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Windows 11 Pro, Education, and Enterprise can be installed without the Internet (or even a network adapter present in the system). If you click the "I don't have Internet" link, the setup will offer offline account creation right away.
Windows 11 Pro, Education, and Enterprise can be configured even without a network adapter
In these editions, you can also go to sign-in options and choose Domain join instead, which also leads to offline account creation.
Domain join instead also leads to offline account creation
However, Windows 11 Home edition requires the internet. You can't pass the splash screen (OOBE) and finish setup without the internet.
In Windows 10, it was possible to connect to the Internet and then go back in the setup, disconnect, and then continue with the offline account. This is no longer possible in Windows 11. Once you connect to Wi-Fi and get to the "Sign in" screen, you can't go back. While users connected over an Ethernet cable can simply unplug it, more and more devices no longer have RJ45 connectors and use Wi-Fi only. For these users, this is an issue as they can't go back and disconnect. Keyboard hotkeys to turn off Wi-Fi usually do not work at this stage as Windows is lacking the driver.
Luckily, there is a really simple trick to complete the setup, which I will show you now. The procedure works for both Wi-Fi and Ethernet users.
When you first boot your new installation, connect to a Wi-Fi network, and click Next.
The setup will ask you to enter the computer name. This step can be also skipped.
Enter your new computer name
As you can see, Microsoft wants you to sign in with a Microsoft account.
Sign in with a Microsoft account
Press the Shift+F10 keys to open the command prompt.
Next, type ncpa.cpl to open the network connections control panel.
Type ncpa.cpl to open network connections
Right-click your Wi-Fi adapter (or Ethernet) and click Disable. This will disconnect you from the Internet.
Disable the network adapter to disconnect from the Internet
Close the settings and the command prompt, and click the back arrow.
Click the back arrow
The setup will refresh and determine that the Internet is not available.
At this point, you are asked to enter an offline (local) account username.
Enter your username
Enter your password and finish the setup. Once you get into the system, don't forget to enable your Wi-Fi or Ethernet. This can be done via ncpa.cpl or Settings.
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Enable Wi Fi
That's it! Of course, there are other ways this can be done, but this procedure, with just a few steps, is much more comfortable than messing around with the router uplink or similar hardware hacks.
Microsoft is trying to push you in their cloud so hard. We will try to stick to Windows 10 as long as possible.
So strange that the operation system that is powering the internet aka Linux is now the one offering you an offline installation.
Hello Artodeto,
as you can see you can setup Windows 11 offline also. Noone is forcing you to use cloud services later on.
Internet is required just for Home edition, which is not used in organizations.
Cheers
Neat trick, Leos. I will have to remember it if and when I go to Windows 11.
Thanks.
Allan
Thanks Allan 🙂
Hi All, I have a question always regarding Cloud computing. Many Organizations worldwide have very strict Data privacy related concerns, so how will they move onto Cloud and trust any XYZ Cloud provider with all their data. I have always asked this question but never got any convincing reply. Some people say such companies can go for a hybrid approach where they can choose what to keep on cloud and what not to keep on cloud. I dont know, looks like some companies who have husge investments in Data centers, will still try and hold on to their own Databases and Servers. These are just my thoughts, please correct me if I am wrong.
Thanks
IQ
Hello,
not sure how is the question of how and where organizations store their data related to this post?
Leos
Hi Leos, U have summarised everything perfectly in yout post here of making Windows 11 work offline. Please note My point is not regarding how and where organizations store their data , it is just a reminder which emphasises what artodeto has mentioned in his reply to your post of sticking to Windows 10 as long as possible, All I am trying to say to further support his point is Organizations have many reasons to continue to stick to their own Data centres as opposed to moving to cloud.
I understand your point. However, this post is about Windows Home edition. No organization use that (or not that I know of), as Home edition cant be joined to domain.
Cheers
During the Windows install procedure, you are asked to select a WiFi radio station to connect to for network/internet access. Simply do not connect to any WiFi node and continue.
That won’t work when you upgrade your Windows 10 installation to Windows 11. So that would be another reason to re-install instead of upgrade.
As I live and work in South America, I work for a company in Europe. Internet over there is great, so everyone is there on the ‘Cloud’ band wagon. Over here internet (and the electricity grid) is not that fast or reliable, so I like things to be on-premise. You have no idea how many times I have been called an old-fashioned fossil by the pro-cloud people over in Europe. While it is simply a case of being able to continue working when internet fails and/or electricity is gone (diesel generator). As some power/internet failures are fixed within an hour, while others can take 24 hours.
That is my reality that is simply not understood by pro-cloud persons. They say that you can continue working, because ‘it is the cloud man’. They simply cannot grasp the concept of not being able to reach the systems in your cloud.
Then again, those youngsters are also without a clue when their computers/laptops/tablets actually develop a hardware problem that is easily fixed by a person like myself. Some things are not taught anymore it seems.
Windows 11 requires an even more simplified interface for professionals to work with? Generally speaking, have we (and the teaching institutes) not been pampering the newer generations of IT professionals too much lately?
If you download ISO from Microsoft site with Windows 11 Home, you cant skip the internet connection screen. The Next button is greyed out. Also, if you connect to a Wifi which does not have internet uplink, it will tell you “No internet” and the button is still greyed out.
So, Windows 11 Home cant be set up without internet. But, you just need it for the one and only moment to pass the OOBE screen. After that, you can use it completely offline. However, what good is a computer today without internet?
Noone is forcing you to use any cloud services.. Just set the PC up and do whatever you want 🙂
Cheers
So if I wanted to temporarily use a function that requires a microsoft account after creating my windows 11 install, could I log in and use it and then log out after and still have a local account instead of the microsoft one or is it as soon as I enter my information I’m locked in?
Well, with the latest builds of Windows 11 Home: If you turn off the WiFi and Ethernet controllers in the BIOS, you still DO NOT have an option for a local account… SO ANNOYING!
Solution: load Windows 10 Home from USB and upgrade if desired. Note: on at least one Dell Laptop and one Dell AIO I managed to brick them by deleting ALL of the factory partitions on the SSD – ONLY delete the OS partition and install Win10 on that.
Sorry to say your way does not work in newer versions of Windows 11 as they have disabled ALL windows from piping up on top of the setup windows so NONE of your options will work anymore. Seems Microsoft has fixed that loophole so we need a new work around. Seems this method is out dated.
I’m a 35 year computer tech.
Sorry to say your way does not work in newer versions of Windows 11 as they have disabled ALL windows from piping up on top of the setup windows so NONE of your options will work anymore.
Seems Microsoft has fixed that loophole so we need a new work around. Seems your method is out dated. But this one I just figured out works as of June 26th 2022 I just used.
1. A working way get to the create new account then click accessibility icon little man on bottom of screen.
2. Then bring up Bluetooth and devices.
Find the wifi adapter and disable it
3. Close window and continue the setup new account. Leave password blank if you wish.
4. Continue with setup and your done with an OFFLINE account.
5. Then go back into settings and tenable your wifi adapter and connect to your internet and your all done
Toss one up to us little guys to come up with a new fix.
I’m a 35 year computer tech.
Then ways mentioned above no longer works as Microsoft has stopped the command widows from keyboard from popping up.
YES YOU CAN!
Windows 11 as they have disabled all popup windows from popping up from keyboard commands in newer versions
But luckily for you today June 26th 2022 I found a work around. Just follow these steps and have an OFFLINE account.
Must Connect to internet to work.
1. Start setup and create new account, add an email doesn’t matter which click next.
2. Then click accessibility icon, little man on bottom of screen. It brings up some settings.
3. Then bring up Bluetooth and devices.
Find the wifi adapter and disable it
4. Close window and continue the setup new account. Leave password blank if you wish.
5. Continue with setup and your done with an OFFLINE account to desktop.
6. Then go back into settings and re enable your wifi adapter and connect to your internet and your all done
Toss one up to us little guys to come up with a new fix.
I’m a 35 year computer tech.
Hi Todd,
I just got hands on new DELL with Windows 11 Home, build 22000.194. I confirm that SHIFT+F10 still works and my procedure is correct.
PS: There are no bluetooth settings in the Accessibility button on logon screen 😉
Leos
Thanks for this! I live in the Pro/Enterprise world and my users are starting to buy personal laptops with 11 Home and I’m helping a few set them up.
Your instructions as written in the article (as of my writing this) worked perfectly.