Windows 11 BypassNRO: Install Without a Microsoft Account (2026)

Windows 11 pushes hard for a Microsoft account during setup. On both Home and Pro, the installer hides the local account option. Windows 11 BypassNRO is the command that gets around this: it skips the network requirement, which unlocks the offline path to a local account.

Microsoft keeps changing this trick, so older steps may not match your build. This guide covers the 2026 state of play: the classic command, the registry method as backup, and what to do on the newest builds. Let’s break it down.

What Is BypassNRO?

BypassNRO is a small script built into Windows setup. Its name stands for “bypass network requirement online.” When you run it during OOBE (the out-of-box experience, the screens you see on first boot), it flips a setting that says the PC has no internet requirement.

After the restart, the network screen shows I don’t have internet. Choose it, then Continue with limited setup, and create your local account. No Microsoft account required.

A local account keeps your sign-in on your PC only, with a username and optional password. You can still add a Microsoft account later from Settings.

Before You Start

• Disconnect from the internet. Unplug the Ethernet cable and do not join any Wi-Fi network. If Windows detects an active connection, it will download updates and lock you into the Microsoft account flow before the command can help.
• Back up your data. These steps run during a fresh install. Anything on the disk gets wiped, so save your files first.
• Know your edition. These methods work on both Windows 11 Home and Pro. Pro has one extra trick covered below. If you see an American Megatrends screen while booting your install media, our American Megatrends BIOS update guide walks through what it means.

Method 1: The oobe\bypassnro Command

This is the fastest route and still works on most current Windows 11 builds, including 24H2 and 25H2, as long as you stay offline. Here is how.

1. Boot from your install media and complete the language, region, and keyboard screens.
2. When you reach the Let’s connect you to a network screen, press Shift + F10. A Command Prompt window opens on top of setup.
3. Type oobe\bypassnro and press Enter. Windows ignores letter case, so any capitalization works.
4. Your PC restarts right away. This is normal. The command changed a setup setting and rebooted to apply it.
5. Complete the region and keyboard screens again; your earlier choices are saved.
6. When the network screen appears again, look for I don’t have internet in the corner and click it.
7. On the next screen, click Continue with limited setup.
8. Type your username. Set a password if you like; Windows will ask three security questions for recovery.
9. Finish the privacy screens and you land on your desktop with a local account.

That’s it. If the command does nothing on your build, move to Method 2 below.

Method 2: The Registry Method (Backup)

Microsoft removed the bypassnro script from some newer builds. If the classic command fails, this registry method writes the BypassNRO value into the registry by hand.

1. On the Let’s connect you to a network screen, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt.
2. Type this command exactly and press Enter:
   
   
   reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE /v BypassNRO /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
3. Restart the PC with this command:
   
   
   shutdown /r /t 0
4. After the reboot, walk through setup again. The I don’t have internet option now appears on the network screen.
5. Click it, then Continue with limited setup, and create your local account as in Method 1.

Both methods flip the same internal switch. The registry route just does it by hand when the shortcut script is missing from your build.

Windows 11 Pro: The Domain Join Trick

On Windows 11 Pro, choose Set up for work or school on the account screen, then Sign-in options, then Domain join instead. You need no actual domain, and this path creates a local account directly. If Microsoft has closed this trick on your build, use Method 1 or 2.

If Nothing Works: Newest Builds

On the newest Insider builds, every built-in shortcut is gone. The community answer is a Sysprep-based open-source script, tested working on Windows 11 25H2 in September 2026, that runs from the same Shift + F10 prompt.

Because it uses Windows’ own corporate imaging tools, Microsoft cannot easily remove it. If you are on a newest build, find the latest community BypassNRO script and confirm checksums before running it.

After Setup: Clean Up Microsoft Account Nags

Once you reach the desktop with your local account, Windows will still nudge you to sign in. Here is how to quiet it down.

• In Settings > System > Notifications > Additional settings, turn off all three options to stop the full-screen sign-in prompts.
• Ignore the “Finish setting up your device” reminders, or complete them once and dismiss them.
• Some features need a Microsoft account: OneDrive sync, Microsoft Store purchases, and device sync across PCs. Everything else works fine without one.
• For post-install tuning, turn on the High Performance power plan on Windows 11 to get the most out of your hardware.

Want a Microsoft account later? Open Settings > Accounts > Your info and sign in. Your local account converts without losing files.

Local Account vs Microsoft Account

Feature	Local account	Microsoft account
Sign-in	Stored on your PC only	Tied to your Microsoft login
Privacy	No cloud profile required	Syncs settings and activity
OneDrive	Manual setup needed	Built in from the start
Store apps	Works, some need sign-in	Full access
Password recovery	Security questions only	Online reset options

Neither choice is wrong: a local account suits a simple, private PC, while a Microsoft account suits OneDrive users who sync across devices. Prefer a portable setup? Our Windows To Go guide shows how to run Windows from a USB stick. For more on how we write these guides, see our about page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Windows 11 BypassNRO?

A setup command that skips the internet requirement during Windows 11 installation. Once skipped, setup offers an offline path for creating a local account instead of a Microsoft account.

Does oobe\bypassnro still work in 2026?

Yes on most current builds, including 24H2 and 25H2, as long as the PC stays offline during setup. Microsoft removed the script from some newer builds, so the registry method in this guide works as a backup.

Will BypassNRO delete my files?

The bypass itself deletes nothing. But it runs during a fresh install of Windows, and a fresh install wipes the disk. Back up your files before you begin.

Can I add a Microsoft account later?

Yes. In Settings > Accounts > Your info, sign in with a Microsoft account. Your files and account carry over with no reinstall.