Quick fix: At the OOBE “Let’s connect you to a network” screen, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt, type oobe\BypassNRO, press Enter. The PC reboots and the network step now shows an I don’t have internet option, letting you create a local account.

You’re setting up a fresh Windows 11 install. The OOBE (out-of-box experience) wizard demands an internet connection and a Microsoft account before letting you create a local user. You don’t want a Microsoft account, or you’re setting up a PC in an environment without internet. Microsoft removed the “Skip” button intentionally, but a single command restores it.

Symptom: Windows 11 OOBE requires internet connection and Microsoft account; no apparent way to skip and create a local account.
Affects: Windows 11 Home and Pro installations during initial setup.
Fix time: ~3 minutes.

What causes this

Microsoft requires Microsoft Account sign-in during Windows 11 Home OOBE — and starting in Windows 11 23H2, also for Pro. The connection-required step exists specifically to prevent OOBE completion without an MSA. The BypassNRO command (No Reset OOBE) sets a registry flag that signals OOBE to show the “I don’t have internet” option, which then leads to local account creation.

This is a documented (but unadvertised) bypass that Microsoft has left functional through multiple Windows 11 versions.

Method 1: Use the BypassNRO script at OOBE

The standard skip.

During Windows 11 setup, reach the screen titled Let’s connect you to a network (after language, layout, license).
Press Shift + F10. A Command Prompt opens.
Type:
```
oobe\BypassNRO
```
Press Enter.
The PC reboots automatically. OOBE resumes from the beginning.
Walk through to the network screen again. This time you see I don’t have internet at the bottom. Click it.
Click Continue with limited setup.
Enter your local username and password.
Complete the rest of OOBE without a Microsoft account.

The local account is created. You can sign in to Microsoft account later via Settings → Accounts → Email & accounts if you change your mind.

Method 2: Use a fake email to fail Microsoft sign-in

Use when Method 1’s BypassNRO doesn’t work — Microsoft has periodically removed and reinstated this bypass.

Connect to network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
At the Microsoft account sign-in screen, enter an obvious fake email: a@a.com, noaccount@example.com.
Enter any password.
Sign-in fails. Windows shows a message like “Oops, something went wrong” or “Account locked.”
Click Next. Windows offers a local account creation option as fallback.
Enter local username and password.
Complete setup.

This is a backup if BypassNRO is removed in your specific Windows 11 build.

Method 3: Use Rufus to pre-bake offline-account support into the installer

The most durable approach — modify the install USB itself.

Download the Windows 11 ISO from microsoft.com/software-download/windows11.
Download Rufus from rufus.ie (free).
Plug in an 8 GB+ USB.
Open Rufus. Select your USB, the Windows 11 ISO.
Set Image option to Standard Windows installation.
Click START.
Rufus displays a customization dialog. Tick:
- Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account
- Optionally: Remove requirement for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot, TPM 2.0 (for older PCs)
- Optionally: Disable BitLocker automatic device encryption
Confirm. Rufus writes the USB.
Boot the affected PC from this USB. OOBE skips the Microsoft account requirement entirely.

This is the right approach when you’re imaging many PCs or want a one-time setup without runtime tweaks.

How to verify the fix worked

OOBE completes with a local account (no email shown on the lock screen — just a username).
Open Settings → Accounts → Your info. The account type shows Local account, not Microsoft account.
No syncing of Microsoft services (OneDrive, settings sync) is active by default.

If none of these work

If BypassNRO is removed in your Windows 11 build and Method 2’s fake email is also blocked, two remaining options. Disable network adapter before OOBE: at the OOBE network screen, press Shift+F10, then run ipconfig /release and disable the adapter via Device Manager. Windows interprets this as “no internet available” and offers the local account flow. Use Windows 10 install media: Windows 10 OOBE has always allowed local accounts. Install Windows 10 (Microsoft still provides ISOs), create local account, then upgrade to Windows 11 via Settings → Update — the upgrade preserves the local account. For corporate-managed environments where local accounts are forbidden by policy, you need IT to provide an Active Directory account; bypass tricks won’t survive policy enforcement.

Bottom line: Windows 11 OOBE’s Microsoft-account requirement is bypassable — oobe\BypassNRO at the network screen restores the “I don’t have internet” button. Rufus offers the cleanest persistent bypass.