Microsoft’s new operating system officially requires an Internet connection and a Microsoft account to complete its installation. Unofficially, there is a hack to override it.
To install Windows 11 Home version on a PC, Microsoft requires you to connect your machine to the Internet and sign in to a Microsoft account. At least this is the official prerequisite requested by Microsoft. If at the release of the OS preview, hackers had found a way to get around this obligation, Microsoft had unfortunately corrected the situation very quickly to make the manipulation inoperative.
But for the more savvy Windows 11 preview users, it’s a new cat-and-mouse game that is coming together with Microsoft. The hackers have, once again, succeeded in bypassing the tools introduced by Microsoft to install its OS without being connected to the Internet.
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With the latest build of Windows 11, (22000.184), two methods are possible to install the OS offline. Here is the fastest:
1. Open Command Prompt
As Windows 11 displays the screen prompting you to connect to the Internet, use the keyboard shortcut Shift + F10 to display the Command Prompt.
2. Block the connection attempt
In the Command Prompt window, type the following command: taskkill / F / IM oobenetworkconnectionflow.exe, press the Enter key.
The Command Prompt should say Operation Successful. Then close the Command Prompt window.
3. Complete the installation of Windows 11
Continue with the installation of Windows 11. The installation wizard will then ask you to enter the name of the person who will use the computer. Click Next and complete the Windows 11 installation steps.
When the process is complete, you will be taken to the Windows 11 desktop from a local account.
You can then initiate the connection of your machine so that Windows 11 can finish downloading the various missing software components in order to finalize its configuration.
Source: Neowin