Can I upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 11 for free 2025?

Upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 11 is generally not straightforward and, as of 2025, still not officially supported through a direct upgrade path. Microsoft officially requires Windows 10 or later as the minimum OS for Windows 11, and the upgrade process typically involves a clean install rather than an in-place upgrade from Windows 7.

1. Hardware Compatibility:
Your Lenovo ThinkPad T530 with an Intel Core i7-3520M, 8GB RAM, and Intel HD Graphics 4000 is quite dated. Windows 11 has strict hardware requirements,
2. TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot:
Your Lenovo T530 probably lacks TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, which are mandatory for Windows 11. You might find workarounds, but they are not officially supported and can pose security risks.
3. Upgrade Path:  
Officially: No direct upgrade path from Windows 7 to Windows 11.
Unofficially: You can attempt a clean installation of Windows 11 by creating a bootable USB, but compatibility issues may prevent installation or cause stability problems.

Recommendation:

* Testing Windows 11:
To upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 11 or run Windows 11 for testing purposes, your best bet is to do a clean install on hardware that meets the requirements. Alternatively, you can use a virtual machine on your MacBook Pro M3 to run Windows 11, which is much more feasible and avoids hardware compatibility issues.
* Using Virtualization:
Since your main machine is a MacBook Pro M3, you can install virtualization software like Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion and run Windows 11 in a VM. This is a clean, supported, and flexible method to test your apps.