[Tip] How to Install Windows 11 With Local User Account

Ever since Windows 11 has been released to public, I’m receiving several emails from readers asking same question related to Windows 11 installation with local user account. Actually Windows 11 requires a working Internet connection at installation time to complete the setup. Once you are connected to Internet, Windows 11 setup wizard asks you to sign in using your Microsoft Account (your Hotmail or Outlook email ID) and there is no option provided to use a local user account instead.

Here are some of the questions asked by various AskVG readers:

How can I install Windows 11 with local user account?
Is Microsoft Account necessary to complete Windows 11 setup?
Can I install and use Windows 11 without Microsoft account?
Should I use my Microsoft Account to install Windows 11? Is it safe?
Can I complete Windows 11 installation using an offline account without using my Microsoft account?

So there are many people who want to install Windows 11 operating system in their computer but don’t want to use their Microsoft Account (Hotmail, Outlook, etc email ID) to sign into Windows 11.

People want to use Windows 11 with a local user account similar to older Windows versions. They want to have an account that is not connected to Internet just like good ol’ Windows versions and in this article, we’ll tell you how to force Windows 11 setup to allow you creating a local user account as shown in following screenshot:

Install_Windows_11_With_Local_User_Account_Without_Internet_Connection.png

Microsoft’s previous operating system Windows 10 also required Internet connection at installation time and users were suggested to sign in using their Microsoft Account but it was not mandatory. If user’s device was not connected to Internet, the setup wizard also provided an option to complete Windows installation process by creating a local user account.

But in Windows 11 setup, there is no option provided to complete the installation with a local user account. Users are forced to connect to Internet and use Microsoft Account to login.

PS: I noticed that Windows 11 Pro edition provides an option “I don’t have Internet” to skip Internet connection and Microsoft Account setup. On the other hand, Windows 11 Home doesn’t allow users to complete the setup without Internet connection and forces users to sign in using their Microsoft Account instead of a local user account.

Fortunately, there are some workarounds or loopholes in Windows 11 setup which can be used to install Windows 11 with a local user account. These methods will work in both Windows 11 Home and Pro editions.

In this article, I’m going to share all working methods to install Windows 11 using local user account. Some methods were shared by our readers so big thanks goes to them.

Let’s start the tutorial:

Table of Contents

METHOD 1: End Task Network Connection Flow EXE
METHOD 2: Use Sign-in Options -> Offline Account
METHOD 3: Use an Invalid Locked Account to Sign In
METHOD 4: Disconnect Internet at “Let’s Add Your Microsoft Account” Page
METHOD 5: Disable Network Adapter Using Device Manager at Setup Time
Which Account Type Should You Use to Install Windows 11?
How to Switch to Local User Account After Windows 11 Installation?

METHOD 1: End Task Network Connection Flow EXE

This method will allow you to complete Windows 11 setup without Internet connection and you’ll be able to create a local user account to sign into Windows.

This method has been given in details in following article:

[Tip] How to Complete Windows 11 Setup Without Internet Connection

Here are the required steps in short:

1. When Windows 11 setup shows “Let’s connect you to a network” screen, press SHIFT+F10 keys together. It’ll launch Command Prompt window.

2. Now type taskmgr in Command Prompt window and press Enter. It’ll open Task Manager in compact mode.

Open_Task_Manager_Using_Command_Prompt_Windows_11_Setup.png

3. Click on “More details” button to launch Task Manager in full view.

4. Now look for “Network Connection Flow” process present in “Processes” tab.

5. Click on “Network Connection Flow” process to select it and click on “End Task” button to immediately terminate the process.

Terminate_End_OOBE_Network_Connection_Flow_Process_Windows_11_Setup.png

6. Now close Task Manager and Command Prompt window and Windows 11 setup wizard will show the circle animation indicating there is some process going on.

After a few seconds, Windows 11 setup will skip Internet connection step and you’ll be see next step to create and setup a local user account to complete the installation process.

Now you can create a local user account and Windows 11 will no longer force you to sign in using your Microsoft Account.

METHOD 2: Use Sign-in Options -> Offline Account

If you have a working Internet connection but you still want to use a local user account to install Windows 11, following steps will help you:

1. When Windows 11 setup shows “Let’s add your Microsoft account” screen, click on “Sign-in Options” link given below the email text box.

Use_Signin_Options_Create_Local_Offline_User_Account_Windows_11_Setup.png

2. The setup wizard will provide 3 sign-in options: Sign in with a security key, Offline account and Forgot my username.

Select “Offline Account” option since we want to setup Windows 11 with a local user account.

Create_Offline_User_Account_Windows_11_Installation.png

3. Windows setup will show another page suggesting you to sign in using Microsoft Account, click on “Limited Experience” option.

That’s it. Windows setup will allow you to create a local user account.

METHOD 3: Use an Invalid Locked Account to Sign In

This is an interesting workaround shared by our reader “Ron”. It allows you to create local user account even if you are connected to Internet at installation time.

1. When Windows 11 setup shows “Let’s add your Microsoft account” screen, enter an invalid email ID in the email text box. For example, you can enter test@test.com, a@a.com or any other email ID which doesn’t exist or generally unavailable to create.

Signin_Using_Locked_Email_ID_Bypass_Microsoft_Account_Requirement_Windows_11_Setup.png

2. After entering email ID, click on Next button and enter any random password and click on “Sign in” button.

3. Windows 11 setup wizard will show error message:

Oops, something went wrong

Someone has entered an incorrect password for this account too many times. To help protect you, we’ve temporarily locked your account – please try again later.

Click on Next button and get ready to see the magic.

After a few seconds processing, Windows 11 setup will show the next screen allowing you to create and setup a local user account.

METHOD 4: Disconnect Internet at “Let’s Add Your Microsoft Account” Page

A few readers have reported that if you are connected to Internet, let the Windows 11 setup finish checking and downloading updates. After installing the updates, the setup will show “Let’s add your Microsoft account” screen.

Now disconnect from Internet i.e. remove Ethernet cable, turn off Wi-Fi router or enable Airplane mode, etc.

Now Windows 11 setup should allow you to skip Internet connection and create local user account instead of Microsoft Account.

Here is what our reader “Gaurav Sahare” shared:

One thing which is irritating is that during setup, Windows 11 forcing user to connect to Internet to complete the setup. But I found a solution that works for me. Connect your laptop or desktop to Internet (when startup screen appears for setup Windows 11) via Wi-Fi or dongle or smartphone hotspot, click “Next” button, after 5 to 10 seconds, immediately disconnect your system from Internet, after few seconds, Windows 11 will automatically skip checking for updates and sign in to your account. Then you will complete offline setup. I am sharing this due to driver compatibility issue.

METHOD 5: Disable Network Adapter Using Device Manager at Setup Time

Thanks to our reader “Arvind” for sharing this another interesting workaround to create a local user account to complete Windows 11 installation.

1. When Windows 11 setup shows “Let’s add your Microsoft account” screen, press SHIFT+F10 keys together to launch Command Prompt window.

2. Now type devmgmt.msc in Command Prompt window and press Enter. It’ll open Device Manager window.

3. Expand “Network adapters” section and you’ll see installed network adapters present under the list.

4. Right-click on each adapter and select “Disable device” option. If asked for confirmation, click on “Yes” button.

Disable_Network_Adapters_Using_Device_Manager_Windows_11_Setup.png

5. Now close Device Manager and Command Prompt window and click on “Back” button present in Windows 11 setup wizard. You’ll see the circle animation indicating there is some process going on.

After a few seconds, Windows 11 setup will skip Internet connection step and you’ll be see next step to create and setup a local user account to complete the installation process.

Now you can create a local user account and Windows 11 will no longer force you to sign in using your Microsoft Account.

PS: After installing Windows 11, don’t forget to re-enable network adapters using Device Manager again. Right-click on each adapter and select “Enable device” option.

Which Account Type Should You Use to Install Windows 11?

Now you might ask which account (online or offline) should you use while installing Windows 11 in your computer system? Should you use your Microsoft Account or setup a local user account? What are the pros and cons of these accounts?

Let me help you in selecting the best account type for you:

If you want to use Windows 11 for web browsing, emails, downloading Store apps, etc, then using Microsoft Account is best option for you. When you sign in using Microsoft Account, Windows 11 automatically adds your account to system apps like Microsoft Store, Mail, OneDrive, Skype, XBox, etc. It helps you in using these apps quickly, checking your emails, downloading apps from Store, etc. Also you can sync your customized settings across other devices. Remember your data will be stored in cloud if you save your files to OneDrive and you’ll require Internet connection to access those files. Also there might be security risks since your device would be connected to Internet.

On the other hand, if you are not going to use the device for online activities and want to use the device locally, creating a local user account is better option for you. Your device will not be connected to Internet and other devices which will make it more secure. Your data will be stored locally. But you’ll lose access to features such as sync, cloud storage, etc.

So you see both Online and offline accounts have their own advantages and disadvantages and it totally depends upon the user which user account he wants to use with Windows 11.