How can I upgrade windows 10 to 11 for free?

I did this on an an old Dell laptop and all files & apps are saved. You can follow this guide to upgrade Windows 10 to 11 for free.

your PC is so close to meeting Windows 11's official requirements (has TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot), but the Intel i5-6500 is the blocker (6th-gen, not supported). To upgrade Windows 10 to 11 for free. You can do that:

Using MDL (My Digital Life) forums can be a helpful resource for information and community support regarding upgrading Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free, especially if you're looking for tips, troubleshooting advice, and user experiences. However, it's important to ensure that any method you follow complies with Microsoft's licensing terms and policies.

Here are some key points to consider:

1. Official Support and Compatibility:

Microsoft has specific hardware requirements for Windows 11. Make sure your device meets these requirements to avoid issues during upgrade.

2. Official Upgrade Paths:

You can upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free if your device is eligible, using the official Windows Update or the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft.

3. Using Workarounds or Hacks:

Some community members discuss bypassing certain hardware checks or using unofficial methods to upgrade. While these might work, they can violate Microsoft's terms of service and may lead to stability or security issues.

4. Risks and Legality:

Always be cautious with unofficial tools or modifications. Using unsupported methods can cause system instability, void warranties, or violate licensing agreements.

Using the Registry Edit Method to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free involves modifying certain registry keys to bypass the standard hardware checks that Windows 11 setup performs.

If you still want to proceed, here are the general steps about upgrading Windows 10 to 11 for free:

1. Open Registry Editor:

• Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.

2. Navigate to the Key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup

3. Create or Modify the Key:

• Create a new key named MoSetup if it doesn't exist.
• Inside MoSetup, create a new DWORD (32-bit) value named AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU.
• Set its value to 1.

4. Proceed with the Upgrade:

• Run the Windows 11 installation media or upgrade process. The setup should now bypass the TPM and CPU checks.

Using manual installation media modification to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free involves several important considerations and potential pitfalls. Here’s what you need to be aware of:

Risks and Errors to Avoid:

1. Bypassing Hardware Requirements Incorrectly:

Windows 11 has specific hardware requirements (e.g., TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, certain CPU models). Manually modifying installation media to bypass these can lead to installation failures or unstable system behavior.

2. Invalid or Unsupported Installation Media:

Creating or modifying installation media improperly can result in corrupted files or an unbootable system. Always use official sources and tools as a base.

3. Violation of Licensing Terms:

While Microsoft has allowed upgrades Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free, bypassing certain requirements through unsupported modifications may violate licensing or warranty terms.

4. Stability and Security Risks:

Using modified media might disable security features or cause compatibility issues, leading to system instability or vulnerability.

5. Data Loss:

Improper modifications or installations can lead to data loss. Always back up your data before proceeding.

6. Activation and Support Issues:

Unsupported upgrades may cause issues with activation or future support from Microsoft.

the CPU (Intel i5-6500) is not supported by Windows 11. One working approach is by configuring a custom unattend.xml to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 on unsupported PC.

unattend.xml is an answer file that Windows Setup reads automatically. By adding specific registry instructions, it tells Windows 11 setup to skip hardware requirement checks during upgrade.

This works for:

• No TPM 2.0
• Unsupported CPU
• No Secure Boot

And it still allows an in-place upgrade (apps + files stay).

What You Need

1. A Windows 11 ISO (same or newer edition than your Windows 10)
2. A text editor (Notepad is enough)
3. Admin account on Windows 10

How to Upgrade Windows 10 to 11 For Free

1. Download a Windows 11 ISO that matches your current Windows 10 edition and language.
2. Open Notepad, paste the unattend.xml content (with LabConfig bypass commands), and save it as unattend.xml using UTF-8 encoding.
3. Right-click the Windows 11 ISO and choose Mount to open it as a new drive letter.
4. Open the mounted drive, go into the sources folder, and copy unattend.xml into X:\sources.
5. Go back to the root of the mounted ISO and run setup.exe from inside Windows 10 (not from boot).
6. When prompted for updates, choose Not right now to reduce extra checks and download time.
7. Accept the license terms and continue until you reach the “Choose what to keep” screen.
8. Select Keep personal files and apps (or your preferred option) and click Install.
9. Let the PC reboot as needed and complete the upgrade until you reach the Windows 11 desktop.
10. After login, verify Windows 11 is installed (Settings → System → About) and run Windows Update if desired.

Currently, this is one of the most reliable way for upgrading Windows 10 to Windows 11 on unsupported hardware. It will also keep files & apps methods 👍

Don't use Rufus for Windows 10 to Windows 11 free upgrade as it is not a good option now.

The primary goal of this upgrade is to preserve all your applications, files, and settings seamlessly. Rufus is designed to create bootable installation media for a clean install, which inherently erases your existing setup and does not keep your apps.

Furthermore, the official upgrade path via Windows Update or the Installation Assistant is the most reliable and is guaranteed to be free for eligible systems. While Rufus is an excellent tool for bypassing requirements on unsupported hardware or for creating clean install media, it introduces unnecessary complexity and risk, such as creating a non-bootable USB or misconfiguring partitions—for a simple supported upgrade.

Therefore, for a straightforward, free upgrade where the only requirement is that your PC meets Microsoft's specifications, you should strictly use the official methods. Stick with Windows Update, the Windows 11 Installation Assistant, or the Media Creation Tool set to "Upgrade this PC," as these are built and validated by Microsoft to perform a smooth, in-place upgrade without data loss.

You can use WinUpgradeMate instead for free upgrading Windows 10 to Windows 11 without losing data. It will keep personal files, apps and system settings.

If your PC or laptop meets Windows 11 system requirements, then you can follow this guide to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free without losing data.

Prepare Your PC 

Back up important files (recommended)

Update Windows 10: Go to Settings → Update & Security → Check for updates

Free up storage space if needed. Ensure 20+ GB free space on system drive

Upgrade Windows 10 to 11 for Free

The Windows 11 Installation Assistant is Microsoft's dedicated tool for performing an in-place upgrade on a single, eligible PC.

1. Download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant from Microsoft's official website.

2. Run the downloaded file as an administrator.

3. Accept the applicable notices and license terms. The tool will verify your device's hardware compatibility. 

4. It will then download the Windows 11 installation files. Your PC will restart to begin the installation process.

5. Follow any on-screen prompts that appear. The system will install and configure Windows 11.

6. Your PC will restart several times during this process.

7. Finally, you will sign in to your new Windows 11 desktop.

By following these sequential steps, the Installation Assistant provides a straightforward, guided path to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free without data loss.