass in the upcoming stable build.
This has also drawn a lot of criticism since this raises privacy concerns, particularly for users who would want to install the OS without internet access. However, as usual, there are still some workarounds some users have been posting on social media, including some changes to the registry.
You can still bypass the network requirement in OOBE by setting the BypassNRO DWORD yourself. Open regedit, create the DWORD under HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionOOBE, set it to 1 and reboot. Only the script is gone. https://t.co/VJVG2Pd6w4 pic.twitter.com/0pOn2Cw3ze
— phantomofearth 🌳 (@phantomofearth) March 28, 2025
With such rapid changes to Windows OS when there were already strict hardware requirements, many users are opting for other alternatives such as Linux-based operating systems. And considering that Valve is about to drop its SteamOS for desktop PCs, Microsoft's newest move could hurt the Windows 11 market share drastically.
While these are all speculations, seeing how even Windows 11-based handhelds do even better with OS like SteamOS 3.8 shows that users are likely to transition to bloatware-free operating systems for good.
News Sources: Windows, Windows Central
