Since officially launching Windows 11 on 5 October 2021, Microsoft has been rolling out this newest version of its operating system to eligible clients.
Let’s have a look at the requirements to get this upgrade, how to check if it is available to your current installation, what you can do to get Windows 11 right now, and how you can upgrade from a Home edition to a Pro edition.
Requirements
Microsoft has introduced more stringent security requirements for Windows 11. The most noteworthy is that machines must support secure boot and have a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 to be eligible to run Windows 11.
The Microsoft PC Health Check App will show if a machine supports Windows 11.
Image credit: Microsoft
Check if Windows 11 upgrade is available
Microsoft is rolling out Window 11 to all eligible devices in a phased approach, so the update will not be immediately available to all computers.
To check if the update is available to install, simply go to Settings > Update & Security > Check for updates.
If the Windows 11 update is there, it can be installed as any other update would be.
After installation, the computer will restart, and will log in to Windows 11.
Image credit: Microsoft
Get Windows 11 if it is not showing in the system updates
Microsoft offers three options to download the Windows 11 installation manually.
Windows 11 Installation Assistant
The Windows 11 installation assistant is the easiest option to perform the upgrade.
What is required is:
- Windows 10 license
- Windows 10 v2004 or newer
- 9GB free space on the hard disk
Go to the Windows 11 download page to download the tool and execute it to perform an in-place upgrade.
Create Windows 11 Installation Media
Downloading the Windows 11 installation media allows creating a bootable memory stick or DVD. A minimum 8GB memory stick or dual-layer DVD would be required to use this option.
This option requires some technical knowledge. For example, the person performing the installation will need to know if the computer has an x64 processor and confirm the downloaded installation files to match the language currently installed on the computer.
Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO)
Another more advanced option similar to the abovementioned installation media is the ISO option. This option allows all the same options as above and enables a virtual machine booting from the disk image.
Windows 11 Home to Professional upgrade
Windows 10 will automatically upgrade to the same installed version. In other words, Windows 10 Home will upgrade to Windows 11 Home or Windows 10 Pro to Windows 11 Pro.
Windows Home will allow an in-place unlocking of the Pro features with purchasing a Pro key.
There are many reasons to do this. One example would be the additional security features, such as BitLocker drive encryption. Other options may be the need to join a corporate domain or unlock the ability to use more RAM.
Conclusion
Windows 11 has many new exciting features. However, with so many different options for different needs, it is best to speak to experts about whether upgrading to a Professional license is the best option.
