You can use Windows 11 with a local sign-in, but Microsoft’s documented route is to finish initial setup and then switch the account from Settings. Microsoft says an internet connection is required to complete setup on Windows Home and Pro; that requirement does not mean a local account needs internet every time you sign in.
What to know before you begin
A local account belongs to one Windows device. You can use it to sign in without an internet connection, but its settings, files, and applications are limited to that device. A Microsoft account can connect Windows with Microsoft services and sync settings and files across devices. Microsoft recommends Microsoft-account sign-in for service integration, security, and syncing; that is Microsoft’s recommendation, not an independent finding that one account type is universally more secure.
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For Windows Home and Pro, Microsoft says internet access is required to finish initial setup. Complete that first-run process before switching the Windows sign-in to a local account. Microsoft’s current documentation does not establish a supported option to choose local-only sign-in during initial setup.
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- Complete Windows 11 initial setup and sign in to reach the desktop. Connect to the internet if setup requires it.
- Open Settings > Accounts > Your info.
- Select Sign in with a local account instead. Microsoft says this option appears when the current Windows sign-in is a Microsoft account.
- Follow the prompts to enter a local username, password, and password hint. Select Next, then Sign out and finish.
- Sign in again with the local-account credentials you created. Exact screen wording may vary by Windows version and configuration.
For Microsoft’s account-switching guidance, see Change From a Local Account to a Microsoft Account in Windows.
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Add a separate local user instead
Choose this route if you want to keep your current account and create another Windows profile. It adds a user; it does not convert the account you are already using.
- Open Settings > Accounts > Other user, then select Add account.
- Select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
- Select Add a user without a Microsoft account.
- Follow the prompts to create the local username and password.
Microsoft documents this process in Manage User Accounts in Windows.
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Prepare for password recovery
Microsoft advises local-account users to plan for a forgotten password: “When using a local account, it’s a good idea to create a password reset disk.” A reset disk must be created for that account in advance; an ordinary USB drive is not automatically a reset disk. Microsoft warns that without one, forgetting the password can prevent recovery. A USB flash drive can be used to create a reset disk, but Microsoft’s guidance does not specify a required brand or capacity.
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Why initial-setup instructions may differ
Windows setup screens and behavior can change with the Windows version and servicing updates. Microsoft issued Out of Box Experience updates for Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H2 in a September 22, 2026 release note: KB5128942: Out of Box Experience cumulative update for Windows 11. That note does not document a supported local-account selection during initial setup.
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Some unofficial instructions suggest bypassing setup screens, but Microsoft’s cited guidance does not establish a universal, supported command-line method for current Windows 11 builds. The documented approach is to complete setup and switch the account afterward.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Initial setup internet requirement, clarified
Microsoft’s guidance on getting connected when setting up a Windows device says an internet connection is required to finish setup on Windows Home or Pro. This applies to initial setup; it does not prevent a local account from being used for offline sign-in after setup is complete.
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