Microsoft Windows
How Do You Upgrade From Windows 10 to Windows 11 for Free? (Step-by-Step)
Upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is still free in 2026 for any PC that meets the minimum requirements — there’s no time-limited offer or expiration the way there was for the original Windows 7/8 to Windows 10 upgrade. The fastest path: back up your files, open Settings → Windows Update, and click “Download and install” if Windows 11 shows as available. If it doesn’t show up, Microsoft’s Installation Assistant or Media Creation Tool let you trigger the upgrade manually, provided your PC has a supported CPU, TPM 2.0, and UEFI Secure Boot. Your existing Windows 10 license activates Windows 11 automatically — no new key needed.
Three Ways to Upgrade: Which One Fits You
| Method | Keeps Files & Apps? | Speed | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Update | Yes, everything | Slowest to appear (staged rollout) | Most users — set it and wait |
| Installation Assistant | Yes, everything | Immediate, no waiting for rollout | Eligible PCs where the upgrade hasn’t appeared yet |
| Media Creation Tool (USB/ISO) | Yes (in-place) or No (clean install, your choice) | Immediate | Clean installs, multiple PCs, or troubleshooting a stuck upgrade |
Before You Start: Check Eligibility and Back Up
- Download and run Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app to confirm your PC meets Windows 11’s requirements (CPU generation, TPM 2.0, UEFI Secure Boot, RAM, storage). If you’re not sure what any of that means, see our Windows 11 system requirements and TPM 2.0 guide first.
- Back up your files before any OS upgrade — File History, OneDrive sync, or a copy to an external drive. In-place upgrades are generally reliable, but backing up first costs a few minutes and eliminates the worst-case scenario entirely.
- Make sure you have at least 20–30 GB of free disk space — the upgrade process needs room to stage files even though Windows 11’s final footprint is smaller.
- Confirm your Windows 10 is on version 2004 or later — required as the minimum upgrade source. Check via Settings → System → About.
Method 1: Windows Update (Easiest)
- Go to Settings → Windows Update
- Click Check for updates
- If your PC is eligible, you’ll see “Feature update to Windows 11” with a Download and install button
- Click it, let it download, then click Restart now when prompted
- The upgrade runs automatically, preserving your files, apps, and settings
This is the safest, most tested path since it’s the exact mechanism Microsoft uses for its staged rollout — but it can take time to appear even on eligible hardware, since Microsoft releases the offer in waves rather than to every PC simultaneously.
Method 2: Windows 11 Installation Assistant
If Windows Update hasn’t offered you the upgrade yet but PC Health Check confirms you’re eligible, the Installation Assistant lets you trigger it immediately:
- Go to Microsoft’s official Windows 11 download page and download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant
- Run the downloaded file and accept the license terms
- The tool checks compatibility, downloads Windows 11, and installs it in place — keeping your files and apps
- Restart when prompted to complete the upgrade
This is functionally the same upgrade as Windows Update, just triggered on your schedule instead of waiting for the staged rollout to reach your specific PC.
Method 3: Media Creation Tool (USB/ISO)
Best for upgrading multiple PCs, doing a clean install instead of in-place, or recovering from a stuck upgrade:
- Download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s official site
- Choose to either create installation media on a USB drive (8 GB+) or download an ISO file
- To do an in-place upgrade: run
setup.exefrom the mounted ISO or USB drive while inside your current Windows 10 install, and choose to keep personal files and apps when prompted - To do a clean install instead: boot from the USB drive, and during setup choose custom install — this wipes the drive, so only do this after confirming your backup
For the complete walkthrough including clean-install specifics, see our full Windows 11 & 10 install and activation guide.
After the Upgrade: What to Check
- Activation: Go to Settings → System → Activation and confirm it shows “Windows is activated.” Your existing Windows 10 digital license or product key activates Windows 11 automatically during an eligible upgrade — you don’t need a new key.
- Drivers: Run Windows Update again post-upgrade to pick up any driver updates specific to Windows 11.
- Settings carried over: Desktop layout, taskbar pins, and most app settings should transfer, though the taskbar and Start menu layout change enough that some manual re-pinning is normal.
- Old files: If you did an in-place upgrade, everything should be exactly where you left it. If you did a clean install, check
C:\Windows.oldtemporarily for anything you need to recover.
Changed Your Mind? Rolling Back to Windows 10
After an in-place upgrade, Windows keeps a recovery option for a limited window (typically 10 days) to revert to your previous version without a full reinstall:
- Go to Settings → System → Recovery
- Look for “Go back” under Recovery options
- Follow the prompts — this restores Windows 10 along with your files and most settings, as long as you’re still within the rollback window
After that window closes, “Windows.old” and the rollback option are cleaned up automatically to free disk space, so reverting after that point requires a full reinstall from backup.
Why the Upgrade Might Not Be Showing Up
- Hardware doesn’t meet requirements — most commonly TPM 2.0 disabled or an unsupported CPU generation. Run PC Health Check to confirm exactly which requirement is failing.
- Staged rollout hasn’t reached your PC yet — Microsoft releases Windows 11 in waves based on hardware/driver compatibility signals, even among eligible devices. The Installation Assistant bypasses this wait.
- Group Policy or update deferral settings — common on business/managed PCs where feature updates are intentionally held back by IT policy.
- Insufficient free disk space — free up at least 20–30 GB and check again.
- A driver or app compatibility hold — Microsoft sometimes blocks the upgrade offer for specific hardware/driver/software combinations with known issues until a fix ships.
Buyer’s Guide: Upgrade Now, Wait, or Replace Hardware?
Upgrade now if:
- PC Health Check confirms your hardware is eligible
- You’re still on Windows 10, which reached end of support on October 14, 2025 — see our Windows 10 end of support guide for what that means for security patching
- You want the upgrade at zero cost while it remains free for eligible hardware
Consider waiting (briefly) if:
- You depend on specific legacy software or drivers with known Windows 11 compatibility issues — verify compatibility first
- Your organization has change-management processes that require testing before a fleet-wide rollout
Plan for new hardware instead if:
- PC Health Check shows your CPU generation isn’t supported — no free upgrade path exists for genuinely incompatible hardware
- Your PC is old enough that even if it technically qualifies, performance on Windows 11 would be marginal
Real-world example: A home user on a 2020 laptop with an Intel 10th-gen CPU runs PC Health Check, finds TPM is simply disabled in BIOS, enables it in two minutes, and completes the free Windows Update upgrade the same day — no cost, no new hardware. Compare that to a 2016 desktop with a 6th-gen CPU: PC Health Check fails it on CPU generation, and the realistic paths are Windows 10 ESU (paid, temporary) or new hardware with Windows 11 preinstalled or purchased separately.
Why This Matters
Windows 10 reached the end of free security updates on October 14, 2025 — it still runs, but new vulnerabilities discovered from that point on don’t get patched for most users, which is a real and growing security exposure the longer it goes on. Because the Windows 11 upgrade remains free for eligible hardware, there’s rarely a financial reason to delay once you’ve confirmed compatibility — the cost of staying on an unpatched OS, in risk rather than dollars, is the bigger consideration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 still free in 2026?
Yes. Unlike the original time-limited Windows 7/8-to-10 offer, the Windows 10-to-11 upgrade has no expiration date for eligible hardware — it remains free as of 2026.
Do I need a new product key to upgrade?
No. If your PC is eligible and currently activated with a genuine Windows 10 license, that same activation carries over automatically during the upgrade to Windows 11 — no new key required.
How long does the upgrade take?
Typically 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on your hardware (especially SSD vs HDD) and internet speed for the download portion. The PC restarts one or more times during the process.
Will I lose my files during the upgrade?
An in-place upgrade (via Windows Update, Installation Assistant, or “keep files and apps” in Media Creation Tool) preserves your files, apps, and most settings. Always back up beforehand regardless, as a general precaution for any OS upgrade.
What if Windows Update doesn’t show the Windows 11 upgrade?
Confirm eligibility with PC Health Check first. If your hardware qualifies, use the Installation Assistant to trigger the upgrade immediately instead of waiting for the staged rollout to reach your PC.
Can I go back to Windows 10 after upgrading?
Yes, within about 10 days of upgrading, via Settings → System → Recovery → “Go back.” After that window, Windows automatically cleans up the rollback files, and reverting requires a full reinstall from backup.
My PC fails the Windows 11 compatibility check — what are my options?
If it’s just TPM 2.0 disabled, enabling it in BIOS usually resolves it in minutes. If your CPU generation itself is unsupported, your realistic options are Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (paid, temporary) or new hardware.
Does upgrading to Windows 11 cost anything for a genuine Windows 10 license?
No — the upgrade itself is free for eligible hardware with a genuine, activated Windows 10 license. You only need to purchase a new license if you’re setting up additional hardware or your existing license isn’t genuine/activated.
Is it better to do an in-place upgrade or a clean install?
An in-place upgrade is faster and keeps everything as-is — good for most users. A clean install takes longer and requires reinstalling apps, but avoids carrying forward years of accumulated system clutter, which some users prefer on older installs.
Can I upgrade a PC running Windows 10 Home to Windows 11 Pro?
The free upgrade keeps you on the same edition tier — Windows 10 Home upgrades to Windows 11 Home, and Windows 10 Pro upgrades to Windows 11 Pro. Moving from Home to Pro requires a separate Pro upgrade license regardless of which Windows version you’re on.
Conclusion: Upgrading From Windows 10 to Windows 11
The Windows 10 to 11 upgrade remains free for any hardware that meets the requirements, and with Windows 10’s official support already ended, there’s little reason to delay once you’ve confirmed eligibility. Start with PC Health Check, back up your files, and use Windows Update or the Installation Assistant for the smoothest path — reserve the Media Creation Tool for clean installs or multi-PC upgrades. If your hardware doesn’t qualify, that’s a separate decision about new hardware or temporary ESU coverage, not a reason to pay for something that’s otherwise free.
PC Not Eligible? Get Set Up on Windows 11 the Right Way
If PC Health Check says your current hardware can’t make the jump, a fresh Windows 11 license on new or upgraded hardware is the straightforward path forward.
- Windows 11 Pro OEM Product Key
- Windows 11 Pro Product Key — 5 PC License
- Ultimate Home Bundle — Windows 11 Home + Office 2021 Home & Student
Still deciding whether the upgrade is worth it for your setup? Read our Windows 10 Pro vs Windows 11 Pro comparison.
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