How can I upgrade windows 10 to 11 for free?

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.