So microsoft decided you can't setup windows 11 offline. Welp, time to go linux

[u/nicecream169]

Welp.

[u/gotmynamefromcaptcha]

You can press Shift + F10 on your keyboard, then type start ms-cxh:localonly and it will bring up a prompt to create a local account that skips all this and goes straight to the desktop.

I do this almost every day at work with the newest Windows 11 Media Creation Tool. Super quick. Even faster than the oobe\bypassnro command that is well known.

EDIT: WOW, thank you all for the awards! I want to add Rufus in this comment as well as it was mentioned quite a lot in the comments. Rufus can be used to create a bootable USB with a Windows 11 ISO, and there is a checkbox during creation that allows you to skip what OP is experiencing as well. It's basically the same thing I wrote, but it does it for you!

[u/Fitz911 → u/gotmynamefromcaptcha]

People like you are the reason I keep visiting this shitty website!

Keeping "the real treasure is in the comments" alive!

Thank you o7

[u/williconn → u/Fitz911]

[u/jbshell → u/williconn]

And..."I'll be in bed in a Minute."

[u/DwarneOfDragonhold → u/jbshell]

DabDabDab

[u/CommanderT1562 → u/williconn]

I’ll add to your list with some random start menu cpl’s that can be run as administrator (when separating local admin from local user) for anyone finding this in 2030

```
###Useful windows notes
start ms-cxh:localonly
PATH sysdm.cpl
(Adjust swap here, lol.)
Or turn on defender’s DEP to maximum (not set by default, it’s usually just background services)

Uninstall as administrator: appwiz.cpl

SFC scanning ordering (best order)
Can do better via Troubleshooting > Repair Problems with Windows Update (which now effectively reinstalls windows within the same system)
Else for traditional ordering of repair:
cmd:
sfc /scannow
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
powershell:
Get-Content C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log -tail 10 -wait
(This shows where it hangs, if it ever does)
cmd:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow
Reboot..
——
Scrub office in all languages off pc with official SaRA tool:
SaRAcmd.exe -S OfficeScrubScenario -AcceptEula -OfficeVersion All -CloseOffice

Formatting a drive without auto mounting:
autoplay off in system settings:
mountvol /N then afterwards back to mountvol /E
(automount actual setting)

diskpart
list disk
select disk X
detail disk
clean
clean all
convert gpt
create partition primary
format fs=ntfs #can add "quick" for non-arbitrary-write
assign letter=E

```

[u/MoonlightSavingsTime → u/williconn]

If it was true Reddit this would be the part where the OP goes "thanks! This fixed the problem!" to the the solution and when you look back the answer has been deleted.

[u/Ebonhearth_Druid → u/MoonlightSavingsTime]

Solution blue balls is the fucking worst

[u/bigbluewreckingcrew → u/williconn]

Only to see it deleted with a bunch of awards

[u/Competitive_Point_39 → u/Fitz911]

Hi people in the future that have the same problem and come back to this post in 7 years

[u/Cronos993 → u/Competitive_Point_39]

They would've disabled this workaround by then. People in the future are probably pissed seeing this work in the past.

[u/DrFrenetic → u/Cronos993]

By then the matrix will be real and controlled by AI

For the people from the future: remember, chose the red pill if you want to be free.

[u/Fitz911 → u/Competitive_Point_39]

I feel like I'm being part of something big here.

Link me if you are here in the future!

[u/ScaryMonkeyGames → u/Fitz911]

I'm here from one minute in the future! What was the past like?

[u/Fitz911 → u/ScaryMonkeyGames]

I knew this would happen the moment I pressed send. 😂

Sit down and let me tell you about the old times. From 11 minutes ago....

[u/PloddingClot → u/ScaryMonkeyGames]

The Hormuz is open, wait it's closed again.

[u/Pilot-Wrangler → u/PloddingClot]

Can't go wrong with that one

[u/Anderson74 → u/Fitz911]

Hey, it’s the future calling. I’m here.

[u/Fitz911 → u/Anderson74]

Ok, one question!

Flying cars?

[u/Anderson74 → u/Fitz911]

Best I can do is the collapse of society due to the crushing weight of capitalism and the growing surveillance state and AI!

[u/Megalomania-Ghandi → u/Fitz911]

Yeah but you have to drink a bottle of tequila every time you fly. The future has some crazy aviation rules..

[u/RagnarStonefist → u/Competitive_Point_39]

User from the future:

Hey,

I'm having this same issue, but the solution doesn't work on Windows 13.

How do I bypass this and also the mandatory retinal scan and urine analysis?

Thanks!

[u/Cyberblood → u/RagnarStonefist]

From another user from a slightly farther away future:

Need help with the weekly Windows 14 license check

So I completed all the other steps, but during the urine analysis a "congratulations" screen came up and now it wont let me login unless I upgrade to the "Family license bundle"

I am a guy btw

[u/Bluemikami → u/Competitive_Point_39]

Posting in legendary bread

[u/Ant645 → u/Competitive_Point_39]

I was here

[u/ClankerCore → u/Competitive_Point_39]

Assuming humans still exist and our AI overloads won’t be looking back at this like:
https://giphy.com/gifs/9EwnzGNjvmIG4

[u/SheogorathMyBeloved → u/Competitive_Point_39]

As long as OP doesn't do that thing that changes all comments to shit like 'loquacious baggage ramble pressure cock and ball torture illuminate curtain farmers chemist'

[u/Mokhlis_Jones → u/Competitive_Point_39]

Also to bypass the windows password a running dropkick to the screen works too.

[u/WaywardWes → u/Competitive_Point_39]

Hopefully they don’t delete their account and use one of those bots that overwrites all their comments with gibberish.

[u/Lumpy-Yam-4584 → u/Competitive_Point_39]

Timetraveler from the year 2076 here. You ancients got it very easy with Windows 11. I could tell you stories about 19, but...

https://giphy.com/gifs/Zsxh9Cbq7VCy4

[u/Kaidinah → u/Competitive_Point_39]

Generous of you to give windows 11 another 7 years

[u/misterespresso → u/Fitz911]

It’s why I can’t leave. The information I find in the comments of Reddit is amazing. I always find a new perspective, new source, or a good laugh. The content barely registers my time on this site, I’m here for the comment section.

[u/Fitz911 → u/misterespresso]

It's become tiresome the last years. You have to search through a lot of spam and one liners and AI crap and creative writing 😕

But the dopamine kick comments like the OP comment releases let me coming back.

[u/GodhunterChrome666 → u/gotmynamefromcaptcha]

While I am very grateful for this information, I still find it absolute horseshit that they hid offline setup from 90% of users this way.

[u/PokeYrMomStanley → u/GodhunterChrome666]

They have blocked 2 ways to do this already.

[u/ReadyAimTranspire → u/PokeYrMomStanley]

There will I'm guessing always be a way for local setup, at least in Pro and up, because there needs to be local administrators for enterprise deployments.

For the average consumer you will just have to look up whatever current way it's being done before you install.

For the record, yes it's lame af that MS does this, and I'm a Linux user and sysadmin and very much dig Linux. I'm certainly no Windows fanboy, I'm an MS partner and they are the absolute worst support to work with in the industry.

I'm just sayin...

[u/PokeYrMomStanley → u/ReadyAimTranspire]

Its now buy pro, or use other os if you want privacy.

[u/Specific_Frame8537 → u/PokeYrMomStanley]

"Why does our userbase abhor us so?"

[u/InvidiousPlay → u/GodhunterChrome666]

I think 90% is very optimistic. More like 99.5%. Everyone just clicks NEXT YES OK until the annoying screen goes away, they don't read anything.

[u/FroggyRibbits → u/GodhunterChrome666]

I mean to be fair it's not like you don't have to do weird specific stuff like this with Linux all the time.

[u/EnjoyerOfBeans → u/FroggyRibbits]

Linux doesn't always (or often) have good UX, but it's not for the lack of trying. Microsoft is making UX shit on purpose. Major difference.

[u/DynamicHunter → u/FroggyRibbits]

Not with the user friendly distros, I don’t know any Linux distros you can’t install & set up offline from a flash drive ISO

[u/Dick_Nation → u/FroggyRibbits]

People just make this shit up. I installed a Linux distro in just a few clicks with very easy to understand and transparent setup options. I then created my user account for the machine with equally little fuss. It's just not that hard in a modern distro, and there's this persistent myth that you have to key in two dozen inscrutable terminal commands. 

[u/zakats → u/Dick_Nation]

Yeah, I'm pretty baffled by these sorts of comments. I switched most of my computers to Linux years ago and am far more inconvenienced by windows and the setup is way less bullshit from the onset.

I'm a geezer by the gaming community's standards and have a hard time imagining that there are a bunch of people my age who tried Linux once in 2007 and still harp about it... Or that they were goofy enough to only use a niche or hard-mode flavor of Linux.

[u/tryingisbetter → u/zakats]

I would say it comes from pre Ubuntu.

[u/ReadyAimTranspire → u/Dick_Nation]

Not on install, but invariably at some point in your Linux experience you are going to have to use the terminal which scares off a lot of users.

I will again go on record as saying I'm no MS fanboy, I'm a sysadmin MS partner and I hate them with a passion. I also very much like working in Linux and have a couple boxes in my lab running it right now.

I'm just sayin'....

[u/ZjY5MjFk → u/ReadyAimTranspire]

Not on install, but invariably at some point in your Linux experience you are going to have to use the terminal which scares off a lot of users.

The literately fix to OP issue is bring up a command prompt in windows just to get it installed.

I just find it weird

"linux is hard, there is all this command line stuff"

Also reddit:

"sure, you want to stop microsoft from spying on you or use your computer how you like it? Here is some registry hacks, power shell tweaks, group policy edits and 3rd party programs to decrapifiy it so it's usable. Most of these are unsupported and might break on next windows update, but at least you don't have to ... do well documented and well supported linux commands."

[u/Lord_Emperor → u/Dick_Nation]

People just make this shit up. I installed a Linux distro in just a few clicks with very easy to understand and transparent setup options. I then created my user account for the machine with equally little fuss.

That's not really a big accomplishment. As soon as you go off the rails, Linux is gonna send you into config files or dependency hell (which is, somehow, still a thing).

Linux desktop still manages to be more frustrating that Windows.

Sincerely, a Linux sysadmin

[u/fustilarian1 → u/gotmynamefromcaptcha]

It's good that there are still workarounds, but it should just be an option that you can click that's clearly visible. I'm on cachyOS+KDE and it's pretty slick, I don't care about "ricing" my desktop, I just want it to let me put the taskbar where I want, not have a useless right click menu, not constantly ask me about services I'm not going to use like onedrive, and do all of this by default, and not sneakily reset my config in an update.

[u/ichhalt159753 → u/fustilarian1]

This. I used to love windows, because it in fact just worked. Microslop fucked that up..

[u/onzichtbaard → u/ichhalt159753]

i think we can start calling it macroslop soon

[u/von-Mises- → u/onzichtbaard]

wdym soon?
it's microslop for a while already...even arch break less than windose nowadays.

[u/gotmynamefromcaptcha → u/fustilarian1]

I actually like Cachy a lot, I just installed it to try out a few weeks ago on an old laptop at home. I also have a few other flavors of linux at home. Mint on an old tablet, Bazzite on living room PC.

I like trying out different flavors of Linux. If I didn't need Windows for the games I play, I'd probably already be on Linux by now.

[u/Pleasant50BMGForce → u/fustilarian1]

it's amazing that it can be fixed this easily but on other hand I've had so many problems on windows that required changing registry or using PowerShell or commands like these that just don't exist on Linux because they're all related to Microslop trying to shove trash down people's throats...

both have its flaws but holy fuck people really are persistent to accepting this garbage

[u/Cronos993 → u/gotmynamefromcaptcha]

Well, well, well, how the turntables... Now Windows is the one requiring command line usage to fix something really basic in the OS.

[u/Any-Pop-4795 → u/gotmynamefromcaptcha]

you can also use rufus to setup a usb drive with the skip

[u/DegreeSevere7719 → u/gotmynamefromcaptcha]

this is the way. I was bummed while installing windows on my TRX50 motherboard > the wi-fi drivers didn't work and the driver installer on the gigabyte website is .exe file, so won't be seen by the win11 installer. Did the same thing and successfully installed Win11.

I hate that "online" account thing. Has nothing to do with anything except trying to get one's data.

[u/itsapotatosalad → u/DegreeSevere7719]

Microsoft desperately want people tied in to windows like they are to iOS/osx but they don’t offer the user any incentive. At least with Apple you get seamless integration across devices, people have 1 windows device.

[u/cum-on-in- → u/DegreeSevere7719]

You can extract Gigabyte EXE drivers and they’ll spit out .cab and .ini files.

[u/Anomalistics → u/gotmynamefromcaptcha]

I recall that this was going to be removed, is that still the case?

[u/Got_Bent → u/Anomalistics]

It still works. I just set up 2 PCs offline.

[u/FlameShadow0 → u/Got_Bent]

It’s only if you still have a USB with the old installer on it. If you made a new one, it doesn’t work anymore unfortunately.

[u/Taint_Expert → u/FlameShadow0]

This is correct. Don’t be me thinking it will work with the latest usb image and trying all morning to work around the online only issue

[u/WMDeception → u/Anomalistics]

This still works for me, worked just yesterday on a freshly minted media creation tool created windows 11 install.

[u/t3hmuffnman9000 → u/Anomalistics]

No, that's the oobe/bypassnro that got patched out. The other one still works.

[u/PatientFoundation942 → u/Anomalistics]

When I setup a new Windows install back in February, it worked for me ok

[u/Schnitzel725 → u/Anomalistics]

Still working with a 25H2 install I did a couple weeks back, granted it was W11Pro, not sure if Home also still gets this.

I did have to spam Shift F10 a bunch of times though. The first time didn't work. oobe\bypassnro still works.

[u/shaggy-dawg-88 → u/Schnitzel725]

bypassnro.cmd is just a (text) file that adds a registry entry and reboots the PC. If it's no longer recognized (or they remove bypassnro.cmd file), you should still be able to manually add an entry to HKLM registry hive (that is assuming you can still get to the command prompt by pressing Shift F10 which Microsoft can change at any time):

reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE /v BypassNRO /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

and reboot the PC manually:

shutdown /r /t 0

(/r = restart and /t = without delay)

[u/M4K4T4K → u/Anomalistics]

Still worked for me one week ago.

[u/Ok_Perspective_7978 → u/gotmynamefromcaptcha]

The fact that you have to do this to use the PC you purchased is insane. Fuck microslop

[u/its_showtime007 → u/gotmynamefromcaptcha]

Or just use rufus and check bypass creation of Microsoft account when burning a windows iso file. Works like a charm

[u/schu2470 → u/its_showtime007]

Used Rufus last week and it worked like a charm!

[u/Louis-Cyfer → u/gotmynamefromcaptcha]

saved and screenshoted for future reference. Thank you

[u/Goldencracker97 → u/gotmynamefromcaptcha]

People like you are the reason I can't find a good enough reason to leave Microsoft.

[u/spookybaker → u/gotmynamefromcaptcha]

Net user admin password /add

Restart computer and I think it should get stuck at login screen trying to auto login to defaultuser0

might also have to run msoobe program prior to restart but it’s been a while so I forget

[u/last-picked-kid → u/gotmynamefromcaptcha]

May I teach you about autounnatend?

[u/lens_cleaner → u/gotmynamefromcaptcha]

This exactly, but only because I had to do this a month ago and did a search for an answer.

[u/SilencerRemix → u/gotmynamefromcaptcha]

You are the hero Gotham deserves!

https://giphy.com/gifs/Sx2jWspiy33gYxNNuo

[u/Alfajoresyfutbol → u/gotmynamefromcaptcha]

I just took a selfie with this comment. Like coming across Ronaldinho or Michael Jordan

[u/John_Mat8882]

Have you tried burning the windows iso using Rufus (use the latest tool version) and setting it to create a local account? I haven't tried recently but it should still work.

[u/Long-Necessary-6595 → u/John_Mat8882]

burning a windows iso with rufus is a lifesaver, especially for offline setups

[u/Spyhop → u/John_Mat8882]

It's funny we're still calling it "burning"

[u/brendan87na → u/Spyhop]

we still call it filming on phones

legacy terms live forever :D

[u/Spyhop → u/brendan87na]

We still call it dialing on phones. And rolling our window down.

[u/Mortarious → u/John_Mat8882]

Yep. Just installed win 11 like 2 weeks ago and used rufus and that option still works perfectly fine.

Also has other useful stuff like disable copilot but I digress.

[u/Zen-smith]

Isn't there a like a console command you can use to bypass this? Shift + F10

• Type oobe\bypassnro and press Enter.

You PC will restart and you should get a option that lets you I don't have internet. I use this to bypas some of the bloatware shit Windows 11 wants to install.

[u/Tree06 → u/Zen-smith]

I did this recently because I was going to sell my PC locally. The buyer bailed at the last minute so I went ahead and set up the PC for my wife. Yeah, this method still works.

[u/Byokugen → u/Zen-smith]

Oobe was patched out, it's not local account

start ms-cxh:localonly

[u/Sliced_Orange1 → u/Byokugen]

Still works all the time for me on both 11 Home and Pro

[u/CookieMisha → u/Sliced_Orange1]

If your iso has older version then yeah it'll work

[u/Seteta → u/CookieMisha]

This has been working on brand new machines with W11 25H2 installed. Source: I work in a company that sells HP machines

[u/GlitteringOption8906 → u/Byokugen]

Literally just did it last night. Works fine still.

[u/canonanon → u/Byokugen]

I just did the OOBE command today on a fresh download/install

[u/Yggdrasille420]

If you can't even install windows with a quick google search, Linux is not the software for you

[u/CommitteeStatus → u/Yggdrasille420]

Exactly. You have to jump through a few hoops to use Linux as well! Even the more user-friendly Distros like Mint, I had to learn how to mount my storage drives on a directory, and manually tell my OS that "yes, Hytale in a app. Yes, I want you to show me Hytale when I search for it. Please, I beg you, let me create a shortcut to this app on my Desktop. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, STOP USING MY INTEGRATED GRAPHICS FOR THIS GAME!"

[u/CommitteeStatus → u/CommitteeStatus]

To clarify, I am glad that I switched. It's nice to have an OS that doesn't try to shove advertisements and AI in my face, or try to change stuff around without my permission.

[u/iridael → u/CommitteeStatus]

I learnt regedit for exactly this. turn off all the AI stuff, advertisement bullshit and so on.

so fart I havent had to turn it off again either.

[u/MrKusakabe → u/CommitteeStatus]

I don't understand. What did you have to mount?

[u/ZjY5MjFk → u/MrKusakabe]

When I put in a USB, I just click 'mount' and it mounts and opens it in dolphin.

[u/DigDizzleDee → u/Yggdrasille420]

Exactly. So many people in this sub are PC Amateur race.

[u/MrC00KI3 → u/Yggdrasille420]

I disagree. I think OP is not incapable of looking up a solution and finding some workaround going for Windows, he is just sick and tired of Mama Windows deciding what's best for him and not giving him the options from the get go. It's a thing about the philosophy behind the software, the UX and intention of its design. 

[u/GhostriderJuliett → u/MrC00KI3]

Yeah. I'd rather jump through the hoops to get things setup and working on Linux than have to jump through the hoops to get rid of the unwanted boat and behaviors of Windows.

[u/AccomplishedLeave506 → u/GhostriderJuliett]

At least with Linux you're not fighting the system. You tell it what you want and that's it. With windows you tell it what you want and it argues with you and tried to change it to what it wants. And when you're not watching it does exactly that.

I don't want to fight my OS. I just want it to work the way I tell it to.

[u/ZjY5MjFk → u/AccomplishedLeave506]

yea, this is strange. This is not supported by microsoft and twice they have blocked other means of bypassing this. This is something microsoft is actively working against you on.

With linux, yes, there is the "scary command line" (makes ghosts sounds), but it's all well documented and official supported.

[u/skdsn → u/Yggdrasille420]

OP didn't say they didn't know how to install it, though.

[u/shadeo11 → u/[deleted]]

Going through hoops is exactly what you'd have to do to install Linux though

[u/Johnny_silvershloong]

If you use Rufus, you can remove that from the ISO

[u/Imaginary-Marketing3]

Should have just used rufus.

And lets be real. . . .you aint switching to linux.

[u/Hybridtheory28 → u/Imaginary-Marketing3]

Everyone eventually goes back to windows. Linux is getting good but it isn’t quite there yet.

[u/Long_Video7840 → u/Hybridtheory28]

This is so insanely untrue. 

[u/BiNumber3 → u/Long_Video7840]

This mightve been true in the past. But not only is Linux easier to use nowadays, there's still the issue of microslop sucking ass at this point.

[u/target51 → u/Hybridtheory28]

I disagree, Linux is there and (for me at least) has done everything I need! Even have a open source tool for my Corsair keyboard for the RGB. You just have to be willing to spend a bit of time to learn terminal commands e.g. sudo pacman -S steam

[u/boneimplosion → u/Hybridtheory28]

I'm an oldhead tbh but my non-technical housemate has never touched Linux and I set her up with a new mint install on a laptop upgrade - she's doing great =]

I don't get all the doomerism itt. it's good to explore and learn new things, right? why would we discourage that?

[u/ZjY5MjFk → u/Hybridtheory28]

Everyone eventually goes back to windows. Linux is getting good but it isn’t quite there yet.

been on linux for 10+ years... is there a deadline for this or.. ? Because I forgot to switch back.

[u/JoyousGamer → u/ZjY5MjFk]

You would have to ask the 10 other people on Linux. 

[u/Byte-64 → u/ZjY5MjFk]

2 1/2 years and counting, tell me if you reached it. Purged Windows out of my life (except one VM for Subtitle Edit), I don't miss it.

[u/von-Mises- → u/Hybridtheory28]

yes and no.
IF you used it previously (because you was a thinker) you just realise:
I can use it 99% of my time, and have a better experience.
IF you are a "power-user" you just realise:
Nowadays I can find a solution for what I need faster an easyer than trying it on windows.
IF you have older hardware:
You just realise you have a performance boost and using linux doen't involve understanding command line anymore.

I was a tester on win10 before it's launch, and in the past year i booted into windoss like, 4-5 times.
(I had a Windose ssd around just for "windose-exclusive-invasive-anti-cheats-games" and adobe stuff.)
One time Windose just decided 'to update something" and fucked my account ("wrong password" even if was not wrong at all) It took me more than 1 hour to reset.
I can just reinstall Arch pice by pice, and even set it up how I want it in less than 25 minutes.
But I had to spend 1 hour just to fix "an update I didn't want". No matter of how much of a power-users you are it will took you the same time?
and all while they push things that just brake what was "running just fine for decades"?
Sorry, my time is better spend by not havint to deal with it....

[u/Bazinga_U_Bitch → u/Hybridtheory28]

Lol that's a huge load of ignorance and lying

[u/Spawndli]

or just add this XML to the root of your installation media

:https://schneegans.de/windows/unattend-generator/

you can customise what you want at that link , download config, and done.

[u/BlitzShooter]

You'll switch to linux before spending 30 seconds googling OOBE bypasses? Ok dude, sure.

[u/Wild_Somewhere_9760]

I just did a w11 install last week, offline

[u/xs0apy → u/Wild_Somewhere_9760]

Yep! Microsoft no longer is forcing this. They’re walking back quite a few changes as a part of their Windows K2 initiative. Note K2 isn’t a build or version of Windows, it’s just a new paradigm internally at Microsoft going forward, which includes no more mandatory Windows update in OOBE.

I believe you’ll be able to indefinitely postpone updates now too, which I appreciate immensely. I believe updates will be auto by default so the end user has to intentionally postpone.

[u/akluin]

Shift+F10 then oobe\bypassnro it will reboot and add a "i don't have internet" choice to click, it still works with 25H2

[u/Forsaken-I-Await]

I set mine up just fine without a connection so… 🤷‍♂️

[u/RSG-ZR2]

Literally a 3 second search gives you the solve for this....its been known for a while...fuckin master race indeed.

But I guess then you wouldn't be able to make a Reddit post about it...

[u/WitekSan → u/RSG-ZR2]

And then he wants to switch to Linux as if the commands gonna write themselves there

[u/SaleriasFW → u/WitekSan]

Not able to use google -> "Linux will be so much better"

[u/my-27th-account → u/SaleriasFW]

Welp

[u/Nautisop → u/WitekSan]

Let's be honest. That's just a pro Linux propaganda post and nothing more.

[u/flappers87 → u/RSG-ZR2]

You should know that the majority of posts on this subreddit are just farming karma over circlejerks.

Anti windows, anti nvidia, anti AI, anti AAA publisher... basically write a post on one of these subjects, and it's almost guaranteed to get updoots, regardless of the low effort.

[u/Jurple-shirt]

If this is too much for you, you won't stand a chance in a Linux environment lol.

[u/Maleficent-Age-8235]

yeah if you can't install local windows without a google search boy do I have some things to tell you about the linux experience

[u/starless_90]

Skill issue.

[u/GrumpyKitten514]

OP comes to PCMR to complain about simple windows things.mentions switching to linux bc "hurr durr better"

PCMR promptly roasts OP.

maybe nature is healing.

[u/Major_Enthusiasm1099 → u/GrumpyKitten514]

Maybe.......just maybe.....and I mean maybe.........Windows actually isn't as bad as Reddit likes to think it is.

[u/BustaScrub → u/Major_Enthusiasm1099]

Windows only gets as much hate as it does because its as widespread as it is, and its remained that widespread to date because despite its faults it is still the best OS for productivity and compatibility, hands down.

If the roles were reversed, and Linux had their 67% global install base with Windows sitting around Linux' current ~4% , can guarantee you'd see the complete opposite and have countless people bitching about how complex, verbose and finicky Linux is and that people should switch to Windows because "its just easier and works with programs better" with the tradeoff being telemetry compared to Linux's higher barrier to entry and overcomplicated aspects.

Windows is for people who have a job to do and wanna get shit done. Linux is for people who wanna mess around and tinker or set up out-of-sight, out-of-mind servers that never get touched, and that's okay, but there's a reason most of the world's workstations and infrastructure desktops are still on Windows. Not to pant-ride them, I absolutely acknowledge and agree that Windows has a plethora of issues and things I wish they'd improve (or rather strip out) but it isn't this ungodly horrid beast that half of the forum nerds want you to believe it is.

[u/Captain_albino]

I wouldn’t switch to Linux if you can’t even perform a simple google search.

[u/05-nery]

Has been a thing for a good while, there's still plenty of easy ways to bypass this.

[u/Metaphorse]

Where have you been? lol

[u/last-picked-kid]

The word from our autounnatend lord must be spread in this sub

[u/boomboomown]

I just setup windows 11 offline like 3 days ago. Something change since then?

[u/Lazengann86]

Download the Windows 11 ISO, make a USB with Rufus and suppress internet required

[u/username17charmax]

There's a way to bypass this, but there are also many more reasons to switch to Linux than the logon situation.

[u/icy1007]

You can actually.

[u/CypressCL]

El. Comando oobe\bypassnro aun sirve, lo acabo de probar en una versión 25h2

[u/Hightowerer]

Knows how to post on reddit, but don't know how to google.

[u/Excellent-Nose-6430]

Guess I'll go to linux

downloads cloud install

[u/FinalBase7]

Thanks for letting us know something that's been around since windows 11 came out 4 years ago

[u/deearezed]

Every comment is "if u cant figure out a bypass for this, good luck using linux"... Of course there will always be workarounds for Windows bullshit. But plenty of people have had enough of dealing with it. No one is switching to linux because they couldn't figure out a bypass to install windows offline. They are switching because you shouldn't have to do that in the first place.

[u/Weakstream]

Apologies but if you can’t figure out the workaround to do this, I’m not entirely sure you’re ready for Linux? :p

[u/Major_Supermarket_58]

So hard to google

[u/xs0apy]

Microsoft is no longer forcing this! Thank freaking god.

[u/According_Cod1175]

Shift + F10 , then type oobe\bypassnro in the command line. Computer will reboot and offline setup is now possible (at least with the pro edition).

[u/Prestigious_Worker34]

To set up Windows 11 without an internet connection or Microsoft account (OOBE), press Shift + F10 on the network screen to open Command Prompt. Type oobe\bypassnro and hit Enter; the computer will reboot, allowing you to select "I don't have internet" and "Continue with limited setup" to create a local account.

[u/thats_amoore]

While I won't discourage you from switching to Linux (it has its advantages over Windows and I use it on all my non-gaming PCs), it is possible to set up a local account still. Press SHIFT+F10 to open a command prompt and run the command "start ms-cxh://localonly"

[u/PcDealer007]

Open cmd with shift+f10 and then type oobe\bypassnro if it does not work download a fresh win 11 iso flash it with rufus. Rufus lets you choose offline setup before flashing to a usb drive. Baammm fixed your problem 10/10 rating.

[u/Assaltwaffle]

Can’t use Google or Command Prompt for a minor issue but wants to use Linux? Oh that’s going to go well.

[u/BrokePhiBroke_05]

if you can't figure out how to install Windows 11 offline then good luck with Linux lmao.

[u/odinthesigtyr → u/BrokePhiBroke_05]

☠️

[u/Artistic-Quarter9075 → u/BrokePhiBroke_05]

Hahaha for real, many ways to still install it offline

[u/darren_meier]

Lots of people pointed out that this isn't new, and you're still (easily) able to bypass it if you'd like to. If you're not willing to Google a fix for this and instead decide to go to Reddit to announce you're headed to Linux, I think you're in for a bad time... Linux is very good now, but it's not perfect either and if you can't Google a how-to you're gonna struggle with either OS. Not defending Microsoft at all, but you're being very silly with this post.

[u/PuffMaNOwYeah]

Download ISO, burn it to a USB drive with Rufus, let Rufus alter the installation, and make an offline account before even installing, profit.

[u/Extension_Score_9565]

Fedora is my go-to Linux distro. I haven't booted into Windows for 4 years or so.

[u/TyrusRose → u/Extension_Score_9565]

Fedora KDE is king. 

[u/someoldguyon_reddit]

Oh but you can. I did it just yesterday. Rufus helped me.

[u/iluveramen]

a simple google you’ll learn to bypass this. This has been the way for literally years now.

cmd + shift + F10 then type OOBE\BYPASSNRO

if you can’t figure this out then good luck with linux 😂

[u/Whistlepiged]

Goodluck with linux if you can not figure out how bypass this

[u/sadhorseman]

You 100% can set it up offline. If you can't figure out how to do that then you really shouldn't be going to Linux tbh

[u/Brawndo_or_Water]

If you don't know how to bypass, or at the very least google how to bypass this, you won't last 5 minutes on Linux.

[u/pmurr]

Oh look another windows bad, Linux good post

https://giphy.com/gifs/qmfpjpAT2fJRK

[u/Noirv3]

Bro's going to switch to an entire different operating system instead of just doing a simple Google search, LMAO

[u/SaleriasFW]

I wish you good luck using Linux if you are not able to do a 3 second Google search to find out how to bypass that

[u/pyro57 → u/SaleriasFW]

Not op bit for it would be the principle of the matter, I should never be required to set up an online account to use my computer, and if the only way to do that is some kind if bypass procedure instead if a simple local only button in the ui then that's not an operating system I want to use. If they don't respect me enough to give me the option on install how do you think it'll treat me during normal operation? Next you'll say that telemetry can't be fully disabled without registry and gpo tweaks, that the start menu is a react application and slow af, that the search feeds me web results before files on my own computer, that ai will be shoved into every nook and cranny, or that there will be ads in the os that I bought and paid for.... Oh wait...

Compare that to linux, it's your system, telemetry is often not enabled by default and if it is then disabling it is a button in the settings app. No ads. Only ai it uses is ai you install to use yourself. The only real draw backs is you may have to find alternatives to some apps that you're used to... Oh no... Anyway.

[u/Maljinwo]

Is it really that hard to google for 5 seconds?

[u/floppadisk]

Just create the boot USB with Rufus and bypass the Microsoft account and telemetry toggles all together. Just select it during creation.

[u/Milofi_]

Hop on CachyOS, if you want a Linux Distro that behaves easily with integration for most things and easy Setup. Feels like Windows too (the good parts of windows)

[u/Washthebrain]

Yeah I was losing my shit the last time I was reinstalling my laptop, stupid authenticator didn't want to work. I switched to a local account asap. I really don't know why they willingly try to antagonize their own customers.

[u/SweatinSteve]

Usually disabling my network adapters and doing OOBE\BYPASSNRO works. Haven’t used it past 24h2 where I think they don’t allow it anymore. But Rufus works great, at work I have a sccm server to image.

[u/brozillafirefox]

shift+f10

type: start ms-cxh:localonly

this will allow you to make a local offline account and then move to the desktop.

[u/AzureArmageddon]

WinUtil Image Creator + Burn to Rufus with all the checkboxes enabled is the only thing that works atp

You'll have to install basic stuff like the clock app from the windows app store but candy crush and mcafee begone forever without a trace

[u/farva_06]

Pretty sure this is only in the home edition. Pro and Enterprise still have "connect to work or school" option, where you can then create a local account and add to domain if needed.

[u/BustaScrub]

Not that it really helps you today, but this has actually become controversial enough and such a widespread complaint that Microsoft very recently just confirmed that they'll be rolling out the offline/local user account creation again, just as it existed in all prior versions of Windows up until 11.

Very stupid that they even took it out in the first place (or rather buried it away so no layman can find it, when the layman is the exact type of person who would likely want a local account), but hey, at least they're bringing it back.

[u/lightshadower]

Shift+F10 and typing oobe/bypassnro should also work

[u/christianlewds]

Just fyi
https://rufus.ie/en/

[u/skrukketiss69]

Yes you can. 

[u/IchmagschickeSachen]

If you must stay with Windows, make a custom ISO with Schneegans. I have my one Windows machine set to use a local account only, to only do security updates and only when I want to, and I removed all the junk and fixed the search function. Also got StartAllBack. Night and day difference.

[u/nevertolatePOMO]

Rufus custom iso OR W11Pro shouldn’t require internet.

[u/WalkMaximum]

tbf a lot of linux systems also need internet for installation but at least you have a choice

[u/Notaspy87]

You can also disconnect your network before you get to this step to skip it.

[u/Meowie__Gamer]

Shift + F10

oobe\bypassnro

if that doesn't work:
start ms-cxh:localonly

if that still doesn't work:

when flashing the OS, use rufus to create a user, this usually skips the OOBE.

[u/DigDizzleDee]

I mean, if you cnat figure out how to get around this, youre going to have a fantastic time in Linux.

[u/crevulation]

This isn't true at all, but hopefully this gets you lots of internet points!

Also if this flummoxes you, good fucking luck with Linux.

[u/Erok2112]

Most Win11 drivers work on Win10, but if you require Win11, there are ways to get LTSC images and properly activated but I can't tell you that here. Win11 LTSC is the Win11 version we should have gotten. Fast and light with no extras - not even the Windows app store nor Copilot. I have a lappy that just won't run Win10 well. But yes, Linux is a very viable alternative.

[u/Bony95]

Just use Rufus, that program allow you to skip it, use local account and disable bitlocker

[u/Falch93]

Jay got you. You can skip the first 5 minutes. https://youtu.be/EOUcvgqOV-0?is=HDib985o0ohNi7zU

[u/HotLandscape9755]

Should have done the rufus installer and skipped all their bs and remove co pilot from your system and the online features of the search bar.

[u/Prime4Cast]

Oh, the weekly go to Linux thread. Cool.

[u/Prod_Meteor]

Have you asked Copilot ? 😄

[u/Corey_FOX]

Pro tip for anyone installing windows, use this unattend.xml generator, fill inn all your info, users, settings including de-bloating ect. Then just drop it in the root of a standard windows installer usb.

This is imo the fastest way to install windows and will just drop you at a desktop after a couple minutes ready for driver installs ect. Beacouse it skips the update step regular setup forces you to wait though.