Windows 11 installation will no longer be possible offline: installation cannot proceed without logging into a Microsoft account.

Technology media outlet Windows Latest published a blog post today (7 October) reporting that Microsoft has officially confirmed it will mandate users to connect to the internet and sign in with a Microsoft account (MSA) during the ‘Out-of-Box Experience’ (OOBE) stage in future Windows 11 updates.

Microsoft has now invited members of the Windows Insider Programme in the Beta and Dev channels to test the KB5065797 update for Windows 11. Following installation, Beta channel 24H2 users will see their build number increment to Build 26120.6772, while Dev channel 25H2 users will see their build number increment to Build 26220.6772.

In the latest preview builds deployed to the Beta and Dev channels, Microsoft has implemented this change. The media outlet believes this move can be seen as Microsoft formally closing all ‘backdoors’ for creating local accounts.

According to hands-on testing by technology media outlet Windows Latest, several methods previously widely used to circumvent network and account restrictions have now become entirely ineffective. Among these, the most well-known oobe\bypassnro command-line technique no longer displays the ‘I don't have Internet’ option upon execution.

Other workarounds, including modifying the registry or entering an invalid email address, also fail to bypass the mandatory login screen; the system will repeatedly return to the account verification step.

Microsoft's official explanation for this mandatory change is that it aims to ensure ‘devices are fully and correctly configured’. The company believes that without completing the initial setup via an internet connection and a Microsoft account, devices may lack certain key features or configurations, thereby impacting the overall user experience. Consequently, the enforced online login is intended to guarantee that all operating system functions and services operate correctly from the outset.

However, the media outlet notes that this mandatory requirement applies solely to the OOBE (Out-of-Box Experience) initial setup phase. Once users have completed all configurations and successfully accessed the system desktop, they may still navigate to the account settings, opt to sign out of their current Microsoft account, and revert to using a traditional local account for daily operations.