Windows 11 Upgrade Guide: Check, Prepare and Move Safely

The Windows 11 upgrade is no longer something you can put off indefinitely. Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025, and the consumer Extended Security Updates program that kept some PCs patched runs only until 12 October 2027, according to Microsoft’s consumer ESU page as checked on 14 October 2026. If your PC qualifies, moving to Windows 11 is free and keeps your files and apps. If it does not, there is often a simple reason, such as a security chip switched off in the firmware. This hub walks through the whole process, from checking eligibility to undoing the upgrade if you need to.

Why upgrade now

Microsoft stopped providing free security updates, feature updates and technical assistance for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025. Windows 10 PCs keep working, but every month without patches makes them a better target for malware. Consumer Extended Security Updates give enrolled households more time; Microsoft’s ESU page now says that coverage runs until 12 October 2027. Details of the program are on Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates page.

Windows 11 also brings practical improvements: Snap layouts and better multitasking, stronger default security based on TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, and a steady stream of updates.

An upgrade is less disruptive than many people expect. Your documents, photos, desktop files and installed apps carry over, as do most settings and your Windows 10 activation, which becomes a Windows 11 digital license. What changes is mostly the interface: the Start menu and taskbar are centred by default, the right-click menu is shorter, and Settings is reorganised. A few very old utilities and drivers may not work and need updated versions from their makers, which is why checking your important apps and devices before you start is worth ten minutes.

If you have several PCs at home, check each one separately. Two machines bought a year apart can have very different results, and the upgrade is offered per device, not per Microsoft account. Laptops with Arm processors are a special case: the Installation Assistant does not run on them, so they upgrade through Windows Update when the offer appears.

Step 1: check whether your PC qualifies

Windows 11 needs:

Component	Minimum
Processor	1 GHz or faster, 2 or more cores, 64-bit, on Microsoft’s supported CPU list
Memory	4 GB RAM
Storage	64 GB or larger
Firmware	UEFI, Secure Boot capable
Security chip	TPM 2.0
Graphics	DirectX 12 compatible with a WDDM 2.0 driver
Display	720p, larger than 9 inches diagonally
Account and internet	Home edition needs internet and a Microsoft account for setup

The quickest way to test a Windows 10 PC is the PC Health Check app. Select Check now and it tells you whether the PC meets each requirement and, if not, which one fails. For other ways to check, see our Windows 11 compatibility check guide.

Step 2: fix what you can

The most common failures are not a sign the PC is too old.

TPM 2.0 not detected. Most PCs from the last several years have a TPM, sometimes built into the processor as AMD fTPM or Intel PTT, but on many self-built desktops it is off by default. Our page on the Windows 11 TPM requirement shows how to check with tpm.msc and Windows Security, and our TPM 2.0 enabling guide covers the firmware side.

Secure Boot not enabled. Secure Boot needs UEFI mode. If the PC boots in legacy BIOS mode, it has to be switched to UEFI first, which can require converting the system disk. See enabling Secure Boot and our overview of BIOS and UEFI settings.

Processor not supported. This one cannot be fixed with a setting. Microsoft does not recommend installing Windows 11 on PCs that fail the requirements; such PCs are not supported and are not guaranteed to receive updates. We do not publish bypass steps. Read upgrading without TPM for an honest look at the risks and your alternatives.

Not enough space. The Installation Assistant needs about 9 GB free. Clear temporary files or move large files off the drive.

Step 3: back up and prepare

An upgrade keeps your files, but a backup is your insurance if something interrupts it.

• Copy important files to an external drive or OneDrive.
• Make sure your Windows 10 is activated (Settings > Update & Security > Activation). The upgrade carries the license forward as a digital license.
• Install all pending Windows 10 updates and restart. Microsoft notes the Windows 11 offer may not appear until current updates are installed.
• Update or temporarily uninstall third-party antivirus and old system utilities, which are frequent causes of failed upgrades.
• Unplug printers, external drives and other peripherals you do not need during setup.

Our guide to keeping files during the upgrade has a fuller checklist.

Step 4: choose how to upgrade

Method	When to use it
Windows Update	Recommended. Use it when Settings shows the Windows 11 upgrade is ready for your PC.
Windows 11 Installation Assistant	When the PC qualifies but Windows Update has not offered the upgrade yet. x64 PCs only.
ISO and setup.exe	For offline upgrades, several PCs, or when the other two fail.
Clean install from USB	When you want a fresh start instead of an upgrade.

The full step-by-step is in how to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11. If you prefer the app route, our Installation Assistant guide covers it in detail, and the ISO method is explained in the in-place upgrade guide. For a fresh start, see the Windows 11 download hub.

Step 5: after the upgrade

Once you are on Windows 11:

1. Open Settings > Windows Update and install everything offered.
2. Check Settings > System > Activation to confirm Windows 11 is activated.
3. Visit your PC maker’s support site for updated drivers.
4. Review privacy and startup settings, since the upgrade keeps many of your old choices but adds new options.

Windows 11 then receives a yearly feature update. Our pages on Windows 11 feature updates and the enablement package explain how those arrive.

If the upgrade fails

A failed upgrade normally rolls itself back to Windows 10, leaving your files intact. Note any error code shown, then work through Windows 11 upgrade failed. If the upgrade seems frozen at a percentage for a long time, see Windows Update stuck before forcing a restart.

Changing your mind: going back to Windows 10

For 10 days after upgrading, Settings > System > Recovery has a Go back option that restores Windows 10 while keeping your personal files. Apps and settings changed after the upgrade are removed. After those 10 days, Windows deletes the old installation and the only way back is a clean install. Weigh that against the fact that Windows 10 is out of support. Full details are in rolling back Windows 11 to Windows 10.

All guides in this section

• Upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11
• Windows 11 TPM requirement
• PC Health Check app
• Roll back Windows 11 to Windows 10