Can I install Windows 11 on top of Windows 10? Download Windows 11 right now

Updated by

Linda 

Written by

Tracy King 

Last updated on April 22, 2024

Yes, you can install Windows 11 on top of Windows 10. However, to ensure a smooth installation, it's recommended that you meet the minimum system requirements for Windows 11 and backup your important data before proceeding. You can upgrade to Windows 11 using the Windows Update feature, the Media Creation Tool, or by performing a clean installation. Make sure to follow the official Microsoft guidelines for the process.

Yes! If you're a Windows 10 user, Microsoft allows you to upgrade to Windows 11 for free. However, this is contingent on your current computer meeting the minimum system requirements for the upgrade.

Microsoft has published a table listing the hardware requirements that all PCs destined for an upgrade should meet.

(This image depicts the system requirements for Windows 11.)

For devices released in the last 3-5 years, they should meet the minimum hardware specifications and qualify for a free upgrade. However, you might also find the wording quite sharp when it comes to checking if your machine meets the Windows 11 requirements. Fortunately, there's a Windows 11 checker that can assist you. Download the software quickly and follow the steps to verify the specifics:

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant and click on "Toolbox".

Step 2: Click on “Windows 11 Checker” to open the tool. Then, hit the Check Now button to start.

Step 3. The Windows 11 Compatibility results window will quickly appear, listing all of your compatible and incompatible configurations.

Does your computer need to be switched to UEFI mode?

To install Windows 11 on Windows 10, you need to boot your machine from UEFI mode. If your partition style remains MBR, you'll need the GPT style to boot from this mode.

1 - Check the partition style (MBR or GPT)

• Detect as GPT - Proceed to the next section
• Detect as MBR - Convert MBR to GPT using a partition converter tool

To check, press Windows + X and click “Computer Management” > Select “Disk Management” in the left pane > Right-click on the hard drive and select “Properties” from the menu > Go to the “Volume” tab, where you can see if your partition style is GPT or MBR.

2 - Convert MBR to GPT using the tool Partition Master

For beginners, fewer steps and a direct interface are welcome, as none of us wants to get stuck in the first stage of the upgrade. The disk partition tool Partition Master has the function to change disk style from MBR to GPT or GPT to MBR without any data loss. Download the software and check out the simple video tutorial.

Once the disk is converted to the GPT style, you'll need to boot your Windows 10 computer from UEFI rather than BIOS, or it won't start up properly. Here's how:

Step 1. Open Settings and go to Update & Security > Click on Recovery > Under Advanced startup, click on Restart now.

2. On the Advanced Startup screen, click Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings, and then click Restart.

How to Download the Windows 11 ISO and Bypass the TPM 2.0 Requirement

A TPM 2.0 chip could be the main obstacle to upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Some users have seen messages on YouTube such as, “Free upgrade to Windows 11 equals buying a new Windows 11 computer or pay for new hardware…” How can you install Windows 11 on your Windows 10 device without a TPM chip? You can use a tool like Windows 11 Builder to create an ISO image on a bootable USB device. Then, you can bypass the TPM chip with the following manual method.

Download the Windows 11 ISO file:

Step 1. Launch OS2Go after installing it, and click on the Create Windows Install Drive option. The main screen will display the system information that it has gathered, which will be updated continually. In addition to Windows 11, the Win11 Builder also lets you download Windows 10/8.1.

Step 2: Plug the USB flash drive into your PC. Windows 11 Setup should detect it automatically, at which point you can click the Create button.

Step 3. If you're using a used USB drive, the software will wipe its data. Once the download starts, wait for it to finish, or leave and do your own thing, coming back later.

Step 4. Once the Windows 11 ISO image has successfully downloaded to your USB drive, follow the on-screen instructions to start installing Windows 11 from the bootable USB drive on your computer.

How to bypass the TPM 2.0 requirement when installing Windows 11:

Step 1. When you see the “This PC can't run Windows 11” error, click the “Back” button.

Step 2. Press Shift + F10 to open the Command Prompt > Type 'regedit' to open the Windows Registry.

Step 3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup. Create a new Key called LabConfig by selecting Edit > New > Key.

Step 4: Right-click in the LabConfig key, and then click New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Step 5: Rename it to BypassTPMCheck, right-click on it, and select Modify… > Type in 00000001, and click OK.

Step 6: Close the Registry Editor and return to the Windows 11 installer.

To install Windows 11 on your Windows 10 device, ensure that your system meets the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11 and follow these steps: 1. Check compatibility: - Verify that your computer satisfies the Windows 11 specifications, including the processor, RAM, storage, and TPM 2.0. - Use the "PC Health Check" app under "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Windows Insider Program" to assess compatibility. 2. Create installation media: - Visit Microsoft's official "Download Windows 11" page: - Download and run the "Media Creation Tool." - Choose "Create installation media for another PC," then select the language, edition (Windows 11), and ISO file format as instructed. - Save the ISO file to your computer and burn it to a DVD or USB drive. 3. Prepare for installation: - Backup your important files in case of any issues. - Close all running applications and disable antivirus software. - Insert the installation media and set it as the first boot device in your BIOS/UEFI settings. 4. Start the installation process: - Restart your computer and follow the on-screen instructions to enter the setup. - Choose your language, time, and currency formats, then click "Next." - Select the "Install now" option, accept the license terms, and choose "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)." - In the disk partition screen, you can choose to keep your existing partitions (upgrade installation) or delete everything (clean installation). Exercise caution! 5. Install Windows 11: - Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation. This may take some time depending on your hardware. - Set up your account information, network connection, and privacy settings. - After installation, your computer will automatically restart, leading to the new Windows 11 desktop. Please note that once the official release of Windows 11 is available, you can also upgrade through Windows Update. If you see a Windows 11 update available in "Settings" > "Update & Security" > "Windows Update," simply click "Download and install."

Step 1: Connect the USB drive with the ISO image to your computer. Head to Devices and Drives, and you should see the USB drive listed there.

Step 2. Plug in the USB drive and launch the setup.exe file to install Windows 11.

Step 3. On the Windows 11 Setup screen, click “Change how updates are downloaded” > check “Later” > click “Next”.

Step 4. Wait a while, then choose what to keep.

• Keep personal files and apps.
• Keep only personal files.
• Don't keep anything.

Then, click the Next button.

Step 5: Confirm the “Ready to install” prompt, and click Install.

Step 6: Wait for the installation to complete...

Once the upgrade to Windows 11 is complete, sign in to your account and set up your preferences.

Rolling Back from Windows 11 to Windows 10

If Windows 11 turns out not to be the ideal operating system for your device, you can still roll back from Windows 11 to Windows 10.

Step 1: Click the Windows icon, select Settings, go to Update & Security, then choose Recovery.

Step 2: Click the “Go back” button under “Return to an earlier version of Windows 10.”

Step three: Check the reason for the uninstall.

Step 4: If the program asks if you want to check for updates, click “No, thanks.”

Step 5: Read the “What You Need to Know” section and click on the “Next” button.

Step 6. Click “Next” again, then click “Roll back to an earlier version.”

Now Windows will restart. Please wait a few minutes.

Last Words

For those who want to downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10, this guide will be helpful. With the compatibility checker tool, converting MBR to GPT, downloading the Windows 11 ISO file, you can easily upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11. And if you find that Windows 11 is not for you after trying it out, you can always go back to your previous OS.