How to Install Windows 11 Without a Network Connection
I’ve installed Windows on many different computers over the years and remember the days when an internet connection wasn’t required. Over the years, however, an internet connection has become part of the default process when installing Windows. But that can be a problem if you don't have internet access just then, or if your networking hardware isn't set up yet. Fortunately, there is a way to bypass this.
Photo: Jacob Bobo Keep in mind if you're building a PC from scratch, that an internet connection is required to download Windows, whether you download to a USB or physical disc. However, once you have bootable media, you can disconnect and install Windows whenever you want.
If you already have Windows 11 on a USB drive, skip to the "Restart the PC and boot from the USB Drive" section. If you're setting up a new out-of-the-box laptop or desktop, skip to the "Bypass the network setup" section.
Otherwise, let's start from the beginning.
Prepare a bootable USB drive or DVD for Windows 11
First, a bootable drive must be created using a USB thumb drive. While it is possible to use a DVD, download a disc image, and copy it onto the disc, it's much easier to use a thumb drive. And, thankfully, USB flash drives are very inexpensive.
Once you have a USB stick, go to the Download Windows 11 page first and, under "Create Windows 11 Installation Media," click the "Download Now" button. Once downloaded follow these steps:
Run the file, click "Accept," confirm a language, and click "Next."
Choose "USB flash drive."
Insert the USB drive into an open USB port, select it in the "Removable Drives" list, and click "Next."
Restart the PC and boot from the USB Drive
Photo: Dan Ackerman The next step requires restarting the computer and entering the BIOS to change the boot priority of the available drives. A Windows 11 product key is needed for this step. Without unplugging the USB drive, follow these steps:
Restart the computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (press F2, F12, Delete, or Esc as the PC starts, depending on the motherboard). A prompt should appear during the boot sequence.
Set the USB drive as the primary boot device. Every BIOS is different, but it's usually an easy setting to access.
Save changes and restart the computer.
It should boot from the USB drive and start the installation process.
Bypass the network setup
Follow the on-screen instructions until the "Network Setup" screen appears. Once there, instead of connecting to a network, press Shift + F10 to open the Command Prompt. This requires the computer to be in the "Windows\system32" directory to do this. If the computer is not in that directory, type CD C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 and press Enter.
Once in the correct directory, in the Command Prompt, type OOBE\BYPASSNRO and press Enter. This command will bypass the network requirements and take the computer directly to the local account setup.
Complete the setup of a local account and other initial configurations. After completing the setup, Windows will finalize all settings and take you to the desktop.
While this process may seem daunting, the actual process is largely simple. This route allows you greater flexibility in getting your operating system up and running on your PC, regardless of the specific components you have.
See Windows OS options and top Windows PCs at Micro Center:
Eric Franklin worked at CNET for over two decades, eventually becoming Editorial Director of CNET's Tech Reviews team. He now works as an SEO consultant and freelance writer.
