Forum Discussion
How to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 on Mac via Boot Camp?
I have been using Bootcamp to run Windows 10 on my MacBook Air for years and no problem with it. It comes with an Intel i5 CPU 3.6 GHZ, 256SSD and 8GB RAM. I think it is still powerful enough to run...
About upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 on Mac via boot camp, it carries some risk, but it's generally manageable if you're prepared. Your MacBook Air is technically capable, but you're navigating unsupported territory, which always introduces potential issues.
You can usually reinstall the Boot Camp drivers from Windows 11. You should download the Windows Support Software from your Mac's macOS side before you upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 on Mac, saving it to a USB drive.
Step 1: Create a Recovery Plan and download Windows Support Software
- Use the Boot Camp Assistant on the macOS side to create a Windows 10 install USB drive. This guarantees you can always get back to a known, working state if the upgrade fails catastrophically.
- Download Windows Support Software: While in macOS, open Boot Camp Assistant, go to Action -> Download Windows Support Software, and save it to a USB drive. These are the drivers you may need to reinstall after the upgrade.
Step 2: Choose the Safest Upgrade Method
- For your situation (wanting to keep files and apps), the Registry Hack with the Windows 11 Installation Assistant (Method 1 from previous answer) is the least risky path. It's a direct upgrade that maintains your environment.
Step 3: Execute and Be Prepared to Troubleshoot
- Follow the registry hack instructions precisely.
- After upgrading, your first task is to check Device Manager for any yellow exclamation marks indicating missing drivers.
- If any hardware isn't working, run the Setup.exe file from the Windows Support Software USB drive you created to reinstall the Boot Camp drivers.