He also acknowledged the expansion of Microsoft Store to include more "traditional" desktop applications. Original equipment manufacturers can still ship computers without a TPM 2.0 coprocessor upon Microsoft's approval. Some third-party software may refuse to run on unsupported configurations of Windows 11. A clean installation of Windows 11 is the process of completely erasing the computer's hard drive and applying a fresh copy of the OS to configure a new laptop or desktop computer.
Or you can use this method to resolve issues with an existing setup. For example, to fix memory, shut down, startup, apps, stability, and performance issues. Furthermore, and perhaps more importantly, a Windows 11 clean install can improve battery life and is the best method to get rid of viruses and other types of malware. If your existing Windows 10 PC is running Windows 10 20H1 or later and meets the minimum hardware specificationsit 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 our knowledge base for a list of tested systems. Once the upgrade rollout has started, you can check if it is ready for your device by going to Settings/Windows Updates. Similar to how end users are notified when updates are available in Windows 10, end users will see an indication in the notification areas of the taskbar in the bottom right, that the upgrade is available. 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. Internet Explorer has been replaced by the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge as the default web browser, and Microsoft Teams is integrated into the Windows shell.
Microsoft also announced plans to allow more flexibility in software that can be distributed via Microsoft Store, and to support Android apps on Windows 11 . Once you complete the steps, the upgrade process will begin preserving your files and applications. After the installation, you won't need to complete the out-of-box experience to choose your privacy settings. 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. KMak, every time Apple releases a new version of a device, they update the hardware requirements for its OS, and they make older versions obsolete after a few years . Before you are going to download Windows 11 ISO files, you must check Windows 11 requirements and know everything about it. Then, follow the steps below to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free. When the Windows 11 official version is generally available to download, none of the Insiders users can directly click the Check for updates button for a full Windows 10 to Windows 11 upgrade. As part of the minimum system requirements, Windows 11 only runs on devices with a Trusted Platform Module 2.0 security coprocessor.
According to Microsoft, the TPM 2.0 coprocessor is a "critical building block" for protection against firmware and hardware attacks. In addition, Microsoft now requires devices with Windows 11 to include virtualization-based security , hypervisor-protected code integrity , and Secure Boot built-in and enabled by default. The operating system also features hardware-enforced stack protection for supported Intel and AMD processors for protection against zero-day exploits. In October 2019, Microsoft announced "Windows 10X", a future edition of Windows 10 designed exclusively for dual-touchscreen devices such as the then-upcoming Surface Neo. Legacy Windows applications would also be required to run in "containers" to ensure performance and power optimization.
Microsoft stated that it planned to release Windows 10X devices by the end of 2020. Citing security considerations, the system requirements for Windows 11 were increased over Windows 10. While the OS can be installed on unsupported processors, Microsoft does not guarantee the availability of updates. Windows 11 also drops support for 32-bit x86 CPUs and devices which use BIOS firmware. After you complete the steps, the application will download the files and create an installation media, which you can then use to boot the device and proceed with a fresh copy of Windows 11. If you already have a backup of the computer and files.
You have an activation key, or the current setup is activated correctly. The device can start from a USB flash drive, and you disconnected non-essential peripherals, then you can skip this part to the bootable media creation and a clean install process. While it's technically true that Microsoft "requirements" didn't stop me from installing Windows 11 on an unsupported 2019 iMac, their system detection software did slow me down quite a bit. After you complete the steps, the computer can start from the bootable USB drive to continue with the clean installation process.
Once the installation is complete, you should find all of your files and applications in the same place you left them before the update. Some may sport a new look (those rounded edges on apps and folders look nice, don't they?) but everything should function as you remember. The answer is just keep using Win10, until the hardware doesn't do what you need it to. The lack security updates won't matter to the average home user, as they can already jack up an install still being updated. There are people still trying to hang on to Macs that don't have or soon won't get valid root certificates for SSL sites. On the Microsoft side it's a bigger issue in the corporate space, but on Mac those computers become useless on the internet without completely switching the OS.
MS has at least demonstrated a willingness to issue a post eol patch when something particularly egregious is discovered. It's not mean to replace business intensive work. People that I know still install windows emulator in their Apple laptop to do serious work. This issue may cause some Windows users to consider switching to Apple but for big corporations with thousands of pc running windows, a realistic choice is still to upgrade to a newer windows laptops.
Apple products are simply to expensive to implement. The main issue with the approach is that Microsoft does not support this officially. The main issue that Windows 10 users will run into in October 2025 is that Microsoft won't create security updates for the operating system anymore.
Windows 10 devices will continue to work like before, but there will be security issues that Microsoft won't fix after the last Patch Day on October 14, 2025. Other companies, including 0Patch, may step in and produce some security updates for Windows 10, but the company won't release patches for all issues and some may not be released for free. First make sure you have a full backup of your data since will be installing on top of the existing data. You can download the Windows 10 media from the Windows 10 .iso download site and then set the computer to boot from the flash drive.
Typically, I find this is often the hardest part of the process — finding the combination of keys that allows you into the bios to force the system to boot from the flash drive. Download this file recovery software and follow the steps below to restore lost data. Try the trial version first, and let this software scan the drive and check whether it can find your lost files.
Windows 11 SE was announced on November 9, 2021, as an edition exclusively for low-end devices sold in the education market, and a successor to Windows 10 S. It is bundled with applications such as Microsoft Office for Microsoft 365, Minecraft Education Edition, and Flipgrid, while OneDrive is used to save files by default. Windows 11 SE does not include Microsoft Store; third-party software is provisioned or installed by administrators. Microsoft Teams is similarly integrated with the taskbar, with a pop-up showing a list of recent conversations. In addition to making a copy of your files, it's also recommended to create a list of the installed programs with their respective product keys to know which apps you need to reinstall in the new setup. Not everyone wants to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 mainly because of unknown installation errors and slow performance due to carried-over files.
So if you are an advanced user and want to clean install Windows 11 on your PC, we need to get back to the bootable method. Note that, by clean install, I don't mean erasing all of your partitions and files. This method will only wipe the C drive, including files and programs stored within the C drive.
If you are facing an error along the lines of "This PC doesn't meet the minimum system requirements to install Windows 11" on the PC Health Check app, fret not, there is still a workaround and it works well. In this method, you will have to create a bootable USB and manually install Windows 11. It will only wipe the C drive, including files and programs stored within the C drive, and not touch other partitions. So with that out the way, let's jump to the steps.
Bob Pfeffer, on your computer that fails to update to Windows 11, run Windows Update repeatedly until the check tells you that you are up to date. Then run the PC Health Check app again just to be sure that your hardware is truly supported in Windows 11. After that, back up your files, if not to an external drive, sync with Microsoft OneDrive so your files reside somewhere other than on your system drive.
Finally, run Windows Update, check the optional updates, you should see the upgrade to Windows 11 there. If not, you can then safely upgrade to Windows 11, even if it wipes your drive because you already have everything backed up, either to an external drive, or to Microsoft OneDrive. Both options are not ideal from the perspective of a user who wants as little interruptions as possible. The first option, the unsupported upgrade to Windows 11, brings most settings and installed programs to the Windows 11 system.
Most programs continue to work and data is not lost. After the download, double-click the ISO file and then double-click the setup.exe file. Click Next at the initial install screen to check for and download any updates to Windows 11.
At the Ready to Install screen, you will see that Windows 11 will be installed and personal files and apps will be kept by default. For 10 days after Microsoft replaces Windows 10 with Windows 11, users may roll back to the previous OS using recovery files stored on their hard drives. After only 10 days, those files are not useable and will eventually be deleted to reclaim some storage space. Within those 10 days, however, the recovery process is relatively painless. Upgrading to Windows 11 doesn't delete any data as long as you click the "Keep personal files and apps" option. If you lose data during the OS upgrading process, turn to EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.
This all-in-one file recovery software makes data recovery easy and fast. Windows 11 Home may be restricted by default to verified software obtained from Microsoft Store ("S Mode"). Windows 11 Home requires an internet connection and a Microsoft account in order to complete first-time setup. Windows 11, the first major Windows release since 2015, builds upon its predecessor by revamping the user interface to follow Microsoft's new Fluent Design guidelines.
The redesign, which focuses on ease of use and flexibility, comes alongside new productivity and social features and updates to security and accessibility, addressing some of the deficiencies of Windows 10. The Windows 11 installation has two parts, like on Windows 10. First is the setup, and second is the out-of-box experience .
In the first part, you will configure some basic settings, select the target drive, configure the partitions, and begin the clean installation process. Once you complete the steps, Rufus will download the ISO file from the Microsoft servers and create the bootable installation media. 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. You should also disconnect any hardware connected to the computer, including printers, phones, cameras, external hard drives, and other USB peripherals, to reduce the chances of running into problems.
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. Similar to the image file method, it also wipes the drive clean, so it is an unsuitable method if you don't want to lose your data. Creating installation media is only useful if you are looking to perform a clean install, removing all existing files and applications. With its machine learning technology, Microsoft has determined further devices on which the Windows 11 update prompt should now appear automatically.
The Redmond-based software company has not revealed any additional information on which exact PC configurations are included in this third group. However, manually triggering the Windows 11 update, which is how many tech enthusiasts probably installed Windows 11 in the past weeks, is no longer necessary on these PCs. Users can simply check the regular Windows Update application in order to verify whether the Windows 11 upgrade is ready to download on their respective device. Microsoft currently has three options for installing Windows 11.
We'll detail the Installation Assistant option in this article, since it's the easiest way to update to Windows 11 and the one we recommend for most users. Just follow the steps below and you'll soon see what Windows 11 is all about. Ll hardware features in my Lenovo Yoga 500 laptop, worked immediately after installing Pop! That is, the keyboard, trackpad, audio, Bluetooth, Wifi, wired internet, touch screen and HDMI port . It even "wakes up" properly when it is put to "sleep" when closing the lid.
The above distros are available from Canonical and come in both free or paid for versions. The paid version is about 50 quid and offers more features and more support. All come with a suite of software for office and internet use. The default browser is Firefox but you can also have Chromium or other browsers.
If you installed Linux alongside Windows, no problem, except that you will have lost some of your hard disk space to Linux. But if you want to delete Linux, you can restore your HD, using something like Partition Magic. This PC doesn't meet the minimum system requirements for running Windows 11 - these requirements help ensure a more reliable and higher quality experience. Installing Windows 11 on this PC is not recommended and may result in compatibility issues.
If you proceed with installing Windows 11, your PC will no longer be supported and won't be entitled to receive updates. Damages to your PC due to lack of compatibility aren't covered under the manufacturer warranty. Most Windows 10 devices that do not meet the minimum system requirements will stay on that version of Windows, but what happens when Windows 10 runs out of support in 2025? Microsoft lists October 14, 2025 as the retirement date for Windows 10 Home and Pro . Some users will certainly replace their devices with new ones, which will likely include Windows 11 or are at least compatible with the new operating system. Microsoft offers several ways to download Windows 11 manually.
One is to use the Installation Assistant app, which you install on your PC to trigger a normal upgrade install via Windows Update. The second is to use the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool, which automates the process of creating a bootable USB install drive or downloading an install ISO file. Once you have a USB drive, you can either boot from it to perform a clean install or run the Setup app from within Windows 10 to do a normal upgrade install. You can also burn the ISO to a DVD, but installing from any USB drive, even an old USB 2.0 drive, will be much faster, so you shouldn't do that. Finally, you can just download an ISO file directly from Microsoft's site. Upgrades to Windows 11 will begin to roll out late in 2021 and continue into 2022.
