Windows 11 Upgrade Assistant: Requirements and Step-by-Step

If Windows Update has not offered Windows 11 yet, or you simply want to choose when the upgrade happens, Microsoft’s tool for the job is the Windows 11 Installation Assistant, often searched for as the Windows 11 upgrade assistant. It checks the PC, downloads Windows 11 and upgrades Windows 10 in place, keeping your files and apps. This guide covers the requirements Microsoft lists, each step, how long it takes and what to do when it refuses to run.

Why upgrade now

Windows 10 support ended on 14 October 2025. Microsoft’s consumer Extended Security Updates program keeps enrolled Windows 10 PCs patched until 12 October 2027, according to its ESU page as checked on 14 October 2026. For an eligible PC, moving to Windows 11 is free and removes the deadline. Our Windows 10 ESU end guide explains the full picture.

Requirements

From Microsoft’s Windows 11 download page:

Requirement	Detail
License	A Windows 10 or Windows 11 license
Windows version	Windows 10, version 2004 or higher
Free space	9 GB to download Windows 11
Hardware	Meets the Windows 11 device specifications
Account	You must be an administrator to run the tool
Processor type	x64 only; it does not run on Arm-based PCs

Microsoft’s Ways to install Windows 11 page adds that it recommends waiting until the device is offered the upgrade through Windows Update before using the Assistant. Being offered the upgrade means Microsoft has not found known compatibility problems on your hardware.

Check eligibility first with the PC Health Check app or our compatibility check guide.

Before you start

1. Back up your files to an external drive or cloud storage.
2. Install pending Windows 10 updates and restart.
3. Free disk space: 9 GB is the minimum for the download; leave more for the upgrade.
4. Plug in a laptop and disable sleep for a couple of hours.
5. Note your Wi-Fi password and have your Microsoft account details ready.
6. Disconnect USB drives and devices you do not need.

Step by step

1. Open Microsoft’s Download Windows 11 page and select Download Now under Windows 11 Installation Assistant.
2. Open the downloaded file. Approve the User Account Control prompt.
3. The Assistant checks compatibility. If the PC passes, read and select Accept and install.
4. It downloads Windows 11, verifies it and prepares the upgrade. You can keep using the PC during this stage.
5. When it is ready, select Restart now, or let it restart after the countdown. Microsoft advises not to turn off the PC during installation.
6. The PC restarts several times while Windows 11 installs. Then you sign in to your familiar desktop, now on Windows 11.

Microsoft’s download page lists Windows 11 version 26H2 (the 2026 Update) as the current release.

How long it takes

It depends on your internet speed and drive. The download is several gigabytes; on an SSD with a fast connection the whole process often fits in an hour or two, while an older PC with a hard drive can take considerably longer. Start it when you do not need the PC.

Should you wait for Windows Update instead?

Microsoft’s advice is to wait until Windows Update offers Windows 11 on your PC before using the Assistant. The reason is safeguard holds: when Microsoft finds a compatibility problem with a particular driver or device, it holds back the upgrade on affected PCs until a fix is available. Windows Update respects those holds; running the Assistant yourself may not.

In practice:

• Windows Update shows the offer: either route is fine. Windows Update is simpler.
• No offer, and the PC is eligible: check Microsoft’s release health pages for known issues on your hardware. If none apply and you want to move now, the Assistant is the supported tool.
• The PC is not eligible: neither route will work. Fix TPM or Secure Boot, or plan a replacement.

On Windows 10, the offer appears in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, usually as a banner with a Download and install button.

Common problems

The PC does not meet the Windows 11 requirements: run PC Health Check to see what fails. TPM and Secure Boot can usually be enabled in the firmware; see TPM 2.0 enable. An unsupported processor cannot be fixed with settings.

The tool will not start or says it cannot run on this PC: check you are on Windows 10 version 2004 or later and on an x64 PC, not an Arm-based one.

Not enough space: free up space with Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense; see Windows 11 storage settings.

Stuck at a percentage or failed with an error code: see Windows 11 upgrade failed. Setup usually rolls back to Windows 10 safely.

No admin rights: on a work PC, the organization manages upgrades; ask its IT department.

Alternatives

• Windows Update: the recommended route; when offered, select Download and install in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update on Windows 10.
• Media Creation Tool or ISO: for upgrading several PCs or when the Assistant fails; run setup.exe from inside Windows and keep files and apps. See in-place upgrade.

After the upgrade

Let Windows Update install the latest cumulative update, check your apps, and keep the old files for now. In most cases you can go back to Windows 10 within 10 days from Settings > System > Recovery; see roll back to Windows 10. For the overall plan, see upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11.