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JadeMontana's avatar
JadeMontana
Iron Contributor
Apr 16, 2025

What is the best way to upgrade windows 10 to Windows 11 now?

Our office have a couple of PCs and laptops for upgrade.  They are currently running the Windows 10 OS and the administration wants them all to be upgraded to Windows 11. Before that, I ran the PC Health Check app on those computers and some of them are not supported by Windows 11 because of missing TPM 2.0.

Is there a common way to let me upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 for both Windows 11 supported and unsupported device? If that is possible, how can I do that?

Thanks

7 Replies

  • First, backup your data.

    Next, burn Windows 11 ISO to USB with WinBoootMate and you can upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 on any PC no matter it is supported or unsupported. 

    https://www.pctipdaily.com/upgrade-windows-10-to-windows-11

    It has a built-in function patch Windows 11 ISO so you can install Windows 11 on any computer.

  • When I upgraded Windows 10 to Windows 11, it went pretty smoothly overall. I made sure my laptop met all the requirements, checked for compatible software, and had everything backed up. The actual upgrade process was straightforward—just some downloading and installation time. After the upgrade, I noticed some cool new features and a fresh look, which was nice. But I did have to update a couple of drivers to get everything working perfectly. 

    Make sure your hardware meets the system requirements for Windows 11. If you’re rocking older hardware, you might run into problems. Check for TPM 2.0 and secure boot compatibility because Windows 11 has higher requirements than Windows 10. Some software you rely on might not be fully compatible with Windows 11 yet. Before you upgrading Windows 10 to Windows 11, check if the apps you use frequently have been updated or confirmed to work smoothly on the new OS.

    Sometimes, drivers (the software that helps your hardware communicate with Windows) might need updates post-upgrade, and you might experience glitches until everything is sorted out.

  • AtticusGrove's avatar
    AtticusGrove
    Iron Contributor

    To update to Windows 11, the system has certain hardware requirements. There are two free and easy-to-use programs that can help with Windows 11 updates. One is Microsoft PC Health Check, which checks the hardware requirements to make sure that your computer hardware meets the criteria for Windows 11 installation, and the other is Windows Update, which can be used directly to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11. With these two programs, you can easily update your system without any complicated operation and enjoy the new experience of Windows 11.

    Updating Windows 10 to Windows 11 in this way is convenient and free of charge. The system comes with the update function, so you don't need any additional tools, and you can just go through the system upgrade channel directly, and it also preserves your data, apps, and files by default, which doesn't affect the normal use of the system.

    However, Windows 11 has a hardware threshold, so you can't update directly if your hardware doesn't meet the standard. Before upgrading, if you know that the system hardware is up to standard, you don't need to download the Microsoft PC Health Check software, if you don't know or, in advance, test the compatibility of the hardware to ensure that the upgrade goes smoothly.

  • HarperLake's avatar
    HarperLake
    Iron Contributor

    For devices that do not meet the requirements (e.g., lack of TPM 2.0), if you want to upgrade windows 10 to Windows 11, technically it's possible to bypass some restrictions, but it comes with caveats:

    1. Registry Modification:

    1. You can modify the registry to bypass the TPM and secure boot checks. Keep in mind that this approach is not officially supported by Microsoft and may lead to instability.
    2. Steps include:
      - Open the Registry Editor (search for "regedit").
      - Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup
      - Right-click and create a new DWORD (32-bit) value called AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU and set its value to 1.
    3. After that, attempt the upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 via ISO or Windows Update, but be aware of the risks.

     

    2. Using an ISO file:

    1. Download the Windows 11 ISO file from the Microsoft website.
    2. Mount the ISO file by double-clicking it and then running setup.exe.
    3. If you've modified the registry as mentioned above, Windows Setup may continue and let you install Windows 11.

     

    Important Considerations

    • Running Windows 11 on unsupported hardware may lead to performance issues, and you might not receive updates or support.
    • It's advisable to test the upgrade on one or two machines first before deploying it across all office PCs to troubleshoot any potential issues that may arise.
  • FinleyKnight's avatar
    FinleyKnight
    Iron Contributor

    Download Windows 11 ISO and make a bootable USB for upgrading Windows 10 to Windows 11. However, this only works for Windows 11 supported PCs.

    Step1. Visit the the Windows 11 download pge from Microsoft website. 

    Step 2. In the Windows 11 Installation Assistant section, click Download Now and follow the instructions to install 
    Step 3. Open the software, tap 'Accept and Install', the system checks for hardware compatibility.

    Step4. Wait for the download to complete, the software automatically verifies the integrity of the file, tap 'Install Now', the system will begin to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11, you may need to reboot several times, keep the power connected.

    Step 5. Enter the Windows 11 Setup Wizard to configure your accounts, privacy, and more.

    Frequently Asked Questions and Solutions:

    1. Assistant prompts hardware incompatibility: Enter BIOS to enable it, or check CPU support.

    2. Download interrupted: Switch network and re-run the assistant.

    3. Installation failed: Run "DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth".

  • Microsoft Media Creation Tool is an official free tool from Microsoft to create Windows 11 installation media (e.g. USB) and also to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 free directly. It operates with files and applications preserved by default, and is flexible and reliable for Windows 11 installations and upgrades, both for local upgrades and for creating installation media.

    1. Go to Windows 11 download page.

    2. In the 'Create Windows 11 Installation Media' section, tap 'Download Now' and follow the prompts to install.

    3. Open the software and select Upgrade this computer, tap Next, the tool checks hardware compatibility.

    4. Select the language and version, wait for the download, the software automatically creates a temporary file to start the upgrade.

    Choose to keep personal files and applications, tap Install, the system restarts several times, keep the power connected.

    5. Enter Windows 11, configure accounts, privacy options, then press Windows + R, type 'winver', confirm Windows 11, confirm files and apps to be kept. After this, it will let you upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free.

  • EzraOak's avatar
    EzraOak
    Iron Contributor

    As of my last knowledge update in October 2023, you can upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 for systems that meet the hardware requirements via the standard Microsoft methods. However, for devices that do not meet the requirements (like not having TPM 2.0), you may encounter limitations as Microsoft has enforced these requirements for Windows 11 installation.

    Supported Devices (Meets Windows 11 Requirements)


    For devices that meet the Windows 11 requirements, you can upgrade using the following methods:

    1. Windows Update:

    • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
    • Check for updates, and if your device is eligible, you should see an option to download and install Windows 11.

     

    2. Windows 11 Installation Assistant:

    • You can download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant from the official Microsoft website. Run the assistant on each compatible computer, and it will guide you through the upgrade process.

     

    3. Media Creation Tool:

    • You can also use the Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB or directly upgrade the system.
    • Download the Media Creation Tool from the Microsoft website, run it, and select "Upgrade this PC now."

     

    The best practice is to only upgrade devices that are officially supported if you are going to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11. For unsupported devices, proceed with caution if you decide to bypass the requirements. Always follow Microsoft’s recommendations when handling operating system upgrades in a business environment.

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