How to Install Windows 11 Without Internet

Why Install Windows 11 Without Internet?

There are various reasons why someone might want to install Windows 11 without an internet connection:

1. Limited or No Internet Access: Not everyone has access to a stable or fast internet connection during installation.

2. Privacy Concerns: Some users prefer to set up their devices without sharing data online during the setup.

3. Temporary Setup: If you're setting up a device temporarily, you may not need to connect to the internet immediately.

Regardless of the reason, the good news is that it's entirely possible to bypass the internet requirement.

System Requirements for Windows 11 Installation

Before diving into the installation process, it's important to ensure your system meets the minimum requirements for Windows 11. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Processor: 1 GHz or faster with at least 2 cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC)
• RAM: 4 GB or more
• Storage: 64 GB or larger storage device
• Firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable
• TPM (Trusted Platform Module): TPM version 2.0
• Graphics Card: DirectX 12 or later with a WDDM 2.0 driver
• Display: HD display (720p) that is greater than 9” diagonally

If your hardware meets these requirements, you're ready to proceed with the installation.

Method 1: Installing Windows 11 Using a Local Account

One of the easiest ways to bypass the internet requirement is to use a local account instead of a Microsoft account during setup. Here's how:

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Start the Windows 11 installation process by booting from your USB or DVD.

2. When you reach the “Let’s connect you to a network” screen, press Shift + F10 to open the Command Prompt.

3. In the Command Prompt window, type taskmgr and press Enter to open Task Manager.

4. In Task Manager, find the process named Network Connection Flow or oobenetworkconnectionflow.exe, right-click on it, and choose End Task.

5. Close the Task Manager and the Command Prompt.

6. You should now see the option to Continue with limited setup, which allows you to create a local account and complete the installation offline.

Method 2: Disconnecting During Installation

Another method involves simply disconnecting from the internet during the setup process.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Begin the installation as usual.

2. When you reach the network connection screen, physically disconnect your computer from the internet (unplug the Ethernet cable or disable Wi-Fi).

3. You should now be able to proceed with a local account and complete the setup without internet.

Method 3: Using a Pre-configured Installation USB

You can create a bootable USB drive that is pre-configured for an offline installation.

How to Create a Bootable USB for Offline Installation:

1. Download the Windows 11 ISO file from Microsoft’s official website.

2. Use a tool like Rufus to create a bootable USB.

3. In Rufus, select Windows 11 and under the "Image Option," choose Extended Windows 11 Installation (no TPM, no Secure Boot, no internet).

4. Once the bootable USB is ready, boot your system from it and complete the installation offline.

Method 4: Modifying the OOBE Settings

The Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) can be customized to bypass the network requirement.

Customizing OOBE:

1. Open Command Prompt during the setup by pressing Shift + F10.

2. Type OOBE\BYPASSNRO and press Enter.

3. This command will restart the setup and remove the need for an internet connection.

Common Installation Issues and Troubleshooting

Here are some common issues users face when installing Windows 11 without the internet and how to fix them:

Setup Freezes: This can happen when trying to bypass the network connection. A simple restart usually resolves the issue.

Driver Issues: Some drivers might not install properly without an internet connection. Consider using a USB with pre-downloaded drivers.

How to Install Drivers Without Internet Access

If you need to install drivers after setting up Windows 11, you can download them on another computer and transfer them via USB. Tools like DriverPack Solution can also help by providing offline driver installation packages.

Activating Windows 11 Without Internet

While Windows 11 can be installed without an internet connection, it cannot be activated offline. However, you can activate it later once you have access to the internet.

How to optimize Windows 11 performance after installation

AOMEI Partition Assistant is a comprehensive disk management software designed to help users manage their hard drives and partitions efficiently. It offers a wide range of features suitable for both novice and advanced users, making it a versatile tool for handling various disk-related tasks. Here’s an overview:

Here are the main features of AOMEI Partition Assistant that can help improve Windows 11 performance:

1. Resize/Move Partition: Adjust partition sizes to optimize space usage, especially for the system drive, which can help improve system performance.
2. Partition Alignment: Align SSD partitions to 4K sectors, which boosts read and write speeds and overall performance of SSDs.
3. Migrate OS to SSD: Transfer your operating system from an HDD to an SSD, significantly speeding up boot times and system responsiveness.
4. Disk Defragmentation: Defragment partitions on HDDs to reduce file access times and improve overall disk performance.
5. Convert Disk between MBR and GPT: Optimize disk structure for better boot performance and support for larger storage capacities.
6. Allocate Free Space: Redistribute free space from one partition to another, ensuring the system partition always has enough space to operate efficiently.
7. Disk Cleanup: Remove junk files, temporary files, and other unnecessary data to free up disk space and improve system speed.
8. SSD Secure Erase: Erase SSDs safely to restore them to factory performance levels.
9. Extend Partition Wizard: Extend the system partition without data loss, which can enhance system performance by providing more operating space.
10. Convert File System: Convert between file systems (e.g., FAT32 to NTFS) to ensure compatibility and performance benefits for specific use cases.

These features collectively help in maintaining an optimized and efficiently running Windows 10 system.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Installing Without Internet

Benefits:

Privacy control

Faster installation in some cases

Suitable for temporary or limited setups

Drawbacks:

Delayed driver and update installations

Activation and feature access are limited until you're online

Conclusion

Installing Windows 11 without an internet connection is possible with a few clever workarounds. Whether you're using a local account, disconnecting from the network, or modifying OOBE settings, this guide provides you with all the steps needed to get your system up and running. Just remember to install necessary drivers and updates once you're back online to ensure optimal performance.

FAQs

Can I install Windows 11 without a Microsoft account?

Yes, you can bypass the Microsoft account setup by creating a local account during installation.

Do I need the internet to activate Windows 11?

Activation requires an internet connection, but you can do this after the installation is complete.

Will I miss out on any features if I install without the internet?

Some features like updates and driver installations might be delayed, but you can catch up once connected.​​​​​​​

Can I update Windows 11 without the internet?

Yes, by downloading updates on another machine and transferring them via USB.​​​​​​​

Is it safe to install Windows 11 without an internet connection?

Yes, it’s safe, but ensure that you install necessary updates and drivers later for the best experience.