With earlier versions of Windows 10 and 11, you always had the option to skip the creation of a Microsoft account and use a local user account. However, with the recent 22H2 update, Microsoft is now forcing customers to use a Microsoft account.
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Latest posts by Surender Kumar (see all)

If you start the Windows 11 setup without an internet connection, you will likely get stuck on the Let's connect you to a network screen with a grayed out Next button and the following message:

You'll need an internet connection to continue setting up your device. Once connected, you'll get the latest features and security updates.

Youll need an internet connection to continue setting up your Windows 11 device

Youll need an internet connection to continue setting up your Windows 11 device

As you can see in the screenshot, the Next button is grayed out, and there is no apparent way to bypass this screen. This will also prevent you from creating a local user account and using your device without a Microsoft account if you do not have an internet connection.

However, there is a way to bypass the internet requirement during Windows 11 22H2 setup.

Running the OOBE BypassNRO command

To bypass the internet requirement and use Windows 11 with a local user account, follow these steps:

  1. Start the Window 11 setup.
  2. When you see the Let's connect you to a network screen with the grayed-out Next button, press Shift + F10. This launches a command prompt.
  3. Now run the following command at the command prompt:
    oobe\BypassNRO
    

    Running the OOBE BypassNRO command to bypass the network requirement during Windows 11 setup

    Running the OOBE BypassNRO command to bypass the network requirement during Windows 11 setup

  4. After you execute this command, your system will restart. Alternatively, you can run the following commands instead:
    reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE /v BypassNRO /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
    		shutdown /r /t 0
    

    After your system restarts, you need to select your region and keyboard layout once again. But this time, on the Let's connect you to a network screen, you will see a new I don't have internet option. See the screenshot below.

    Windows 11 setup I dont have internet

    Windows 11 setup I dont have internet

    If you are installing the Windows Enterprise edition, you get this option by default, so there is no need for any workaround.

  5. Just click the I don't have internet option, and then click the Continue with limited setup option, as shown below:

    Windows 11 setup continue with limited setup

    Windows 11 setup continue with limited setup

  6. Create a local user account. The setup continues.

    Windows 11 setup create a local user

    Windows 11 setup create a local user

The following screenshot shows that I was able to run Windows 11 22H2 with a local user without an internet connection.

Windows 11 running with a local user and without internet connection

Windows 11 running with a local user and without internet connection

Windows 11 running with a local user and without an internet connection

Conclusion

You just learned how to bypass the internet connection requirement during Windows 11 setup. Please share your opinion about Microsoft's increasing pressure to force Windows to create a Microsoft account.

48 Comments
  1. Avatar
    Greg Overby 9 months ago

    This is fantastic – but I’m running into Windows 10 22H2 demanding a Microsoft account. As I’m installing systems for other customers I don’t have that detail. I’ve gone back to 1709 – then upgraded to 22H2 — it would be great to able to hit this in one install. Still searching for a solution. Thanks.

  2. Avatar
    bgavin 9 months ago

    Thank you!
    This relentless push by Microsoft to force an online user account is a PITA.

    I never install a machine tied solely to an online account.
    Too many users are irresponsible with keeping track of the passwords.

    Thank you again for this valuable article.

  3. Avatar
    Mike D 9 months ago

    Too many times I have to create a machine that never touches the internet for security reasons. The increasing push for cloud computing just exposes more and more to security risks, and dependence on somebody else’s company. Amazon’s has proven their ability to put a company out of business without consequences by blocking access to cloud services.

    The addiction to the amazing functionality of cloud features is creating a false sense of security. Those of us who worry about infrastructure security have bigger and bigger battles to fight to keep systems isolated.

  4. Avatar
    J C 9 months ago

    Easier method is to just put in a single word as the username and make up a password, it will say “Oops – something went wrong”, press “Next” and then it will allow a local account. Just tested this method moments ago and it still works.

    • Avatar Author

      The problem is it won’t let you get past the Let’s connect you to a network screen. The Next button is greyed out so there is no way to enter anything as you can see in first screenshot.

      • Avatar
        Ali moe 1 month ago

        Ok but now I can’t connect to the WiFi it not working anymore it’s saying it’s a driver problem what do I do

    • Avatar
      joe 8 months ago

      Perfect straightforward solution. Just put letter ‘a’ and then random password. It will fail and will give you an option to create a local account.

    • Avatar
      Muckquomp 4 months ago

      Yep…
      Thanks to your instructions I got through without complicated steps.
      Glad comments were available and I read yours.

  5. Avatar
    Leos Marek (Rank 4) 9 months ago

    Hi Surender,
    I have tried this some weeks ago. Didnt work for me. But, I did have “I dont have internet” button right away at my laptop with the latest installation file downloaded using the Windows media downloader tool.
    Seems some tricks work for some regional builds when some others works elsewhere.
    Cheers
    Leos

    • Avatar
      J C 9 months ago

      There’s 2 other methods. Choose “School or work account”, then choose “Sign-in options” then “Domain join instead” and now you can create a local account.

      other method is to use “Setup for personal use”, then just put in anything for the email address and password (don’t leave blank), then press next, it will say “Oops – something went wrong”, press “Next” again and now you can create a local account.

      Both methods I’ve just confirmed moments ago on the latest build of Win11. (Trick also worked for me on Windows 10 previously).

      • Avatar
        Leos Marek (Rank 4) 9 months ago

        These options are not available when you install Home edition.

        avatar
        • Avatar
          J C 9 months ago

          The first method of typing a single word email address and password and then pressing “Next” twice does work, even while connected to the network. I just tested it. On Pro and Home editions.

          • Avatar
            Leos Marek (Rank 4) 9 months ago

            Yes, that could work. But the problem is, you cant even get to that screen unless you connect to the internet. The next button is grayed out until you do so. Thats the point here.

            avatar
            • Avatar Author

              Yes Leos. That is what inspired me to write this post but like you said, some options could be region specific, I guess.

          • Avatar
            Frank 8 months ago

            This just worked for me

    • Avatar Author

      Hi Leos, I also had this option while installing Enterprise edition but not in Pro edition.

      • Avatar
        Leos Marek (Rank 4) 9 months ago

        It rly seems some setting or options could be region depending.
        I did the disable wifi trick for my friend today with Home edition and it worked well.
        Cheers

    • Avatar
      T.Arboren 7 months ago

      I ran into some issues because I had already connected to the internet. On the screen to name the computer I released the ipconfig again through the shift+f10 access to the command prompt.

      When I pressed next, it asked prompted me to create a local account.

      So as far as regions go, its possible in the “united states” as defined by microsoft.`

  6. Avatar
    andre 9 months ago

    The simple “user@outlook.com” still works, wont it?

    • Avatar
      Jeremy 9 months ago

      No, not anymore

  7. Avatar
    Allan 9 months ago

    Thank you for the valuable article. Microsoft, like Google wants to know everything about users.

  8. Avatar
    Dan Dillon 9 months ago

    Being forced to use a MS account during installation is NOT a very nice action on MS’s part. This workaround is a godsend! Thanks!

    avatar
  9. Avatar
    Michael Hale 8 months ago

    I am trying to set up a local user; am running Win10 Pro 22H2 but do not get “Next” anything. Login options are email address/password, SMartCard, (EMail address or phone) / password, or User Name / PIN (which I can’t get until the user is already set up).

    I can’t get to using a local account with User name / password.

    Ideas?

    • Avatar Author

      That is exactly what’s covered in this post.
      Run the oobe\BypassNRO command and you will see I don’t have Internet option after restart. If it doesn’t work, try the reg add trick mentioned in the post.

  10. Avatar
    Allan 8 months ago

    I tried this on a new computer with Windows 11 Pro 22H2 (new) and it would not let me past the sign up for a Microsoft account notice. I already have a Microsoft account from Outlook, so I used that.
    I think that Microsoft has made some recent changes to the sign-in process.

  11. Avatar
    T 8 months ago

    It doesn’t work for the latest windows 11, they must have fixed it.

  12. Avatar
    Vinayak 7 months ago

    another it worked for me
    Shift+F10
    Open Device Manager => sysdm.cpl
    disable any internet connected network LAN or Wi-Fi connected
    restart computer => shutdown -f -r -t 0
    after restarting ask for Local Computer Name also New User & password ….

  13. Avatar
    Frog 7 months ago

    Shift f10 won’t bring the command prompt up any longer. Any other way to do that? Thanks

  14. Avatar
    Regina DiBiase 7 months ago

    What if you already connected to a network. How can I then bypass the microsome login prompt?

  15. Avatar
    T.Arboren 7 months ago

    Follow the instructions like normal and then Just keep repeating the step to release the ipconfig on each subsequent screen after the country selection. Before I clicked to proceed to the next page I used the command prompt (SHIFT+F10) to re-enter “ipconfig /release” to make sure I did not have a connection active at the moment it attempted to create a user account.

    Its clunky, but you should only have to do it once.

    avatar
  16. Avatar
    matty 5 months ago

    Installing on a laptop, when it says something like “setup Microsoft account”, i use the hotkeys to disable wifi before clicking next, which then takes me directly to the local account setup page. Hope that helps… alternative might be to turn off router?

  17. Avatar
    Mick Gunn 5 months ago

    This mostly works but found I had to do another step as when I pressed shift + F10 nothing happened, I found I had to plug in an external keyboard and then the shift + F10 worked so maybe the keyboard drivers turned off at this step I don’t know but the external keyboard worked

    avatar
  18. Avatar
    Jon 5 months ago

    What worked for me was to do Shift+F10, run regedit, go to the OOBE key listed in the article and set LaunchUserOOBE (which is a DWORD that already existed) to 0. I then powered down and back up and Setup skipped the network screen and continued with the rest of Setup. I already had the BypassNRO value to set to 1, so I don’t know if that’s needed, as well.

    avatar
    • Avatar
      JT 5 months ago

      Problem is that as soon as you try windows update the computer restarts and poof you’re back to the sign-in page again.

  19. Avatar
    Dan 4 months ago

    Man.. you saved me a headache… I hate that MS is forcing us to sign in… I don’t have… nor will I ever have a hotmail.. live.. or whatever jive they are pushing down our throats… you are a genius my man!!!!

    avatar
  20. Avatar
    Kaltern 4 months ago

    I’ve found a simple workaround for this. On the sign in screen, click the Accessibility icon to bring up the settings menu. From here, you can simply turn off wifi and then go back to the previous page on the OOBE screens – it will now prompt for a local user name.

    You can also add other users as normal from the Accounts section of settings.

    avataravatar
  21. Avatar
    Brebre 1 month ago

    Help! So I did the shift + F10 and it worked fine. I have internet and now I can’t connect to it. Is there a way to reconnect, what am I missing?

  22. Avatar
    stefan 3 weeks ago

    Doesn’t work for me. HP Pavilion win 10 home.
    Oobe\Bypassnro is not recognized….
    🙁

    • Avatar Author

      This command only works with Windows Pro and Enterprise editions. On the home edition, you can try these:
      1. Simply restart your computer and see if there is an option to create a local account.
      2. Disconnect your computer from the network (unplug network or turn off WiFi).
      3. Press Shift+F10 and run the taskkill /f /im networkconnectionflow.exe command.

      avatar
  23. Avatar
    no@thankyou.com 3 weeks ago

    During OOBE, just set up for personal use and use no@thankyou.com with any password to try and sign in. Someone got that account banned, which Windows will notice and then tell you something is wrong. You can click Next and continue with a local account. Easy to remember and works every time.

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