Microsoft Makes It Even Harder to Install Windows 11 Offline: Bypassing Internet Requirements Still Possible

The latest Windows 11 builds, 26200.5516 and 26120.3653, have removed the bypassnro.cmd script from the operating system. Microsoft claims that this change is intended to ensure that «all users complete the setup while connected to the Internet and using a Microsoft account.»

In these recent builds, attempting to execute the bypassnro command results in the following error: «oobe\bypassnro is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.»

Microsoft has confirmed that the script was removed to «enhance the security and usability of Windows 11.»

Previously, Windows enthusiasts used oobe\bypassnro in the command prompt during the initial setup to bypass the requirement for an internet connection and a Microsoft account.

However, they have now discovered that it is still possible to restore the script. Here’s how to do it:

Press Shift + F10 on the Windows 11 setup screen, type regedit, and hit Enter;

Navigate to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE;

Select Edit > New > DWORD (32-bit) and rename the new value to BypassNRO;

Open the value and set it to 1.

After restarting the system, the operating system can again be set up without an active internet connection or a Microsoft account.

In the summer of 2024, Microsoft fixed a bug in Windows 11 that allowed users to create a local account during OS installation using a non-existent email address. Users could input a random email and password, receive an error when trying to log in, and then proceed to create a local account. Once the company identified this loophole, users began receiving an error message prompting them to enter a valid email address.