How-to: OOBE

Setup your computer without an active internet connection or a Microsoft Account.

In 2025, Windows 11 builds 26200.5516 and 26120.3653 remove the bypassnro.cmd script from the operating system. Microsoft has stated the change is to ensure that "all users exit setup with internet connectivity and a Microsoft Account".

On 24H2 and 25H2 there is now an alternative command (source):

• On the Windows 11 setup screen, press Shift + F10 to open a CMD prompt.
• Enter the command:
  start ms-cxh:localonly
  or
  start ms-cxh://setaddlocalonly

For earlier versions of Windows 11, the BYPASSNRO details are below.

To install Windows 11 without internet:

• During Setup, open CMD with Shift + F10 and type OOBE\BYPASSNRO
• The computer will then restart and you will have the "I don't have Internet" option.

bypassnro.cmd used to contain the following:

@Echo off
reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE /v BypassNRO /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
shutdown /r /t 0

Because this is just two commands, you can replicate the steps manually:

• On the Windows 11 setup screen, press Shift + F10 to open a CMD prompt and type regedit and press Enter.
• Go to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE
• Click Edit > New > DWORD (32-bit) and rename the new value to BypassNRO
• Open the value and change its value data to 1
• Restart the system.

For home users, bypasing the OOBE means that the BitLocker key does not get backed up to a Microsoft account, the drive doesn't get locked and their data isn't protected. You will want to manually enable bitlocker and backup the key.

In Windows 10 you can just disconnect WiFi and unplug the network cable.

Custom User Folder Name

In 25H2, a new setup feature is the ability to customize the name of the user folder - C:\Users\SomeName
By default, Windows will automatically generate a profile folder name from your email address.

On the Microsoft account sign in page, press Shift + F10 to open Command prompt. Type the following:

• cd oobe
  Press [enter] and then type:
  SetDefaultUserFolder.cmd
• Then enter the foldername which can be 16 characters max. (Any 'special' characters will be removed.)
• Proceed with MSA sign-in. The custom folder name will be applied if valid.

"A child born today will grow up with no conception of privacy at all. They’ll never know what it means to have a private moment to themselves an unrecorded, unanalyzed thought. And that’s a problem because privacy matters; privacy is what allows us to determine who we are and who we want to be" ~ Edward Snowden

Related commands

OOBE.xml - Multi-language and region deployments.
SYSPREP - (Generalize) a Windows installation.
Rufus USB formatting tool - Create install media. Can also bypass Windows 11’s Microsoft account requirement for new installs.
WUSA - Windows Update Standalone Installer.