Upgrading to Windows 11: Requirements and Install Guide
Windows 10 stopped receiving updates in October 2025, and Microsoft is nudging everyone towards Windows 11. The good news: the upgrade is free from a valid Windows 10 licence. But Windows 11 is fussier about hardware. Here is how to check your compatibility and install cleanly, without losing your files.
The hardware requirements to know
Windows 11 sets stricter requirements than its predecessor. The main ones:
- A compatible 64-bit processor, two cores or more, from the supported list (roughly Intel 8th generation and newer, AMD Ryzen 2000 and up).
- 4 GB of RAM minimum (8 GB recommended for comfortable use).
- 64 GB of storage minimum.
- TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled in the BIOS/UEFI. This is what blocks the most otherwise-modern PCs.
Check compatibility in two minutes
Download PC Health Check, Microsoft's official tool. It tells you in one click whether your PC is eligible and, if not, which component is missing. Often the only obstacle is a disabled TPM or Secure Boot — two options you simply switch on.
Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot
Many PCs have a TPM chip the manufacturer left switched off. Reboot into the BIOS/UEFI (Delete, F2 or F10 depending on the brand), find the TPM / PTT / fTPM and Secure Boot settings, enable them, and save. Run PC Health Check again: your "incompatible PC" often turns out to be eligible.
Back up before you upgrade. A successful upgrade leaves your files untouched — but a current backup turns any surprise into a non-event.
The upgrade, step by step
- Back up your data (external drive or cloud). Non-negotiable.
- Open Settings > Windows Update: if your PC is eligible, the Windows 11 upgrade appears there.
- Otherwise, use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant from Microsoft's website.
- Let the machine finish: it will restart several times. Do not switch it off.
This method keeps your files, apps and settings. Allow 30 minutes to over an hour depending on the drive.
The safety net: 10 days to go back
After upgrading, Windows keeps the previous version for 10 days. If a driver or program causes trouble, go to Settings > System > Recovery and choose to go back to Windows 10. After that window, the rollback files are deleted to free up space.
What if the PC really isn't compatible?
Installing Windows 11 on an unsupported PC is possible but not advised: Microsoft may withhold future updates. It is better to keep a protected Windows 10 (through the extended updates programme) while you plan a replacement.
The shortcut: let Yuna7 do it
Between the TPM check, the BIOS and the backup, upgrading feels intimidating. That is why we built Yuna7: you ask "move my PC to Windows 11", the AI checks compatibility, walks you through enabling TPM and Secure Boot, confirms a backup exists, and runs the upgrade — showing you every step. You approve anything sensitive, it acts.
