Upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is free and takes around 30–60 minutes. This guide walks you through the upgrade process step by step, including how to check compatibility, back up your files and complete the upgrade without losing your data.
Before You Start — Check Compatibility
Windows 11 has stricter hardware requirements than Windows 10. Before attempting the upgrade, confirm your PC is compatible. The quickest way is to use Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app:
- Download PC Health Check from the Microsoft website
- Install and open the app
- Click Check now under “Introducing Windows 11”
- The tool will tell you whether your PC can run Windows 11 and, if not, which requirements are not met
The most common reason for failure is the TPM 2.0 requirement. If your PC is relatively modern (2017 or later) and fails this check, TPM may be disabled in your BIOS rather than missing entirely. See our guide: Can My PC Run Windows 11?
Back Up Your Files First
Although upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 using the official method preserves your files and applications, it is strongly recommended to back up your important data before proceeding. If anything goes wrong during the upgrade, having a backup means you will not lose your work.
Quick backup options:
- Copy important files to an external hard drive or USB drive
- Upload key documents to OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox
- Use Windows Backup (Settings > System > Backup) for a full system backup
Method 1 — Upgrade Using Windows Update (Recommended)
If your PC is eligible, Windows 11 will appear as an available update in Windows Update. This is the simplest and safest method.
- Open Settings (Windows key + I)
- Click Update & Security, then Windows Update
- Click Check for updates
- If Windows 11 is available, you will see a banner: “Windows 11 is ready — and it’s free”
- Click Download and install
- Accept the licence terms and click Accept and install
- Wait for the download to complete (this may take some time depending on your internet speed)
- When prompted, click Restart now or schedule a restart
- Your PC will restart several times during the installation — this is normal
Once complete, you will be at the Windows 11 desktop with your files, apps and settings intact.
Method 2 — Upgrade Using the Installation Assistant
If Windows 11 does not appear in Windows Update, you can use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant to trigger the upgrade manually.
- Visit the Microsoft Windows 11 download page
- Under “Windows 11 Installation Assistant”, click Download Now
- Run the downloaded file (Windows11InstallationAssistant.exe)
- Click Accept and install
- The assistant will download Windows 11 and begin the upgrade process
- Your PC will restart several times — allow it to complete
Method 3 — Clean Install Using a USB Drive
A clean install wipes your PC and installs a fresh copy of Windows 11. This is not needed for most users — use this method only if you want a fresh start or if the in-place upgrade methods fail.
- Download the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool from Microsoft
- Insert a USB drive (8GB minimum) and run the tool
- Follow the prompts to create bootable installation media
- Restart your PC and boot from the USB drive (you may need to change boot order in BIOS)
- Follow the Windows 11 setup process
Warning: A clean install will erase all files and applications on your PC. Back up everything first.
After the Upgrade — What to Check
Once Windows 11 is installed:
- Check Windows Update — install any pending updates for Windows 11
- Update your drivers — particularly graphics and chipset drivers
- Check your apps still work — most will, but some older applications may need updates
- Review your Start menu — Windows 11 centres the Start menu by default; you can move it left in Settings > Personalisation > Taskbar
- Re-pin your favourite apps to the taskbar if they are not already there
Troubleshooting Common Issues
The upgrade is not appearing in Windows Update
Use the Installation Assistant (Method 2 above) to trigger the upgrade manually.
PC Health Check says your PC is not compatible
Check whether TPM 2.0 is disabled in your BIOS (it can be enabled without new hardware on many PCs). See: Can My PC Run Windows 11?
The upgrade is stuck at a percentage
Leave it — the installation can appear to stall at certain percentages (especially 30% and 74%) but is still working. If it has not moved for over 2 hours, restart and try again.
Apps are not working after upgrade
Check for updates for the affected apps. Most compatibility issues are resolved by updating the software.
What If My PC Cannot Run Windows 11?
If your hardware does not meet the requirements, you have a few options:
- Purchase Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) — available for up to 3 years after Windows 10 EOL for around $30/year per device
- Buy a new PC that supports Windows 11
- Switch to Linux — distributions like Ubuntu or Linux Mint work well on older hardware
See: Windows 10 End of Life: What It Means for You
