Can You Upgrade To Windows 11 For Free

If your existing Windows 10 PC is running Windows 10 20H1 or later and meets the minimum hardware specifications it will be able to upgrade to Windows 11. The upgrade rollout plan is still being finalized, but for most devices already in use today, we expect it to be ready sometime in early 2022. Not all Windows 10 PCs that are eligible to upgrade will be offered to upgrade at the same time. To see if your PC is eligible to upgrade, refer to the specifications here. Once the upgrade rollout has started, you can check if it is ready for your device by going to Settings/Windows Updates. More information on how that is presented will be available at a later date.

Additional desktop notification options may be also be added at a later date. If your existing Windows 10 PC is running the most current version of Windows 10 and meets the minimum hardware specifications it will be able to upgrade to Windows 11. Not all Windows 10 PCs that are eligible to upgrade to Windows 11 will be offered to upgrade at the same time. Computers still running a copy of Windows 8.1 can upgrade to Windows 11 without losing data or applications using the ISO file since it's a supported installation path. However, before you upgrade to Windows 11 from Windows 8.1, you have to make sure that your laptop or desktop meets the minimum system requirements.

If you are having a brand new laptop or PC, then your system must be compatible with Windows 11 or even might come with it preinstalled. But issues may arise with the older versions of PCs, as its hardware might not match with the requirements of Windows 11. If your PC has a 7th gen or previous Intel CPU, then it is unsupported by the latest upgrade. Still, you can migrate to Windows 11, but the way is a little more complicated as you will need to download install files, then perform a clean install and then restore the program and data files. Most Windows 10 PCs currently being sold will be able to upgrade to Windows 11. For the PC to be able to upgrade to Windows 11, it must meet the minimum hardware specifications and specific hardware is required for some features.

The upgrade rollout plan is still being finalized but is scheduled to begin late in 2021 and continue into 2022. You can refer to the ASUS website for a list of tested models. Most Windows 10 PCs currently being sold will be able to upgrade to New Windows. For the PC to be able to upgrade to New Windows, it must meet the minimum hardware specifications and specific hardware is required for some features found here. The upgrade rollout plan is still being finalised but is scheduled to begin late in 2021 and continue into 2022. Microsoft has detailed the feature update and quality update rollout plan for Windows 11 on its official support site.

However, Windows 11 and Windows 10 devices will continue to receive regular monthly quality updates to provide security updates and bug fixes, the company says. Navigate to the downloaded Windows 11 ISO file, and select it. Your final Rufus screen should look something like this. The official, release version of Windows 11 is now available as a free upgrade to anyone who has Windows 10 and a PC that meets Microsoft's minimum hardware requirements. However, the Redmond software giant isn't pushing the upgrade to every eligible system at once. Some users will be offered the option to upgrade in their Settings menu on or around the October 5th official launch date while others may be waiting until 2022.

All HUAWEI PCs with Windows 10 currently being sold on HUAWEI Consumer BG website will be able to upgrade to Windows 11. Windows 11 was unveiled last month with a new interface, app icons, and a centrally placed Start menu. The rollout is expected to begin sometime later this year and will come pre-installed on new PCs.

Windows 11 will be available as a free upgrade to Windows 10 users. It is currently available for testing to Windows Insider members. Microsoft has also unveiled the feature update plan for Windows 11 every year.

It has confirmed that only a single Windows 11 big feature update will be rolled out annually, whereas regular monthly quality updates will be provided for security and bug fixes. After your installation percentage has reached 100% and completed its processes, you're done! You will be presented with a new login screen to access your desktop. If you were upgrading from Windows 10, all of your files, programs, and desktop icons should be intact. If you notice anything is missing, you should find it safe on the backup you created at the beginning. The Start menu is now centered and the Taskbar has a new frosted glass aesthetic for a fresh, modern look.

Microsoft is soon going to launch its new Windows 11 and if you are a Windows 10 user, an upgrade to the new operating system would be free. The official release date is not out yet, but Windows 11 is expected to arrive in the 2021 holiday season, sometime in the coming months. As soon as it arrives, users will be able to update to the new operating system just like how it was done with Windows 10. As long as your desktop or laptop meets the minimum requirements.

You can use the PC Health Check app to determine if your device is eligible to upgrade to Windows 11. Many PCs that are less than four years old will be able to upgrade to Windows 11. They must be running the most current version of Windows 10 and meet the minimum hardware requirements.

Windows 11 has been rolled out as an upgrade to Windows 10, with Microsoft offering a seamless process to simply transition to the new version without losing your data. Again, this update is only available to computers that meet the minimum system requirements and are running a licensed version of Windows 10. If you followed the steps above, you might have been noticed that you can upgrade to Windows 11 If so, simply click Download and Install on the pretty banner at the top of the Update window.

This process can take several hours depending on your internet connection and PC. When it's done, your system will prompt you to reboot the PC to continue with the installation process. If you're running on a laptop, be sure to plug in your AC adapter now. With that in mind, the company told The Verge that users can install Windows 11 on unsupported devices if they want to, although this won't be mentioned in any official way. What's more, Microsoft is being non-committal about how many updates they will provide for Windows 11 on older PCs. You'll need a PC that meets the minimum requirements to be supported on Windows 11.

Check out our guide for getting started with Windows 11 here. If you want to try out some workarounds for getting it installed on unsupported PCs, we've got a guide for that too. While Microsoft will let you install Windows 11 on an unsupported PC, you're putting yourself in an unsupported state, while Windows 10 is still supported for another four years. To see if your PC is eligible to upgrade, refer to our supported computer lists. Microsoft periodically updates the minimum hardware requirements for its operating system. (Here are the system requirements for Windows 10, which include a 1GHz CPU or better, 2GB of RAM, and so on.) Windows 11's hardware requirements are the new operating system's most dramatic change.

You'll need at least an 8th-gen Intel Core CPU or Ryzen 2000, and older processors are out of luck. Microsoft is even saying no to its older Surface devices. Windows 11 also requires a Trusted Platform Module , specifically a TPM 2.0 module that's typically integrated into the CPU. Here's why Windows 11 requires a TPM, according to Microsoft.

Microsoft makes you accept that the company can stop providing updates, and security patches to Windows 11 on these devices. While Microsoft is unlikely to do that in practice, it's still better to be on the safer side. Also, you're likely to run into driver incompatibility issues on unsupported devices. Especially, if your computer is running hardware that is more than 5-6 years old. For both types of upgrades, head to Microsoft's Windows 11 download page. To perform an in-place upgrade, use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant.

For a clean install, you must create a bootable USB drive or DVD disc. Windows users should first try the Media Creation Tool for this process, since it does all the work for you. Mac and Linux users will have to flash or burn the ISO file for Windows 11 to a drive or disc, respectively. You can check out our guide on how to upgrade to Windows 11 for more details on each of these methods. Microsoft continues to test new features and improvements after Windows 11 was released.

It only tests the latest version of Windows with members who participate in the Windows Insider Program in the Dev, Beta and Release Preview channels. Windows 11 is now generally available as an update for eligible Windows 10 PCs. Microsoft is taking a measured and phased approach to the rollout, however, meaning not everybody will be offered the update immediately. When your PC is ready, a big popup will appear in Windows Update that will allow you to initiate the download and install process, and Windows will do the rest.

But with the official Windows 11 installation assistant, you can update your existing operating system without any changes to your data. Your files, applications, even the programs currently running on your PC – everything is left untouched. Note that Windows 11 will only be a 64-bit release and won't come in a 32-bit flavor.

That's fair since 32-bit PCs are not sold anymore anyway and 64-bit editions can run 32-bit applications just fine. Of course, Windows 11 supports System on a Chip which means Windows 10 on ARM devices will get the upgrade as long as they meet other criteria. The above screenshot makes it clear that Surface Pro X running Windows 10 on ARM is eligible for the Windows 11 upgrade. More details about the feature-specific requirements here.

If you haven't seen it through Windows Update yet, you can still get the final build through the Beta and Release Preview channels of the Windows Insider Program, as long as you have a compatible PC. The Dev channel is already running rs_prerelease builds to test out new features, so be careful with that. If you enroll in the Dev channel, you'll have to do a clean installation of Windows 11 to roll back. And of course, you can also get it on a bunch of new laptops and desktops like the Surface Laptop Studio and Surface Pro 8.

Microsoft doesn't recommend installing Windows 11 on devices that don't meet the system requirements, but you'll still be able to do so. It's worth noting that you might not get Windows 11 updates on PCs with unsupported processors. Next, Microsoft says it will look at hardware eligibility, reliability metrics and other factors on existing Windows 10 devices to determine when to offer the latest OS through Windows Update.

It's a similar approach to how the company has handled Windows 10 feature updates over the years. You can find out whether your device is compatible using the PC Health Check app. Windows 11 is also secure by design, with new built-in security technologies that will add protection from the chip to the cloud, while enabling productivity and new experiences. Windows 11 provides a Zero Trust-ready operating system to protect data and access across devices. We have worked closely with our OEM and silicon partners to raise security baselines to meet the needs of the evolving threat landscape and the new hybrid work world.

Microsoft Windows 11 Upgrade Price Furthermore, before the installation, it's recommended to uninstall any applications that may conflict with the upgrade to Windows 11, such as antivirus, security tools, and old third-party programs. Windows 11 features a new version of the Microsoft Store, with a new interface and a broader selection of apps. This new store is meant to have an easier to use and better-curated digital storefront. It should also be faster, "We rebuilt for speed", said Panos Panay during the Windows 11 announcement. So far our experience of it is much the same as the rest of Windows 11... But it's also still mostly filled with apps you'd likely download direct from your browser, or wouldn't want to touch at all.

Upgrades to Windows 11 will begin to roll out late in 2021 and continue into 2022. During this time, we will be doing some behind the scenes testing and validating for your specific PC. Windows Update will provide an indication if and when your PC is eligible. You can check to see by going to Settings/Windows Update. There is a way to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, but we wouldn't recommend it. Although Microsoft hasn't confirmed it, the company has heavily implied that unsupported users won't receive critical security updates.

If you still want to install, you can do so using the Media Creation Tool, which bypasses hardware checks. Once that's done, you should also head to Windows Update in the new Settings app and check for updates there to ensure you have the latest drivers designed for Windows 11. The rest of the process is just like any regular old bootable USB installation. Attach the USB drive to the system you want to upgrade to Windows 11, and boot it up. You can now boot into the Windows 11 bootable USB by bringing up your Boot device menu by pressing the boot options key specific to your system. It's usually the Delete key or one of the function keys.

You can look up the key binding specific to your system. Once the boot device menu shows up, select the USB drive, and follow the Windows 11 installation setup. Microsoft has an official support page that details its stance on installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware. Windows 11 is still very early and hasn't been tested enough to determine if there will be any crippling compatibility issues if you run it on unsupported hardware.

It is safe to assume that this is a potential problem you may face. Microsoft also says that if you install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, your system loses the guarantee of system updates, including but not limited to security updates. With the Windows Update not offering to install Windows 11 on many computers, there is much confusion about how exactly one is to get the latest version on their PC. Sure, you can always download an ISO file and create a bootable USB drive, but installing from such means requires you to lose your files and apps. To install Windows 11 on your computer without losing your existing data, you should use the Windows Installation Assistant.

Available for download on Microsoft's webpage, the installer updates the existing Windows installation to the new version, without changing any of the files or applications already present on the PC. There's a lot to enjoy in Windows 11, but remember that you're currently running an early version that isn't quite finished yet. It's normal to experience some bugs or graphical glitches. For example, all of our custom Taskbar shortcuts were missing their icons after installation and needed to be re-pinned to appear again.

Be sure to Check For Updates often as Microsoft releases bug fixes. If you experience a major problem, or just decide Windows 11 isn't for you, you can easily reinstall Windows 10 using Microsoft's Media Creation Tool to download a free installation file. First, see if your PC running Windows 10 is eligible for free upgrades to Windows 11. You check all details for the same at Microsoft's site for specifications. The short answer is no, Microsoft isn't going to force anyone to upgrade to Windows 11. Starting with Windows 10 version 1903, the Redmond firm stopped forcing people to install feature updates.

This came after a disastrous Windows 10 version 1809 that actually deleted some users' files. Microsoft will let you know when Windows 11 is ready for your system via the Windows Update Settings page or when you check for updates. The company expects to offer the upgrade to all eligible Windows 10 devices by mid-2022. There is also the possibility that some bugs and issues may appear on Windows 11 at release. Waiting to roll out free upgrades would give Microsoft the time to address any problems before rolling out the free upgrade.