How to install Windows 11 with a local account / without Internet

Published: Jan 17, 2025

Last updated: May 14, 2025

Introduction

In this guide I'm going to show you how to install Windows 11 with a local account / without an Internet connection, also referred to as bypassing the network requirement.

You may be wondering, why? With the release of Windows 11, Microsoft began forcing users to connect their computer to Internet and sign in with a Microsoft account when installing and setting up the OS. This is invaisive, unecessary, and in my experience as an IT tech, a straight up pain in the ass. As a tech person, nothing gets me more hyped than shitting on Microsoft.


Luckily, there is a command you can run in CMD that will eliminate this problem.

This guide assumes you know how to create a Windows installation USB (I have a guide on that here) and that you know how to clean install Windows on a computer (guide on that in the future).

CMD

It's actually comically easy to circumvent the network requirement.

Once your computer has booted into Windows, press Shift + F10 to open CMD

In CMD enter the command: OOBE\BYPASSNRO


Your computer will reboot.
You will now have the option "I don't have internet" which will allow you to install Windows 11 with a local account.

References:

• Real life experience and frsutration with Microsoft