How to Set Up Windows 11 Without Internet (Offline Guide)

Windows 11 requires an internet connection during setup, but you can bypass this requirement and complete the entire installation offline. This is useful when your PC has no Wi-Fi adapter, you’re in a location without internet, or you simply prefer to set up your system before connecting.

This guide covers the complete offline setup process — from bypassing the network screen to installing drivers and activating Windows without internet.

Key Takeaways

• Bypass the internet requirement during Windows 11 setup by pressing Shift + F10 and running start ms-cxh:localonly to create a local account without a network connection.
• After setup, install missing drivers (especially network adapters) from a USB drive prepared on another computer.
• Activate Windows offline using phone activation: run slui 4 in Command Prompt and follow the automated phone system.

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Step 1: Bypass the Internet Requirement During Setup

Windows 11 OOBE (Out-of-Box Experience) blocks you at the “Let’s connect you to a network” screen if no internet is detected. Here’s how to skip it.

Recommended Method: ms-cxh:localonly

1. At the network screen, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt.
2. Type start ms-cxh:localonly and press Enter.
3. A local account creation dialog appears — enter your username and password.
4. Close Command Prompt and continue setup.

This works on Windows 11 24H2 and later. No reboot required.

Alternative: OOBE\BYPASSNRO

1. Press Shift + F10 at the network screen.
2. Type OOBE\BYPASSNRO and press Enter.
3. The PC reboots. At the network screen, click “I don’t have internet” → “Continue with limited setup.”
4. Create your local account.

For all bypass methods including registry edits and Rufus, see our complete bypass guide.

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Step 2: Complete Windows 11 Setup Offline

After bypassing the network screen, finish the remaining setup steps:

1. Privacy settings — Toggle off telemetry options you don’t want. All can be set to “No” without affecting functionality.
2. Cortana/voice assistant — Skip or decline.
3. Device usage — Select your use case or skip.

Windows 11 reaches the desktop after these steps. You’ll notice some things are different without internet:

• No Windows Update — security patches and feature updates require internet.
• Missing drivers — some hardware (especially Wi-Fi adapters, Bluetooth, and GPUs) may not work until you install drivers.
• No Microsoft Store — the Store requires an internet connection.
• No activation — Windows shows the “Activate Windows” watermark until you activate online or by phone.

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Step 3: Install Drivers Without Internet

This is the most important step for offline setups. Without the right network driver, you can’t connect to the internet even when you want to.

Prepare Drivers on Another Computer

1. Identify your hardware: Check your PC manufacturer’s website (Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS) for your specific model.
2. Download drivers on a computer that has internet:
3. Network adapter (Wi-Fi and/or Ethernet) — most critical
4. Chipset driver
5. GPU driver (Intel, NVIDIA, or AMD)
6. Audio driver
7. Copy to USB drive.

Install on the Offline PC

1. Plug in the USB drive.
2. Open Device Manager (right-click Start → Device Manager).
3. Find devices with a yellow warning icon (missing driver).
4. Right-click → Update driver → Browse my computer for drivers → select the USB drive.
5. Windows installs the driver. Repeat for each missing device.

Tip: Download the full driver package from your manufacturer (e.g., Dell Support Assist, Lenovo Vantage) — these often include all drivers in one installer.

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Step 4: Activate Windows Without Internet

Windows 11 normally activates online, but you can use phone activation for offline setups.

Phone Activation Steps

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Type slui 4 and press Enter.
3. Select your country or region from the dropdown.
4. Call the toll-free number displayed on screen.
5. Enter the Installation ID (a long numeric code shown on screen) using your phone keypad.
6. The automated system gives you a Confirmation ID — type it into the boxes on screen.
7. Click Activate. Windows shows “Windows is activated.”

Note: Phone activation works with retail and volume license keys. OEM keys embedded in UEFI activate automatically once the device connects to the internet — no phone call needed for OEM.

For all activation methods, see our complete Windows activation guide.

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Step 5: Get Online When Ready

Once you’re ready to connect:

1. Wi-Fi: Click the network icon in the taskbar → select your network → enter password.
2. Ethernet: Plug in a cable — Windows usually auto-detects wired connections.
3. USB tethering: Connect your phone via USB and enable USB tethering in your phone’s settings.
4. Wi-Fi adapter: If your PC lacks built-in Wi-Fi, plug in a USB Wi-Fi adapter. Most work without additional drivers on Windows 11.

After connecting, immediately run Windows Update (Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates) to get the latest security patches and any remaining drivers.

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Pre-Setup Checklist: What to Download Before Going Offline

If you know you’ll be setting up Windows 11 without internet, prepare these items on a USB drive from another computer:

Item	Where to Get It	Why
Windows 11 ISO	microsoft.com	Bootable installer (use Rufus to create USB)
Network drivers	Your PC manufacturer’s support site	Connect to internet after setup
Chipset driver	Manufacturer or Intel/AMD website	Hardware stability
GPU driver	NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel download center	Display and performance
Product key	Email or purchase one	Activate Windows offline via phone

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Frequently Asked Questions

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