Tip: Install Windows 11 without Internet Using Local Account

This article contains a new 100% working method to install Windows 11 in any device without Internet connection. You’ll also be able to create and use an offline local user account instead of an online Microsoft Account (MSA) at installation time.

The method given in this article will work in all Windows 11 versions including Windows 11 22H2 (2022 Update), 23H2 (2023 Update), 24H2 (2024 Update) and all moment updates (feature drops). We have used this method successfully in our brand new Asus Zenbook laptop to install the latest Windows 11 Home version without Internet.

The solution given in this article is applicable to all Windows 11 editions (SKU) such as Windows 11 Home/Basic/Core, Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 Education, Windows 11 Enterprise, etc.

Following image shows Windows 11 setup providing new option to skip or bypass Internet connection requirement (left) and setup local user account (right) side-by-side:

When you try to install Windows 11 in a PC or laptop and the OOBE (Out-Of-Box-Experience) wizard screen appears, Windows 11 setup starts looking for a working Internet connection. If it doesn’t find a working Internet connection, it blocks or prevents the user from clicking on Next button and finish the setup offline.

Microsoft has made the Internet connection mandatory to complete Windows 11 installation in computers. All users are required to connect to Internet to finish the installation and sign in using a Microsoft Account (MSA).

In older versions of Windows 11, Microsoft provided an option to skip the Internet connection requirement and complete the installation offline using a local user account. But in newer versions of Windows 11, Microsoft has made it compulsory to connect the device to Internet and perform required setup tasks.

If you are also trying to perform a clean or fresh installation of Windows 11 in your computer and you are stuck at OOBE screen where the setup asks to connect to Internet and you don’t have a working Internet connection or you don’t want to connect to Internet, here is a 100% working solution to complete Windows 11 setup without Internet and without using Microsoft Account.

There is a hidden secret command which can be executed at OOBE screen to force Windows 11 setup to show a new option to bypass Internet connection requirement. Once we execute the command, we can complete Windows 11 setup without connecting to Internet. In this way, we’ll be able to create an offline local user account without any need of sign in using Microsoft Account.

Steps to Complete Windows 11 Setup Without Internet Using Local User Account

It’s the easiest, fastest and official method to bypass Internet connection requirement and install Windows 11 offline with local account. We are not using any temporary workaround. It’s an official method which is provided by Microsoft as Windows 11 setup contains the hidden command inside the offline ISO file.

Following steps will help you in installing Windows 11 in any device with local user account and without Internet connection i.e. offline:

STEP 1:

When you start installing Windows 11 and the OOBE screen appears asking to select region, keyboard layout or connect to Internet, press SHIFT+F10 keys together on your keyboard and it’ll launch Command Prompt window.

PS: If your device contains a Fn key, you might need to press Fn+SHIFT+F10 keys together to open Command Prompt window.

NOTE: If SHIFT+F10 or Fn+SHIFT+F10 hotkeys don’t work for you, try to press ALT+Tab keys together and then press the keys combination again.

STEP 2:

Now type following command in Command Prompt window and press Enter key:

It’ll restart your computer and will show “Just a moment” screen for few seconds. After that the OOBE screen will reappear.

STEP 3:

Now you’ll see a new option “I don’t have Internet” available on setup wizard as shown in following screenshot:

Click on the “I don’t have Internet” option. The setup will show another screen telling you the benefit of connecting to Internet and using a Microsoft Account. Click on “Continue with limited setup” option to confirm your decision.

STEP 4:

The setup will display EULA agreement, click on Accept button.

That’s it. Now Windows 11 setup will skip Internet connectivity check and will ask you to create a local user account as shown in following screenshot:

You can now complete the setup using a local account without sign in using Microsoft Account (MSA).

Just enter a desired username and password and you’ll be able to use Windows 11 in your device without Internet using an offline account.

Here’s the Secret Functionality of OOBE\BYPASSNRO Command for Experts

If you are wondering what is the secret behind OOBE\BYPASSNRO command and how does this command work, here is some advanced information for experts!

OOBE\BYPASSNRO is actually a path to BypassNRO.cmd file which exists under C:\Windows\System32\oobe directory. When we execute OOBE\BYPASSNRO command at Windows 11 setup, we are actually running BypassNRO.cmd file.

Here are the content of BypassNRO.cmd file:

So basically the BypassNRO.cmd file contains a batch script to add required DWORD value to Windows Registry and then restart the computer immediately.

You can check the file yourself by opening File Explorer and navigating to C:\Windows\System32\oobe folder. Here you’ll see the BypassNRO.cmd file present inside the OOBE folder as shown in following screenshot:

DO NOT double-click on the file otherwise it’ll immediately restart your computer and you’ll lose your data.

So instead of OOBE\BYPASSNRO command, we can also execute any of following commands at Windows 11 installation time and all command variations will work:

Do This If OOBE\BYPASSNRO Command doesn’t Work for You

If the OOBE\BYPASSNRO command is not working for you, make sure you are not putting any blank space inside the command syntax. There is NO space between OOBE and \BYPASSNRO terms. So make sure you don’t use any space in the command syntax.

Actually when you use a space between OOBE and \BYPASSNRO words, Windows 11 setup treats OOBE as a command and shows “Command not found” error message.

When we use the correct OOBE\BYPASSNRO command without any space, the setup actually runs BypassNRO.cmd script present inside the OOBE directory.

If you still face problem in using OOBE\BYPASSNRO command, you can try to run the REG syntax directly which is present inside the CMD script file. Paste following commands one by one in Command Prompt and press Enter key:

It’ll restart the setup and you’ll get the “I don’t have Internet” option to bypass Internet connection check.

PS: If you are trying to install an older version of Windows 11 in your device, you might also take a look at previous working tricks mentioned in following article:

[Tip] How to Install Windows 11 without Microsoft Account

Also Check:

[Tip] How to Switch to a Local User Account in Windows 11

How to Create Windows 11 Bootable USB Drive with Hardware Requirements Disabled

[Tip] How to Download Latest Windows 11 Offline ISO File