How to upgrade a compatible PC to Windows 11 from Windows 10

Windows 11 has been released as a complimentary upgrade for compatible laptops and desktop computers running Windows ten with a slew of new features and changes. On Oct five, 2022, Microsoft has begun the boring rollout starting with newer devices first. Then, it will aggrandize to more than compatible computers over fourth dimension, and it will get fully bachelor by mid-2022.

As role of the new experience, Windows 11 introduces a new interface that uses a modern design language with rounded corners and new materials like Mica, an element that lets the groundwork smooth through without impacting performance or battery life and falls back to a solid colour when the app is not in focus.

In this version, you will also observe a redesigned Start card and Taskbar that are at present aligned to the center of the screen, and at that place are some new features, such as Snap layouts, Chat from Microsoft Teams, Widgets, and new multiple displays improvements. Furthermore, Windows 11 ships with many overhauled experiences like the new out-of-box experience (OOBE), Settings, Desktops, Notification Middle and Quick Settings that replace the Activity Center feel. And in that location are updates for many congenital-in apps, such as File Explorer, Computer, Microsoft Paint, Clock, and many more.

Since Windows 11 volition coexist with Windows 10 for at least a few more years, the new version has been offered every bit a completely optional upgrade that you lot must trigger manually using at least one of the supported methods, including Windows Update, and Installation Banana, or ISO file. (Starting with this release, the Media Cosmos Tool no longer offers the choice to perform an in-identify upgrade.)

In this Windows 11 guide, we volition walk you through the steps to download and install Windows 11 on your desktop, laptop, or tablet.

Windows 11 upgrade requirements
How to upgrade to Windows 11 using Windows Update
How to upgrade to Windows 11 using Installation Assistant
How to upgrade to Windows eleven using official ISO file

Important: This is a non-destructive process, simply in that location is e'er a adventure of something going wrong during and after the upgrade, which means that you should consider creating a temporary backup before proceeding. You've been warned.

Windows eleven upgrade requirements

Although Windows 11 is a gratis upgrade for existing Windows 10 devices, it doesn't hateful that everyone'due south reckoner will back up the new version.

Hardware requirements

Here are the minimum hardware requirements to perform the gratis upgrade:

CPU: 1GHz or faster or System on a Chip (SoC) with two cores minimum.
RAM: 4GB.
Storage: 64GB or larger.
Firmware: UEFI with Secure Kick capable.
TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.
Graphics: Uniform with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM ii.0 driver.
Brandish resolution: Loftier definition (720p) brandish greater than 9-inch diagonally, 8 bits per color channel.

In addition to the requirements, if you will be upgrading to Windows 11 Home, you will also need an internet connection to consummate the initial setup.

Compatibility check

Whether tool you lot use y'all use Windows Update, Media Creation Tool or Installation Banana, whatsoever of these tools should be able to determine and inform you whether or not the device meets the minimum requirements, but you can ever bank check manually.

To check the basic hardware specs, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on System.
Click on Nearly.
Ostend the processor, retentiveness, and system type.

Source: Windows Cardinal

Quick annotation: The memory should be greater than 4GB, and the processor must exist an Intel'south seventh Get 7820HQ, Core Ten, Xeon Westward, or 8th Gen or newer or an AMD Zen 2 or newer. Yous tin detect more information on the processor compatibility in this guide. Also, the arrangement blazon must be 64-bit. Windows 11 does not come in 32-bit.
Click on Storage.
Confirm the main drive is greater than 64GB.

Source: Windows Primal

Yous can as well bank check your laptop or desktop hardware specification on the manufacturer's support website.

In addition, you will too demand to make certain that the estimator has enabled the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version ii.0. Y'all can consummate this task with these instructions.

Secure Kicking is also a requirement, and it must be enabled to run Windows 11. You can utilise this guide to check the characteristic state and the steps to turn information technology on as necessary.

PC Health Check app

Alternatively, you lot can besides use the PC Health Check app to quickly determine if your computer will support Windows 11:

Open up PC Health Check download folio.

Quick note: The download choice is at the bottome of the folio.
Nether the "Check for compatibility" section, click the Download PC Health Check App push.

Source: Windows Primal
Double-click the WindowsPCHealthCheckSetup.msi file.
Click the I accept the terms in the License Agreement option.
Click the Install push button.

Source: Windows Primal
Check the Open up Windows PC Health Check option (if applicable).

Source: Windows Central
Click the Finish button.
Under the "Introducing Windows 11" department, click the Check now button.
Click the See all results button to brandish the final study.

Source: Windows Key

Later on you complete the steps, you will know if your PC can handle the new verison of Windows. If there's check that the device didn't pass, click the available link in the app to find out what y'all can exercise to remedy the situation.

How to upgrade to Windows xi using Windows Update

To upgrade a PC running Windows x to Windows eleven through Windows Update, use these steps:

Open up Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the Check for updates button.
Click the Download and install now push.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Restart now button.

Once y'all complete the steps, the computer will restart, and then the upgrade to Windows 11 will begin. Also, since this is an in-place upgrade, you won't need to go through the entire out-of-box feel.

If the option to upgrade is missing in the Windows Update settings after clicking the button to check for updates, then Microsoft may be blocking the upgrade because of a compatibility problem or because the device does non meet the minimum requirements. In this case, it'south recommended to wait every bit you lot may run into issues during or afterwards the installation.

How to upgrade to Windows xi using Installation Assistant

If there'south a problem with Windows Update, and yous know the hardware is compatible, then you tin use the Installation Assistant to upgrade to Windows xi.

To use the Installation Assistant tool to upgrade to Windows 11 from Windows 10, apply these steps:

Open up this Microsoft back up website.
Under the "Windows 11 Installation Assistant" section, click the Download Now button.
Save the file on the figurer.
Double-click the Windows11InstallationAssistant.exe file to launch the setup.
Click the Accept and install button.

Source: Windows Primal

After you consummate these steps, the tool will download the installation files and will proceed to upgrade the computer to Windows 11, similar to the Windows Update process preserving your files, apps, and most of the settings. The fourth dimension of completion will depend on your internet connection and device hardware.

How to upgrade to Windows xi using official ISO file

Alternatively, yous can besides mount the ISO file to File Explorer to proceed with the upgrade process.

To upgrade a device to Windows 11 from the ISO file, utilize these steps:

Open up Windows eleven download folio.
Under the "Download Windows eleven Disk Image (ISO)" section, select the Windows 11 selection.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Download button.
Select the ISO linguistic communication.

Source: Windows Central
Click the Confirm button.
Click the 64-bit Download button.

Source: Windows Central
Right-click the image file and select the Mount selection.

Source: Windows Key
Select the virtual drive from the left navigation pane (if applicable).
Double-click the setup.exe file to launch the setup manually.

Source: Windows Cardinal
Click the Next button.
Click the Accept button to agree to the terms.
Click the Install push button.

Source: Windows Central