Windows 10 support ends on October 14, 2025, which makes upgrading to Windows 11 a timely priority. The free upgrade is still available for eligible PCs, and the process is straightforward if your hardware meets Microsoft's requirements. The main hurdle is the CPU generation restriction and the TPM 2.0 requirement — older machines often fail here. This guide covers how to check compatibility, how to upgrade through Windows Update or the Installation Assistant, what to verify after upgrading, and your options if your PC doesn't qualify.
Table of Contents
- Windows 11 System Requirements
- Pre-Upgrade Checklist
- Upgrade via Windows Update
- Upgrade with the Installation Assistant
- What to Check After Upgrading
- What to Do If Your PC Doesn't Meet Requirements
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Summary
Windows 11 System Requirements
Windows 11 has stricter hardware requirements than Windows 10. Before starting, confirm your PC meets them.
Minimum Specifications
Microsoft's official requirements:
- Processor: 1 GHz or faster, 2 or more cores, 64-bit compatible (Intel 8th Gen or later, AMD Ryzen 2000 or later, as a rough guide)
- RAM: 4 GB
- Storage: 64 GB
- TPM: Version 2.0
- Secure Boot: UEFI firmware, enabled
- Graphics: DirectX 12 compatible, WDDM 2.0 driver
- Display: 9 inches or larger, HD (720p) resolution
The CPU generation limit and TPM 2.0 are the most common blockers. PCs that are seven or more years old frequently fall short on one or both.
Check with PC Health Check
Microsoft's PC Health Check app does the compatibility check automatically.
- Download PC Health Check from the official Microsoft website
- Install and open it
- In the Introducing Windows 11 section, click Check now
- If the result says "This PC meets Windows 11 requirements," you're clear to upgrade
- If not, the tool lists exactly what's missing — CPU, TPM, Secure Boot, etc.
TPM and Secure Boot can sometimes be enabled in UEFI/BIOS settings on PCs that have them but have them turned off. If those are the only missing items, check your motherboard settings before concluding the PC can't be upgraded.
Pre-Upgrade Checklist
Upgrades rarely go wrong, but a few minutes of preparation prevents avoidable problems.
- Back up important files: Copy photos, documents, and desktop files to an external drive or OneDrive
- Free up storage: At least 64 GB of free space is recommended — delete unused files if needed
- Plug in your power adapter: For laptops, stay plugged in throughout the upgrade. A power loss mid-install can leave the system unbootable
- Verify your Windows 10 activation: Go to Settings → Update & Security → Activation and confirm Windows is activated. Linking your license to a Microsoft account before upgrading makes recovery easier
- Check app compatibility: Look up whether any critical business software or peripheral drivers work on Windows 11
- Set aside time: The full process typically takes one to three hours
Older printers and scanners are a common issue — the manufacturer may not have released Windows 11 drivers. Check the manufacturer's support site before starting.
Upgrade via Windows Update
For eligible PCs, the cleanest upgrade path is through Windows Update.
- Open Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update
- Look for a Windows 11 is ready banner
- Click Download and install
- Accept the license terms
- Allow the download and preparation to complete (30 minutes to an hour depending on connection speed)
- Click Restart now
- The upgrade installs across several automatic restarts
- When the login screen appears, the upgrade is complete
If the banner doesn't appear, Microsoft is still rolling out the offer to your device. You can wait, or use the Installation Assistant to upgrade immediately.
Upgrade with the Installation Assistant
If Windows Update isn't showing the offer, or you want to upgrade on your schedule, use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant.
- Go to Microsoft's "Download Windows 11" page
- Under Windows 11 Installation Assistant, click Download Now
- Run Windows11InstallationAssistant.exe
- After the compatibility check, click Accept and install
- The tool downloads Windows 11, verifies it, and then installs it
- Click Restart now when prompted
- The upgrade finishes after a few restarts
Expect the whole process to take one to two hours. Your personal files and installed apps are preserved, but back them up first regardless.
What to Check After Upgrading
Once Windows 11 is running, go through these verification steps.
- Activation: Go to Settings → System → Activation and confirm "Windows is activated"
- Windows Update: Run Check for updates immediately — there are often cumulative updates waiting
- Device Manager: Open it and look for any yellow warning icons, which indicate driver problems
- App compatibility: Open your most-used apps to confirm they start normally
- Personal files: Verify that Documents, Pictures, and the Desktop contents carried over
- Taskbar and Start menu: Windows 11 has a different layout — adjust to your preference in Settings → Personalization
- Windows.old folder: Within 10 days of upgrading, you can roll back to Windows 10 via Settings → System → Recovery → Go back. After that window closes, rollback requires a clean reinstall
Once you're confident everything works, free up space by running Disk Cleanup and deleting Previous Windows installation(s).
What to Do If Your PC Doesn't Meet Requirements
PC Health Check showed "This PC can't run Windows 11." Here are your realistic options.
Enable TPM and Secure Boot in UEFI
Some PCs have compatible hardware that's simply been disabled. Enter UEFI/BIOS (typically by pressing Del, F2, or F10 during startup) and look for TPM and Secure Boot settings. Enabling them may clear the requirement check.
Replace the hardware
Intel 7th Gen and earlier, and first-generation Ryzen, are excluded by Microsoft's policy. For these systems, replacement hardware is the straightforward path to Windows 11.
Extend Windows 10 with ESU
Microsoft is offering Extended Security Updates (ESU) for individuals as a paid subscription after October 2025. This buys time without a hardware change.
Switch to Linux
Lightweight Linux distributions like Ubuntu or Linux Mint run well on older hardware. If your daily workflow is mainly a browser and light productivity apps, this is a practical long-term option.
Unofficial methods to bypass the requirement check exist, but they mean Microsoft won't deliver feature updates and the installation falls outside support scope — not recommended for a machine you'll use long-term.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is the Windows 11 upgrade still free?
Yes. Any PC running a genuine Windows 10 license that meets the hardware requirements can upgrade to Windows 11 at no cost. This offer is still active as of 2025.
Q. Will upgrading delete my files?
Personal files and installed apps are preserved in the standard upgrade path. Back them up anyway — hardware issues during an upgrade are rare but possible.
Q. What if the upgrade fails?
Within 10 days, go to Settings → System → Recovery → Go back to return to Windows 10. After 10 days, you'd need a clean install from a Windows 10 ISO.
Q. How long does the upgrade take?
Typically one to three hours, depending on download speed and PC performance. Don't start it if you need the PC in the next few hours.
Q. Can I roll back after 10 days?
Not directly. After the Windows.old folder is deleted (either automatically after 28 days or manually via Disk Cleanup), rollback requires a clean reinstall of Windows 10 from a bootable USB.
Summary
Upgrading to Windows 11 is free for eligible PCs and straightforward through Windows Update or the Installation Assistant. With Windows 10 support ending in October 2025, now is a good time to check compatibility using PC Health Check and start planning. If your PC qualifies, back up your data, ensure you have enough free storage, and let the upgrade run when you have a few hours to spare. If it doesn't qualify, enabling TPM and Secure Boot in UEFI might resolve it — or it may be time to consider new hardware or a switch to Linux for older machines.
