No Wi-Fi During Windows 11 Setup? Here’s the Fix

If you’re stuck on the “Let’s connect you to a network” screen during Windows 11 installation, the fix is usually a hidden command prompt that lets you bypass the requirement, or updating your Wi-Fi driver. This article walks you through both methods, plus what to do if the network list is empty or the connection keeps failing.

Why Windows 11 Forces a Network Connection

Unlike Windows 10, Windows 11 Home and Pro (version 22H2 and later) require an internet connection during the initial setup (OOBE) for both Home and Pro editions. Microsoft made this change to encourage users to sign in with a Microsoft account, which enables features like OneDrive sync, device encryption, and the Microsoft Store. The setup process checks for connectivity before letting you create a local account, and it blocks the “I don’t have internet” option that existed in earlier builds.

This requirement applies to clean installs from a USB drive, DVD, or ISO file. If you’re upgrading from Windows 10, the network requirement is less strict, but you may still hit connectivity checks. The good news: you can bypass the Wi-Fi requirement entirely, or fix the underlying driver issue causing the problem.

Method 1: Bypass the Network Screen with Shift+F10

This is the quickest workaround and works on most laptops and desktops. It opens a command prompt that lets you skip the network check and finish setup with a local account.

On the “Let’s connect you to a network” screen, press Shift+F10 (or Shift+Fn+F10 on some laptops). A black command prompt window opens.
Type oobe\bypassnro and press Enter. The PC will restart and take you back to the setup wizard.
When you reach the network screen again, you’ll see a new option: “I don’t have internet”. Click it, then click “Continue with limited setup”.
Proceed with creating a local account (username, password, security questions).

If Shift+F10 doesn’t work, try Shift+F10 on the language selection screen or the first screen after booting from the USB. Some keyboards need the Fn key held down. If the command prompt still doesn’t open, your USB installation media may be corrupted—recreate it with the Media Creation Tool.

This bypass only affects the setup process. After installation, you can connect to Wi-Fi normally from the taskbar. You can also switch to a Microsoft account later in Settings if you want.

Method 2: Update the Wi-Fi Driver Before Setup

Often the network screen shows no Wi-Fi networks at all, or the “Next” button stays gray. That’s usually a missing or incompatible Wi-Fi driver, not a hardware problem. Windows 11 setup loads basic drivers, but some newer or older adapters aren’t included in the installation media.

On the network screen, press Shift+F10 to open the command prompt.
Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter. Device Manager opens.
Expand “Network adapters”. Look for your Wi-Fi adapter (names like Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201, Realtek RTL8821CE, or Broadcom). If there’s a yellow exclamation mark, the driver isn’t loaded.
Right-click the adapter and select “Update driver” → “Search automatically for drivers”. This requires internet, so if you have an Ethernet cable, plug it in temporarily.
If automatic search fails, download the driver from the manufacturer’s website on another PC, save it to a USB drive, then use “Browse my computer for drivers” in Device Manager.
Close Device Manager, then click the back arrow on the setup screen to refresh the network list.

If you don’t have a second PC, try the bypass method first, finish setup, then install the driver from Windows Update or the manufacturer’s site once you’re in Windows.

What to Do When Wi-Fi Networks Don’t Appear

Even with a driver installed, you might see “No networks found” or a spinning circle. Common causes and fixes:

Wi-Fi adapter is disabled – In Device Manager, right-click the adapter and select “Enable device” if it’s disabled.
Airplane mode is on – Some laptops have a physical switch or function key (like F2) that toggles airplane mode. Look for an indicator light.
Router is broadcasting on 5 GHz only – Windows setup sometimes fails to see 5 GHz networks. Temporarily enable 2.4 GHz on your router, or move closer to the router.
Wi-Fi service isn’t running – In the command prompt (Shift+F10), type net start WlanSvc and press Enter. This starts the WLAN AutoConfig service.
Network name is hidden – Click “Network” on the setup screen, then select “Hidden network” and type the SSID manually.

If none of these work, plug in an Ethernet cable if you have one. Windows setup will detect the wired connection and proceed normally.

Why the “I Don’t Have Internet” Option Sometimes Appears

In some Windows 11 builds, the “I don’t have internet” button appears without needing the bypass command—but only after the setup fails to connect multiple times. If you see a message like “We couldn’t connect you to the internet,” you may get a retry button and, after a few failures, a skip option. This is inconsistent, which is why the Shift+F10 method is more reliable.

Another misconception: you must use a Microsoft account. That’s only true for Windows 11 Home during setup. If you use the bypass, you can create a local account. After setup, you can still sign in with a Microsoft account later if you want. The bypass doesn’t disable any features; it just removes the mandatory network check.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the bypass work on Windows 11 Pro?

Yes, the oobe\bypassnro command works on both Home and Pro editions. It’s a setup flag, not an edition-specific feature. The “I don’t have internet” option appears after the restart regardless of which edition you’re installing.

Will I lose anything by skipping the network connection?

No. You’ll be able to use Windows normally. You just won’t have a Microsoft account signed in, which means OneDrive sync, the Microsoft Store, and some Cortana features won’t be set up automatically. You can add a Microsoft account later in Settings → Accounts → Your info.

Can I use this bypass on a fresh install from a USB?

Yes, this is exactly the scenario it’s designed for. The bypass works during any Windows 11 setup, whether from USB, DVD, or an ISO mounted in Windows 10. Just remember to press Shift+F10 at the network screen.

What if Shift+F10 doesn’t open a command prompt?

Try holding Fn while pressing F10, or press Shift+F10 on the language selection screen. If it still doesn’t work, your keyboard may not have a standard layout—try an external USB keyboard. Also make sure you’re not in a special accessibility mode (like Narrator) that might intercept keys.

Is there a way to install Wi-Fi drivers without another PC?

If you have a smartphone with USB tethering, you can plug it into the PC via USB and enable USB tethering in the phone’s settings. Windows setup will see it as a network adapter and may install the driver automatically, giving you internet. Otherwise, you’ll need to download the driver on another device and transfer it via USB.

After setup, Wi-Fi still doesn’t work. What now?

Run the network troubleshooter: Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters → Network Adapter. Then check Windows Update for optional driver updates. If the adapter is very new, you may need to download the driver from the manufacturer’s website using another PC. If it’s very old, consider replacing the adapter—Windows 11 dropped support for some legacy hardware.

Alternatives to Bypassing: Ethernet and Mobile Hotspot

If you’d rather not use the command prompt, the simplest alternative is to connect via Ethernet. Most routers have a LAN port, and an Ethernet cable is cheap. Plug it in before starting setup—Windows will detect it and skip the Wi-Fi requirement entirely. If you don’t have Ethernet, use your phone’s mobile hotspot. Create a hotspot on your phone (Settings → Network & Internet → Hotspot & tethering), then select that network in Windows setup. This works even if your phone’s data plan is limited, as long as you have a signal. Some users also use a USB-to-Ethernet adapter with a phone’s USB tethering, but that’s more complex and not always recognized during setup.

These alternatives are useful if the bypass command fails or if you prefer not to skip the network step. They also help if you need to download drivers during setup, since you’ll have a working internet connection.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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