Install Windows 11 Offline without Microsoft Account [2025 Update]

NOTE: This guide has been updated on 15th October 2025 with new methods because the Redmond giant has patched the popular OOBE Out of Box Experience method to install Windows 11 without a Microsoft Account. These changes have been rolled out in Insider Preview Build 26220.6772 and are expected to go into stable releases sooner than later. Here’s the official changelog regarding the same:

Local-only commands removal: We are removing known mechanisms for creating a local account in the Windows Setup experience (OOBE). While these mechanisms were often used to bypass Microsoft account setup, they also inadvertently skip critical setup screens, potentially causing users to exit OOBE with a device that is not fully configured for use. Users will need to complete OOBE with internet and a Microsoft account, to ensure device is setup correctly.

In this guide, we will show you the steps to install Windows 11 offline without a Microsoft account. When you are setting up your PC with the latest OS build and are in the Out of the Box Experience [OOBE] stage, then you will have to connect your device to the internet, sign in to your account, and only then will you be able to proceed ahead with the installation of the OS.

In earlier times you could easily skip this step, sign in via a local account and complete the process, but that is no longer a possibility now. Once you reach the “Let’s connect you to a network” or “Let’s connect you to a network” screen during the setup, you will then have to connect to the internet.

If you don’t do so, then you will be greeted with the “ Oops, you’ve lost internet connection ” with Retry being the only option available. To overcome this limitation, this guide will show you the steps to install Windows 11 offline without a Microsoft account.

  • Install Windows 11 Offline without Microsoft Account Via Birthday Tweak [NEW] Using the start ms-chx:localonly Command [NEW] Using Rufus [NEW] Using Schneegans’ Unattend Generator [NEW] For Windows 11 Pro Va CMD Tweak Via Ethernet Tweak

Install Windows 11 Offline without Microsoft Account

Given here are six different methods that will help you get this job done. Go through each of them and then try out the one that is in sync with your requirement.

Via Birthday Tweak [NEW]

When the OOBE asks for Microsoft account creation, you should enter today’s date as your birth date. This will end up triggering a rejection from the OOBE due to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act requirements. This, in turn, will allow the creation of an offline account without ever actually making a Microsoft account. But why is that the case? Well, this is because Microsoft doesn’t want to deal with the legal complexities of very young users and hence has left this tweak unpatched.

Using the start ms-chx:localonly Command [NEW]

  1. Start the Windows 11 setup until you reach the Sign in screen.
  2. Then press Shift + F10 to open the command prompt.
  3. Then type in the below command and hit Enter: start ms-cxh:localonly
  4. “Create a user for this PC” dialog box will appear.
  5. Type in a username and password and hit Next.
  6. Complete the rest of the installation process, and your task stands complete.

Using Rufus [NEW]

  1. To begin with, download the Windows 11 ISO file from the official site .
  2. Then insert a USB Drive into your PC [it should be formatted and have atleast 8GB of free space].
  3. Now download and launch Rufus. Select your USB drive from the Rufus menu.
  4. Click Select, choose the Windows 11 ISO file, and hit Start.
  5. Toggle “Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account” to on and hit OK.
  6. There are a few other options as well. Go through them and toggle them if required.
  7. Finally, hit OK and wait for the process to complete.
  8. Now go through the setup until you reach the “choose a country” screen.
  9. Then hit Shift + F10 to open the Command Prompt.
  10. Now, type in the below command to turn off the Internet: ipconfig /release
  11. Now close CMD. Then click “I don’t have Internet” when the prompt appears.
  12. Finally, type in your user name and password [optional], and that’s it.

Using Schneegans’ Unattend Generator [NEW]

You can use Schneegans’ unattend generator tool, which helps in creating answer files that automate the Windows setup with local accounts baked in. You can even further customize it using a PowerShell script , which will customize the Windows installation further, such as setting up taskbars properly to disabling Bing search integration [though using this script is optional].

For Windows 11 Pro

Windows 11 Pro users can also use the Domain Join tweak. During setup, click “Sign-in Options” below the email field and you’ll get a “Domain Join” option. Choose it, and it will create a local account first. You can then use this account and get the job done.

Va CMD Tweak

This method might no longer work as Microsoft has patched it [see updates at the beginning of this guide].
  1. Start the Windows 11 setup, go through the initial screens and reach the “Oops, you’ve lost internet connection” or “Let’s connect you to a network” page.
  2. Then press the Shift + F10 shortcut key combinations to open the Command Prompt. Now execute the below command in this CMD window: OOBE\BYPASSNRO
  3. Your PC will restart automatically. Again go through the initial setup and reach the “Let’s connect you to a network” page.
  4. You should now see the “I don’t have internet” button, click on it.
  5. After that, click on the “Continue with limited setup” option.
  6. You could now continue with the rest of the installation steps offline.

Via Ethernet Tweak

This method might no longer work as Microsoft has patched it [see updates at the beginning of this guide].
  1. Start the Windows 11 setup, go through the initial screens and reach the “Oops, you’ve lost internet connection” or “Let’s connect you to a network” page.
  2. Now plug in an ethernet cable and the “Next” button will become clickable.
  3. So click Next to proceed but immediately unplug the ethernet cable.
  4. You will now be able to continue with the rest of the installation steps offline.
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