Upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11: Free, Step-by-Step Guide

If you want to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11, the process is free for eligible PCs, keeps your files and apps, and usually takes no more effort than a large update. The timing matters more than ever: Windows 10 support ended on 14 October 2025, and consumer Extended Security Updates, the extension some households enrolled in, end on 12 October 2027, according to Microsoft’s consumer ESU page as checked on 14 October 2026. After that, a Windows 10 PC gets no security fixes at all. This guide covers both of Microsoft’s upgrade routes, what to do before you start, and what to expect afterwards.

Windows 10 end of support: the dates

Date	What happened
14 October 2025	Windows 10 end of support. No more free security updates, feature updates or technical assistance from Microsoft.
12 October 2027	End of consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 10.

A Windows 10 PC does not stop working on either date. It simply stops receiving fixes for newly discovered security holes, which makes browsing, email and downloads progressively riskier. For more on the ESU program, see Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates page, and our explainer on when Windows 10 Extended Security Updates end for what each option means for your PC.

Check that your PC qualifies

Windows 11 has stricter requirements than Windows 10: a supported 64-bit processor with 2 or more cores, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, UEFI with Secure Boot capability, TPM 2.0, DirectX 12 graphics with a WDDM 2.0 driver, and a 720p display.

Install and run the PC Health Check app, then select Check now. It lists anything that fails. The usual culprits are TPM and Secure Boot, which are frequently just switched off in the firmware; our page on the Windows 11 TPM requirement shows how to check and enable it.

If the processor itself is not supported, Microsoft does not recommend installing Windows 11. A PC installed that way is unsupported and is not guaranteed updates, so we do not cover workarounds.

Prepare before upgrading

1. Back up. Copy your documents, photos and other files to an external drive or OneDrive. The upgrade keeps them, but power cuts and failed installs happen.
2. Confirm activation. Settings > Update & Security > Activation should say Windows is activated. Your license moves to Windows 11 as a digital license.
3. Install pending Windows 10 updates. Microsoft notes the Windows 11 offer may not appear until current updates are installed. Restart afterwards.
4. Free up space. Leave plenty of room on the system drive. The Installation Assistant asks for at least 9 GB.
5. Deal with problem software. Update or temporarily remove third-party antivirus and old disk or tuning utilities.
6. Disconnect extras. Unplug external drives, card readers and docks you do not need during setup.

Method 1: upgrade through Windows Update

This is Microsoft’s recommended method because it only offers Windows 11 when your device is ready.

1. Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
2. Select Check for updates.
3. If you see a message saying the upgrade to Windows 11 is ready, select Download and install.
4. On the Software License Terms screen, select Accept and install.
5. Windows downloads and prepares the upgrade in the background. You can keep working.
6. When the status changes to Pending restart, save your work and select Restart now.
7. The PC restarts several times. When the sign-in screen appears, sign in to finish.

If Windows Update shows “Get ready for Windows 11” or nothing at all, the PC either does not qualify, has a temporary compatibility hold, or has not been offered the upgrade yet.

Method 2: the Windows 11 Installation Assistant

Microsoft recommends waiting for Windows Update, but says the Installation Assistant can be used before the offer appears. It needs a Windows 10 license, Windows 10 version 2004 or later, about 9 GB of free space, and an x64 processor; it does not run on Arm-based PCs.

1. Go to the Windows 11 download page and, under Windows 11 Installation Assistant, select Download Now.
2. Run the file. You need to be an administrator.
3. The tool checks your hardware. If the PC qualifies, it shows the license terms.
4. Select Accept and install.
5. When prompted, select Restart now. The PC restarts a few times. Do not turn it off.

If the Assistant says the PC does not meet the requirements, it points you to PC Health Check. More detail is in our Installation Assistant guide.

Other routes

You can also mount a Windows 11 ISO and run setup.exe, which is useful for upgrading several PCs from one download. Or you can skip the upgrade entirely and do a clean install, which gives a fresh system but deletes your files and apps. Both are compared in our Windows 11 upgrade hub.

After the upgrade

1. Open Settings > Windows Update and install everything offered, including optional driver updates you trust.
2. Confirm activation in Settings > System > Activation.
3. Get current drivers from your PC maker’s support site.
4. Check that your key apps work.

If something is wrong and you cannot fix it, you have 10 days to roll back to Windows 10 from Settings > System > Recovery. Keep in mind that going back means returning to an operating system that no longer receives regular security updates.

If your PC cannot run Windows 11 and you are buying a new one, see transfer files to a new PC with Windows 11.