new pc won't let me sign in to admin account

Hello Rhonda, thank you for posting in the Microsoft Q&A community.

This issue commonly occurs when there is a temporary network synchronization failure with Microsoft's authentication servers, or if a background two-factor authentication prompt fails to load correctly within the setup interface.

To resolve this, the workaround is to bypass the mandatory network requirement. This will allow you to create a Local Administrator account, log into Windows, and complete the setup without needing to authenticate your Microsoft account immediately.

Please follow these steps:

1. On the setup screen where you are stuck, press Shift + F10 (or Shift + Fn + F10 on some laptops) to open the Command Prompt.
2. Click inside the Command Prompt window, type the following command, and press Enter:

oobe\bypassnro

3. The computer will immediately restart and return to the beginning of the setup process.
4. Proceed through the screens again. When you reach the network connection screen, click I don't have internet at the bottom.
5. Select Continue with limited setup.
6. You will be prompted to enter a username and password to create a Local Administrator account.

Once you reach the Desktop, you can verify if you have Windows 11 Home or Pro by navigating to Settings > System > About. After confirming, you can connect to the internet and go to Settings > Accounts > Your info to properly link your Microsoft account.

If the command above does not work or the Command Prompt fails to open, could you please let me know if the device is currently hardwired via Ethernet or using Wi-Fi? Additionally, do you see any Sign-in options link on the error page?

I will follow up on this thread to ensure your VMs are upgraded successfully. If the guidance provided helped you navigate to this solution, please consider clicking 'Accept answer'. This officially marks the thread as answered and greatly helps other community members who are searching for a solution to this exact same problem.

Official Microsoft Documentation & Best Practices: *Troubleshoot problems signing in to Windows *Customize the Out of Box Experience (OOBE)

At the Windows 11 login screen, make sure the PC is connected to the internet, then click Sign-in options → Password (key icon) and try again - many fresh installs default to PIN or fail offline. 🔑

If still failing: press Shift + Restart → Troubleshoot → Command Prompt, then run:

net user admin /add net localgroup administrators admin /add

I can't do any of these steps successfully. I'm stuck here, on the "unlock your Microsoft experience" page. The only way to do a restart is a hard shutdown with the power button.

Follow these steps to troubleshoot the sign-in issue and regain admin access on the device:

1. Restart and try again

• Restart the PC completely and attempt to sign in again with the same Microsoft account.
• If updates are pending, choose Update and restart if offered, as pending updates can sometimes affect sign-in.

2. Try Safe Mode sign-in If the password is repeatedly rejected, test sign-in in Safe Mode:
3. At the sign-in screen, select Power > Restart.
4. Hold Shift while selecting Restart.
5. On Choose an option, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
6. After restart, press 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.
7. Sign in using the same Microsoft account password (PIN/biometrics are not available in Safe Mode).

• If sign-in works in Safe Mode, the issue is likely caused by a driver, security software, or another app interfering with normal sign-in.
• Once in Safe Mode, remove or disable any third-party security/AV that might be blocking authentication, then reboot normally and test again.

3. Verify the account password separately

• From another device (phone or another PC), go to the Microsoft account sign-in page and confirm that the same credentials work there.
• If they do not, reset the Microsoft account password using the Forgot your Microsoft account password flow.

4. Use another account or create a new local admin If the device has any other account listed on the sign-in screen:

• Select that account and sign in.
• Once signed in, review existing accounts and ensure there is at least one local administrator account.

If no other account can sign in and the device is effectively locked out, use the built-in recovery options to:

• Sign in with a different account if available, or
• Create a new local administrator account (as described in the manage user accounts guidance referenced in the sign-in troubleshooting article) and then use that account to manage the staff member’s profile.

5. If Windows shows “We can’t sign in to your account” If, after getting in, Windows reports We can't sign in to your account or uses a temporary profile:
6. Restart in Safe Mode and sign in with the original profile; confirm files/settings.
7. Restart normally and sign in again; repeat restarts if needed.
8. Temporarily disable antivirus or other scanning apps during sign-in.
9. If still failing, create a new local admin account and migrate data from the old profile using the Fix a corrupted user profile steps.

These steps let an admin regain control of the device, confirm that the Microsoft account password is valid, and ensure at least one working administrator account exists on the PC.

References:

• Troubleshoot Problems Signing In to Windows
• "We can't sign in to your account" error message