Windows 10 support ends soon. Here’s how to upgrade to Windows 11

Check that your computer is up to scratch

Before you can install Windows 11, you can check that your computer actually meets the system requirements. An easy way to do this is to install all available updates in Windows 10. The Windows Update section in Settings will then offer you to upgrade to Windows 11 as long as your computer meets the requirements.

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You can also install the PC Health Check program. If your computer does not meet the system requirements, the program will show you what is missing and you can then see if it’s something you can fix without having to get a new computer to run Windows 11. It can be as simple as the TPM module in the processor not being enabled in the BIOS settings.

The minimum requirements are a 64-bit processor of at least 1GHz, 4 GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, UEFI with support for Secure Boot (though it doesn’t have to be enabled), TPM 2.0, a screen with at least 720p resolution, and an internet connection.

Since Microsoft released version 24H2 of the system, slightly higher requirements are placed on the processor. For Intel, it requires the eighth-generation Core or later, or the equivalent of Celeron/Atom/Xeon. For AMD, at least second-generation Ryzen or third-generation Threadripper, or the equivalent of Epyc, is required. Also a bunch of Zen-based Athlon chipsets are supported.

Back up so you can roll back if disaster strikes

Jan Van Bizar

Before you start upgrading to the newer system, it’s a good idea to make a full backup of the current system, a so-called clone backup. This makes it much easier to roll back to Windows 10 if something goes wrong during the installation (or if you simply can’t stand Windows 11).

There are a number of different programs that can clone your hard drive. R-Drive Image has long been one our favorite full-featured program. For a free version, it’s hard to beat EaseUS.

I have seen some reports of problems getting the computer to boot from a ready-made clone, so don’t forget to test before you proceed.

Further reading: How to save your older PC when Windows 10 hits end of life

Update from Windows 10 or reinstall?

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Now the question is: Should you install Windows 11 as an update to your existing Windows 10 system, or should you spring clean your computer with a fresh install? This question comes up every time Microsoft releases a brand new version of Windows.

You can find users who swear that the system will be faster and suffer from fewer bugs with a brand new installation. But there are also users who believe that this is pure nonsense and that an update is faster and easier as you don’t have to reinstall all your programs and other things.

My recommendation if you are unsure is to have a solid backup (see above) and start by testing an update. If all goes well, you will be up and running in Windows 11 considerably faster, and in the unlikely event that you run into any difficulties, you can always do a reinstallation afterwards. If you run the update and go and do something else in the meantime, you’ll lose almost no time.

Update in place – keep files, programs, and settings

To perform a regular update without having to redo anything after installation, there are two options. The easiest is to go through Windows Update in Settings and let the system itself take care of the update. Then it works much like a major regular update, for example when Windows 10 22H2 was released. The computer will restart a few times during the installation, but otherwise it is just like a regular update.

If for some reason you are not offered to update in Windows Update, or you just prefer it, you can download an iso file with the latest version of the system and install from it. You don’t need to create installation media on a USB stick, just double-click the .iso file in Explorer, go to the mounted disc image, and run the Setup.exe program.

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After a few steps where the installer checks the computer and a few other things, you will get to a dialog box where you can choose what you want to keep. The default option is to keep everything — that is, files, installed programs, and settings.

You can also choose to keep only files, but since you then have to reinstall programs and redo system settings, I think it is better to do a total reinstallation and then move back personal files from the backup.

Blow out and start from scratch

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If you have a weekend to spend on the update, it can be a great opportunity to spring clean your computer. Over the years, Windows accumulates a lot of junk that never gets cleaned up. Old programs you’ve forgotten you ever installed. Settings, caches, downloaded updates, and much more can gradually fill up your disk.

Reformatting and starting from scratch will free up space and make your system more stable. If you then start by removing all the pre-installed programs you don’t need and then installing only the ones you actually want, you’ll end up with a system that feels airier.

If you do this, it is particularly important that you have a full backup. Make sure you can boot from it, and that all important files and other things are there.

Then use an .iso file of the latest version of Windows 11 and Microsoft’s installation media creation tool on a USB stick. Boot your computer from that and when you get to the step where you choose where to install the system, you can reformat the disk.

If you have more than one SSD or hard drive, it is important that you choose the right one, and you may have to disconnect all the drives except the one you are installing on first. The Windows installer is a bit finicky about this.

Further reading: The Windows 11 upgrade checklist

First acquaintance with Windows 11