As you probably already know, Windows 11, the new version of Microsoft's operating system, was officially released some time ago and is now available for easy download and installation. Windows 10 users can upgrade to this operating system for free , keeping all their data and information stored on their computers.
However, despite Microsoft announcing that the update would appear within the Windows Update & Security section, this isn't always the case. But don't worry, there's a simple way to force the update to Windows 11 if you're currently running Windows 10 , allowing you to upgrade to the new operating system without losing your current data.
How to install the new Windows 11 on any computer running Windows 10
As we mentioned, upgrading to Windows 11 is possible on any computer currently running Windows 10 that meets the minimum installation requirements of the new system , which specify the following:
- Processor: 1 GHz or faster with 2 or more cores in a compatible 64-bit processor or SoC.
- RAM: 4 GB or more.
- Storage: at least 64 GB of memory.
- System firmware: UEFI, Supports Secure Boot.
- TPM: version 2.0.
- Graphic card: DirectX 12 or later compatible with WDDM 2.0 driver.
- Screen: high definition (720p) over 9? diagonal, with 8-bit channel per color.
If your computer meets these requirements, you can proceed with the Windows 11 installation. However, it's important to know that you'll need an active internet connection at all times to avoid potential problems during the installation.
Download the Windows 11 installer
To begin, you'll need to download the Windows 11 Setup Assistant , available for free on the Microsoft downloads page . Simply click the blue "Download now" button , and a small wizard will be downloaded to guide you through the Windows 11 download and installation process.
Run the Windows 11 Compatibility Tool
To check if your computer is compatible with Windows 11, when you open the operating system installation wizard from the previous step , a window will appear indicating that you should first check if your computer is compatible with Microsoft's new operating system.
To do this, all you have to do is follow the link shown in the window to access the Microsoft PC Health download page and click on the "Download the PC Health Check app" button , which you will need to install on your computer.
Once you've done this, opening it on the Start screen will display a section titled " Introducing Windows 11 ," where you'll find more information about Microsoft's new operating system. All you have to do is click the blue "Check now" button at the bottom of that section , and the tool will verify whether your computer meets the requirements to install Windows 11.
Downloading and installing Windows 11 on your computer
Once it has been officially verified that your computer meets the minimum requirements to install Windows 11, you can begin the download and installation process. To do this, return to the installation program you downloaded in the first step and click the "Update" button so it can retrieve the data from the system check tool.
By doing so, the wizard will automatically begin downloading the Windows 11 update for the computer, and the installation program in question has 3 distinct phases, which will be carried out consecutively: the download of Windows 11, the verification of the installation media and the final installation.
Specifically, for this last step your computer will restart and you won't be able to use it for a few minutes, as it will need to update to the new Windows 11 while keeping all the information you had when you used Windows 10. However, you shouldn't worry since it's a fairly simple process.