How to set up Windows 11 with no Internet 

UPDATED FOR 2024 I’ve made an updated version of this video that should fix some of the things that have changed in Windows 11 setup. UPDATED 2024: How to set up Windows 11 without Internet or Microsoft Account ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-t4mhTUx_7Ys.html

This seemingly has been fixed recently, as now killing the Network Connection Flow process just sends the installer to an "Oops you lost your connection" screen. There is another way, however. Get to the same step, bring up command prompt, run the command OOBE\BYPASSNRO and the computer will restart the installer in out-of-box experience mode, which includes a link "I don't have internet" when you get to that screen again, and then the option "Continue with limited setup"

This saved my life!!! Thank you!! I’ve been back-and-forth with customer service with my brand new laptop that I literally just opened and nothing they recommended was working… This was quick and simple and fixed the problem!!! Thanks!!!

You're a life saver. Spent way too long trying to get drivers installed on this new build and not wanting to accept them.

This worked great. No fluff, and straight to the point. Thank you!

Perfect. I didn't think it was be as easy as this. Thanks again!

this is the most useful and straight to the point tutorial

Help please ! I dont get the Network Connection flow in task manager. I only see Network connection broker. Is it the same thing and Microsoft changed this in their latest updates so we can struggle more ? Thanks for the video !

Thanks man. I'm a freaking network admin and had to come here for this. Sometimes I really hate MS! 🙃

When do you physically connect or disconnect the Ethernet cable during the installation? If I bootup on my memory stick that has Windows 11 on it then during the install it looks for Windows 11 updates so if not connected at that point will the install fail? If you have to be connected at one point but then disconnected at a point of the installation then where are the points to plug or unplug the Ethernet cable. I never seem to hit the window that says, "Let connect you to a network".

Wow! Unbelievably easy to do! Dave, thanks for helping us out here online. You're a real gentleman.

You dropped this 👑 Seriously thank you so much for this

Perfect. Quick and to the point. Thank you!

Good job man, it's stupid that we even have to look for solutions like this.

Thank you so much! For the latest version of 11 pro on a new pc build there were 2 tasks under Network Connection Flow and the only way I could get it to bypass was to first end the task called something along the lines of "configuration manager" and then end the task called network connection flow

Yes! Purchased a new computer for my 91 yr old mother who only plays a couple of games and ran into this. Thank you for the information!

@Dave, thank you for these helpful tips!!!!

This was so incredibly helpful!! Thank you for saving me a lot of stress!

When you end task it says "oops you've lost internet connection" and a retry button pops up but it doesn't let you continue.

my keyboard wont type when I open the command prompt, whats up with that?

Thank yo! Simple and to the point.

After I sign in I need to reinstall network drivers as that's why my WiFi wasn't showing up. Will I have to restart the task somehow?

Thanks for this. Your explanations are so concise and easy to understand. I need to update from Windows 10 to Windows 11 but I have Office 2019; Outlook 2019 and OneNote 2016 that I'm afraid of losing. I don't do backups..I know, my bad. I have watched a couple of your videos on backups (very helpful) but not sure if that will also backup Office and OneNote programs. It's a little confusing. I don't really want to do a system image. I'm wondering if you could address this issue in another video. Thanks.

It wokrd perfect on my new HP laptop. I needed to login without internet to save the computer in its brand new state to a file si that I can bring it back to brand new at anytime withou the internet, ir updates corrupting it, or slowing it down. Without this video, I was stuck and tempted to connect to the internet first because it seemed like it was my only option. We did it! Thanks

Is there a way for me to disable account log in that would require the internet after I've already set up? I've tried to setup face recognition and pin. The face recognition works, but the same PIN problem many have (what a dumb thing for microsoft to include..unworkable PINs and startup options). Any advice will help! TIA

This did not work for me, it kept saying retry, but I did find a workaround. The issue seems to stem from not having Wi-Fi drivers Get a thumb drive and on a different computer and download the Wi-Fi drivers Then do the following 1) open command line 2) type taskmgr 3) press enter 4) select a background program and right click 5) select open file location 6) find a thumb drive with Wi-Fi drivers 7) and double click to download Wi-Fi drivers

Thanks. This helped me a lot

I have no option for network connection flow, help!/

Hi I came across your channel as a reliable source for technical advice on computer issues, my asus laptop was working properly and now all of a sudden it's been trying to do an automatic disc repair on startup, that takes a while but nothing happens, it's not letting me reset to an earlier point. I'm trying to reset to factory settings, please help

Hey could you do a vid for bootloop for windows 10? cause i have a ASUS laptop that shows the lego and loads for a couple seconds only to repeat the same process infinitely

This video is so helpful. I was stocked on this for a minute now but am glad your video helps a lot. Now i am good to go. Thank you once again

What do I do if shift+f10 isn't working? We just have the 'let's connect to the network' page and it won't move from there.

Did they patch this? it doesn't work for me. it just forces me to turn on internet again ffs to expand: after cancelling the network flow, it says "oops you've lost your internet connection, lets go back and connect to your network again", which is an endless fking loop. My MSI Z790 P wifi DDR4 motherboard cannot find the internet, and i cannot access any settings to find the internet when trying to hook up the OS. WTF is going on? this build has been headache after headache for the last 36 hours.

Seriously guys! This really works, you have to keep trying multiple times, it took my new set up 8 times over and over to work. Don’t give up.

DONT WORK ANYMORE. When you kill the process it sayes opps, please try again, and when you press try again button it is back to wifi selection. But i need 'local' account

Hi Dave! Thanks for all the help. You're a star. Can you also show us how to set up a digital signature on Office 365 ?

How do you turn in on again? I got in but it doesn’t let me make an internet connection now. There is now „system“ for it. Only Bluetooth and VPN. Help

DUDE! you are a flipping ANGEL for making this solution so easy to understand and the steps very clear.

Shift and F10 did not work to bring up CMD Prompt. Any other suggestions?

Can i still use the internet at a later date? Thx

Hi Dave this is exactly what i am looking for exact same screen i spent all day racking my brains just about to give up and found you on youtube thanks

Didn't work for me. Instead of going to the next step it just shows a retry button to start the process but no wifi is shown.

Thanks for this, was getting frustrated with not being able to set up my new rig. But does take multiple tries before you get through and be able to install drivers for WiFi options.

Bro please help me out I am doing but next button not activate, just try again

What if I can’t type in command prompt? Keyboard is connected obviously since shift+f10 opened the CMDR prompt

As soon as i startup the commmand prompt my keyboard stop working every time. Any help?

Thanks,Dave. You helped me well

Had to repeat 6 or 7 times but definitely worked! Thank you friend!

My guy , you are a life saver! Thank you!

Hmmmm - I get a new screen that says "Oops, you've lost internet connection" and the only option is "Retry", looks like MS have closed this loophole

Hello Dave, I am installing Windows 11 on a surface and while I was able to skip the networking setup (with your instructions above) but instead of taking me to the next screen for user setup, it tells me "Oops, you have lost internet connection". I have no other choice but to hit retry and then it restarts the Network setup. (may be a recent build locked this down and letting this step skip?) Any ideas?

Thank you!!! Subscribed!

Thank you, the video was helpful, you helped a lot! 👍

Thanks a lot man I needed this to sell my pc

Hi thanks that was interesting. Now where do I find out how to undo how you initially change or reverse the setup?

Christmas Greetings Dave! I cannot remember my PIN on my Dell Inspiron 16 Plus and my Internet is OFF. How do I open my laptop? Please help me! Thanks so much! TimB

Dave, Thar was a great video. I was turning up a new PC for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) a non-profit entity and Windows 11 would not let me past that screen until I watched your Video. I would like to ask you to consider loading up an extra computer with Cinnamon Mint Linux and giving advice on that also. It should replace windows.

Dell laptop couldn't go to CMD by using those keys could you please help me out

Straight to the point, thank you

Short & easy explanation thank you

Pretty frustrating because I couldn't get the lan driver to install using their method. I get to the no internet screen and according to the website listed, it says to get flash drive and put the inf files there then use the cmdprompt to install. I did all that and nothing happens. Tried multiple inf files of multiple versions.

help please. I press the keyboard shortcut shift+f10 but nothing happens!

Thank you dude omg i was so mad seeing this screen. Also it takes a couple trys to get it to work so rinse and repeat until it works!!!!

This came in clutch idk I had a older version of windows 11 install and I tried it and boom

You know what's also interesting, trying to do this on a laptop, when the touchpad driver isn't yet installed, while having limited ports and using one for the boot USB, another for the mouse. I ended up tethering from my mobile and switching between that connection and the mouse...

I just did this. It took me back to the retry internet connection page and I thought it didnt work. But I reconnected and then it took me to the offline page. Awesome!

strange. i bought a second hand laptop with a fresh windows which has this issue, but when i press shift f10 i get a dialogue about projecting to other screens, not the command prompt...

when i end task on network flow it just tells me that the wifi doesnt work and to retry

Thanks bro, It's really help

I just gave Microsoft the finger thanks to this video. Much appreciated!

Nice vid very helpful thank you

This saved me thank you!!

If it doesn’t work keep doing taskmgr and kill connection flow. Took me about 15 tries and then it was like fine and let me continue.

Very helpful thanks

Hi Dave, I'm setting a new laptop following Your instructions, but when I end the Network Connection flow the setup will only give me the option to "Retry" and it will restart the service.

It didn't work for me at first but minor digging revealed Shift+fn+f10 is needed on some computers and worked after that.

When I end the task its says to me to try to reconnect. Any other ways?

I have a laptop with Windows 8 if I buy the license of Windows 11 disc Will I be able to use my Canon printer

On surface products, this didnt work for me. Instead, when you open the command prompt with SHIFT+F10, type in: OOBE\BYPASSNRO The whole setup process restarts, but you will be able to choose the option "I have no internet" in this step.

Thank you. This video helped me .. 😊

Mine didn't work. It gives me an opps you've lost network connection. That's it. Please help

If it doesnt work (u have newer installation iso), do it 5 times. (u can use alt+tab after first try to acces task manager)

Nice. All I want is to be able to name my primary user folder to the good old "Admin".

Hello, thank you so much for this video just help me out

The problem with the Microsoft Account and online setup is rather than only store things on a C drive, it automatically uploads everything you save to documents gets uploaded to cloud, then you get into a spiral of "running out of cloud storage, buy more cloud storage!" notifications just let us setup locally and choose what we want to use for a cloud backup solution.

I just bought mines today and it's not letting me set my laptop up what do I do

August 2023. It just worked for me on my new Lenovo laptop. 1) Bought a cheap wireless keyboard and used it to press shift+f10 and got to the next screen 2) I typed "taskmgr", pressed enter 3) Selected Network Connection Flow and End task 4) Closed those tabs and now in the background I got a screen saying "oops you lost connectivity" 5) I hit Retry Now you're back to square one being asked to connect to internet. I tried all the steps again for a few more times (probably 4-5, I wasn't keeping track of it) and finally it overrid it and got through to the screen were I entered my name. Hopefully it'll work for you. Good luck!

Appears they deactivated command prompt availability as of the last update. :\ Having issues making a secondary account even with internet.

Unfortunately, that method did not work for me, instead of letting me go right through like you did in the video, it says to retry and connect to my network again. Blast.

i cannot text nothing on my gigabyte g5 whats the problem my keybord of laptop cannot type i press keybord nothing appears

Once I'm in command prompt I can't type anything. I even tried 2 different keyboards. This is a new computer build that never had any os installed. Is there a way to fix this issue?

Shift and F10 aren't bringing anything up for me - any solutions anyone? I wiped and reinstalled windows from the cloud so I probably have newest version.

2023 i need to replete many time but it still work thankyou :)

Very frustrating. I set up computers for my customers and don't want to have to get their microsoft information or use my own to set up their computers. They can always do that part later. The application I am setting up for them doesn't require the internet. This was very helpful. Every time someone gives a solution they make an adjustment to try to block the fix. Thank those of you who keep coming up with the fixes.

i've tried that but its saying that retry

Don't you wish they had given us an option to set up Windows 11 without Internet?

Thanks for this, i just got the asus b650e-f motherboard and it doesnt come with the ethernet port or wireless drivers so its literally impossible to connect to the internet when installed windows the first time lol

Are you still able to connect to the internet after wards?

Won’t work on mine any help would be great

when I close it, It just goes back to retry and stuck at same screen