Forum Discussion
Can I fresh windows 11 install without losing data
Yes. I just did that three days ago on my Windows 10 Pro laptop. All personal files and apps are still there after upgrade. However, you need to apply some tricks to do this. Here is the trick that worked for me:
https://www.uuwinfox.com/safe-way-to-install-win11-without-losing-data
If you want to move to Windows 11 without losing your personal files, you should choose an in-place upgrade rather than a clean install. The easiest way is to use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant or the Update option from the ISO setup—this upgrades Windows 10 to 11 while keeping your files and most apps.
A true clean install from a bootable USB will wipe everything, so only do that if you’re okay starting fresh. Even with the upgrade path, I’d strongly recommend making a full backup of your important files first, just in case something goes wrong during the process.