How to install and set up Windows 11 without an Internet connection

Windows 11 requires you to sign in with a Microsoft account to complete setting up a new PC. However, if you don't have an active Internet connection or want to use a local user account, you can follow these methods to set up Windows 11.

1. Skip the Internet Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) request

You can bypass the Let's connect you to a network screen by using the OOBE \BYPASSNRO command in Command Prompt. When executed, this command runs an existing CMD script, bypassnro.cmd, stored in the System32 folder to modify the Windows registry. This modification allows you to complete Windows 11 setup without an Internet connection. To do this:

1. Boot your computer using the Windows installation media. Skip Step 6 below if you're already on the Let's connect you to a network screen .

2. When the Windows Setup dialog box appears, select your preferred language, time, and keyboard input layout, and then click Next . Then, click Install Now .

3. Enter your product key to activate Windows 11. If you don't have a product key, click the I don't have a product key link  in the lower-right corner. If you're upgrading from Windows 10 or an earlier version of Windows 11, the operating system will automatically recognize and validate the Windows product key associated with your computer's hardware.

4. Next, if prompted, select the edition of Windows 11 you want to install. Check the box to accept the terms and click Next . Then, select Custom: Install Windows Only (Advanced) .

5. Select the installation drive and click Next . Wait for Windows to finish installing and restart your computer. In the setup screen, select your region and keyboard layout.

6. When at the Let's connect you to a network screen , press Shift + F10 to launch Command Prompt .

7. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter :

OOBE\BYPASSNRO

8. The system will now reboot and launch the OOBE dialog again. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup. When you reach the Let's connect you to a network screen , click I don't have Internet .

9. Next, click Continue with limited setup . Then, accept the license agreement and proceed to create your local user account.

Also, make sure to add security questions. This will help you recover your local user account in case you forget your password. Once done, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.

2. End the Network Connection Flow process using Task Manager

You can bypass the "Let's connect you to a network" screen by ending the oobenetworkconnectionflow.exe process. Since Windows 11 is already installed at this stage, you can launch Task Manager at the top of your setup wizard using Command Prompt and end the process.

Note : This method may not always work as new Windows updates often patch such workarounds.

To bypass Windows 11 network setup using Task Manager:

1. Assuming you are on the Let's connect you to a network screen , press Shift + F10 to launch Command Prompt.

2. In the Command Prompt window, type taskmgr and press Enter to launch Task Manager . Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch it.

3. Click More Details to open Task Manager in full view.

4. Go to the Processes tab and use the search bar in Task Manager to find the Network Connection Flow process .

5. Select the Network Connection Flow process and click the End task button . Wait for the process to finish, then close Task Manager.

6. Type exit into Command Prompt and press Enter .

The installation will refresh and you will be redirected to the setup wizard. It will show some loading animations and then proceed to the next step. Here, enter your name and password to create a local user account in Windows 11 and complete the setup.

Once setup is complete, connect to the Internet. Then, go to Settings > Windows Update and download all important security and feature updates. You may also notice that some icons are missing after the initial setup. Windows will download these icons when you connect your PC to the Internet.