How to Upgrade to Windows 11 (Even on Unsupported PCs)
Windows 10 has been one of Microsoft’s most popular and reliable operating systems. Many have been reluctant to upgrade to Windows 11, even though it’s been available since the fall of 2021.
However, Microsoft has announced the end of life for Windows 10, and it will stop providing free updates and security patches in October 2025. There will still be an option to pay for the Extended Security Update (ESU) program to receive updates beyond that date, but it’s mostly available for enterprises.
For the sake of stability and online security, now is the time to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11. We’ve created an easy-to-follow guide for every step of the upgrade process, including how to install Windows 11 on older or incompatible PCs, what to do if your device isn’t eligible, and how to make sure your files stay safe.
What to Do Before You Upgrade to Windows 11
Before you get started, there are a few things you should do to avoid potential issues:
- Back up your files: The upgrade should save your apps, documents, and files, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
- Install all pending Windows 10 updates: Check your computer to make sure that you’re using the latest version of Windows 10 before you upgrade to Windows 11. Sometimes the upgrade option won’t be available until you’ve installed every currently available update.
- Check your system and hardware: Go to the About section in your computer settings to see the specs. Windows 11’s minimum system requirements are:
- 64-bit processor
- 4 GB of RAM
- 64 GB of storage
- UEFI firmware
- Secure Boot
- TPM 2.0
- DirectX 12-compatible graphics card.
💡 Note: If your computer doesn’t meet the minimum requirements, it’s not the end of the world. We’ll provide several proven methods for installing Windows 11 on an unsupported PC.
How to Upgrade to Windows 11 on a Supported PC
There are several ways to install Windows 11, depending on your PC and how hands-on you want to be. We’ll walk you through all the options so you can pick the one that works best for you.
If you’re running Windows 10, you have two choices:
- Upgrade: Best if you want to keep all of your apps, files, and preferences intact.
- Clean install: A good option if you’re looking to remove old files and settings that can slow down your computer.
If you’re not sure, we recommend the upgrade option. It’s faster and generally works without issues. Just make sure you back up your important files first. If something feels off afterward, you can always reinstall Windows 11 from scratch later.
Upgrading this way feels like any Windows 10 update. Your PC will restart a few times and then boot into the new system.
Option 1: Use Windows Update
The easiest way to upgrade to Windows 11 is via Windows Update. It’s the built-in tool that automatically keeps your system current with the latest features and security patches from Microsoft.
If your device meets Microsoft’s hardware requirements, is running a supported version of Windows 10, and passes compatibility and stability checks through Windows Update, the option to upgrade will appear automatically.
- Open Settings and go to Update & Security.
- Select Windows Update.
- Click Check for updates. If Windows 11 is available, select Download and install.
Once the installation starts, follow the prompts. Your apps, files, and settings will be preserved.
Option 2: Use the Windows 11 Update Assistant
If Windows Update isn’t offering you a Windows 11 upgrade, the Windows 11 Update Assistant is your best bet.
The Installation Assistant is a free tool from Microsoft that helps you upgrade to Windows 11 manually. It checks your PC for compatibility and guides you through the upgrade, step by step, without needing to wait for the update to appear automatically in Windows Update.
- On Microsoft’s website, go to the Windows 11 Installation Assistant page.
- Download and run the tool.
- Accept the license terms.
- Let the tool check your PC for compatibility.
- If all is well, click Install to begin.
Option 3: Use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool
The Media Creation Tool is a free program from Microsoft that you can use to create installation media (like a USB stick) to update your PC or another PC. (Note, this only works if your device has a 64-bit (x64) processor; it doesn’t work on devices with an ARM-based processor).
- On Microsoft’s website, go to the Windows 11 Installation Assistant page. Scroll to Create Windows 11 Installation Media.
- Download and open the tool.
- Select Create installation media (USB or ISO).
- Pick your preferred media:
- USB flash drive (must be at least 8 GB and blank).
- ISO file, which you can later mount in File Explorer or use to create a bootable USB with a tool like Rufus.
This method is great for clean installs. If you want more control over the process, you can choose to perform a clean install to wipe your system, as well as pick the language, edition (like Home or Pro), and system type during setup.
Option 4: Use an ISO File
If you want more flexibility or need to install Windows 11 in a specific way (like on a virtual machine), you can download a Windows 11 ISO file directly from Microsoft’s website. This method gives you more control than the Media Creation Tool but is only available for devices with 64-bit processors.
An ISO is a full copy of the operating system. You can mount it in File Explorer and run the installer or use it to create a bootable USB drive.
- On Microsoft’s website, go to the Windows 11 Installation Assistant page. Scroll to Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO).
- Download the ISO from Microsoft.
- Double-click the file to mount it.
- Open the mounted drive and run setup.exe.
The setup process will check your PC and ask what you want to keep. It defaults to keeping files, apps, and settings.
How to Install Windows 11 on Older or Incompatible PCs
ℹ️ Reminder: Always back up your data before using unsupported upgrade methods. These options work, but they’re not officially supported by Microsoft and could affect future updates.
Windows 11 has strict system requirements, which we listed above. If your computer doesn’t have the right specs, you won’t get an upgrade notification. The good news is, this doesn’t have to stop you from upgrading. Here are two safe and popular workarounds:
Option 1: Use Rufus to Upgrade to Windows 11 on an Unsupported PC
Rufus is a free tool you can use to create bootable USB drives for installing operating systems. What makes it especially helpful are the options to bypass Windows 11’s hardware checks, such as TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, which often block older computers from upgrading.
You can download Rufus from its official website.
Once you have it:
- Download the Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft’s official site.
- Open Rufus and insert a USB drive with at least 8 GB of space.
- Select your USB drive under Device, then choose the ISO file you downloaded.
- When prompted, pick the option for Extended Windows 11 Installation. This disables the hardware checks.
- Start the process and let Rufus build your USB installer.
- Boot the target PC from this USB and run setup.exe to begin the upgrade or clean installation.
Option 2: Do a Registry Edit to Bypass TPM and CPU Checks
If your computer says it can’t upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 because it doesn’t have TPM 2.0 or a supported processor, you can use a registry tweak to skip past the Windows 11 hardware checks.
It sounds very technical, but in reality it’s just a small change to the Windows Registry, a tool built into the operating system. Here’s how to do it:
- Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
- Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup.
- Right-click and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name it: AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU.
- Double-click and set its value to 1.
- Close the editor and restart your PC.
This will allow you to run the Windows 11 Installation Assistant or mount the ISO file and run the installer. You will still be given the choice to keep your files and apps.
FAQ
Yes. Microsoft has several free tools that keep the process simple. You can follow our step-by-step guides to use the Windows Update, the Windows 11 Update Assistant, or download an ISO file. Check that your PC meets the system requirements first – you can still install Windows 11 on an old, unsupported PC, but you’ll have to take some extra steps.
If your new computer won’t upgrade, it’s often because TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot is disabled in the BIOS. These features are required by Windows 11 and are sometimes turned off by default. Running the PC Health Check app will help identify what’s missing.
There are a couple of things you should do before upgrading to Windows 11. Start by creating a backup of your important files. Next, install any outstanding Windows 10 updates and use the PC Health Check app to confirm your PC is eligible. This ensures the process goes smoothly and avoids frustrating errors.
Windows 11 has minimum system requirements that can prevent you from upgrading your computer. These include TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and a supported processor. If you’re using a computer that’s more than 5 years old, it’s probably not supported, so you’ll need to use a workaround to install Windows 11. These aren’t difficult to run, but they may carry risks and don’t guarantee future updates.
It’s always a good idea to back up your important files when doing any major update to your computer, and this is no exception. Backing up files ensures that if something goes wrong, such as a failed install or file corruption, your documents and photos are safe and recoverable.
That depends on the computer you have. For most users, it takes between 30 minutes and an hour. Faster computers may complete it more quickly. If you’re doing a clean install or using a USB drive, the total time can be longer depending on your setup.
You shouldn’t, as most upgrade methods offer the option to keep your apps, files, and settings. But accidents happen, and unexpected errors can occur. That’s why it’s always a good idea to back up your data first.
Yes. You have a 10-day window to use Windows 11’s built-in rollback feature, which restores your previous system with files and apps intact. After that, you’ll need to reinstall Windows 10 manually, using installation media.
You should first make sure all Windows 10 updates are installed and check your system specs. Try using the Installation Assistant or an ISO file instead. Restart your PC and disable unnecessary startup programs before trying again.