Vision Tech

Home / Windows laptops & PCs

Windows laptops & PCsMedium2 min read

Upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11, step by step

Windows 11 is a free upgrade for PCs that meet its requirements. The only safe way to do it is through the official routes from Microsoft. This guide takes you through checking, preparing and upgrading.

Check if your PC qualifies

Open the PC Health Check app from Microsoft, or look in Settings, Update & Security, Windows Update in Windows 10. If your PC is eligible, you will see Upgrade to Windows 11 is ready.

Windows 11 needs, among other things, a 64-bit processor, 4 GB of memory, 64 GB of storage, UEFI with Secure Boot and a TPM 2.0 chip. Many PCs from about 2018 onward qualify, but not all. Our guide on checking your version covers this.

If it says no

Do not use tricks or downloads that claim to bypass the checks. These can leave you without security updates and cause instability. You can keep using Windows 10 for a while, but plan a replacement PC.

Prepare

  1. Back up your files to an external drive or OneDrive. This is the most important step.
  2. Plug the laptop into the mains.
  3. Install all Windows 10 updates first and restart.
  4. Make sure you have at least 20 GB free.
  5. Check that your antivirus and important programs support Windows 11.

Upgrade

  1. Go to Settings, Update & Security, Windows Update.
  2. Click Download and install under the Windows 11 notice.
  3. Wait. It can take an hour or more, and the PC will restart several times.
  4. Sign in and check your files and printers.

Going back

For a short period, about 10 days after the upgrade, you can go back to Windows 10. Open Settings, System, Recovery and look for Go back. After that time, going back means a clean reinstall.

When to get more help

Get in touch if the upgrade fails with an error code, if the notice is missing but you believe the PC qualifies, or if you would like us to do it for you. Do not start the upgrade without a backup.

Did this help? If you are still stuck, email Vision Tech and tell us what you can see on the screen. Menus and button names can differ slightly between versions and makes. If something does not match, stop and ask rather than guess.

Related guides

Windows laptops & PCsEasyNo sound from my computerNo sound is usually caused by muted volume, the wrong speakers being selected, or a loose cable.Windows laptops & PCsMediumBlack screen when Windows startsA black screen can mean the laptop is on but the display is not showing anything, or that Windows has stopped part-way through starting.Windows laptops & PCsMediumWindows stuck on updating or update failsWindows updates can take a long time, and sometimes they stall or fail with an error.