Windows 10 support ends in days. Here's how to switch to Windows 11

Check that your laptop is as much as scratch

Before you possibly can set up Windows 11, you possibly can test that your laptop really meets the system necessities. An simple means to do that is to put in all accessible updates in Windows 10. The Windows Update part in Settings will then give you to improve to Windows 11 so long as your laptop meets the necessities.

You also can set up the PC Health Check program. If your laptop doesn’t meet the system necessities, this system will present you what’s lacking and you may then see if it’s one thing you possibly can repair with out having to get a brand new laptop to run Windows 11. It could be so simple as the TPM module within the processor not being enabled within the BIOS settings.

The minimal necessities are a 64-bit processor of a minimum of 1GHz, 4 GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, UEFI with assist for Secure Boot (although it doesn’t should be enabled), TPM 2.0, a display with a minimum of 720p decision, and an web connection.

Since Microsoft launched model 24H2 of the system, barely larger necessities are positioned on the processor. For Intel, it requires the eighth-generation Core or later, or the equal of Celeron/Atom/Xeon. For AMD, a minimum of second-generation Ryzen or third-generation Threadripper, or the equal of Epyc, is required. Also a bunch of Zen-based Athlon chipsets are supported.

Back up so you possibly can roll again if catastrophe strikes

Before you begin upgrading to the newer system, it’s a good suggestion to make a full backup of the present system, a so-called clone backup. This makes it a lot simpler to roll again to Windows 10 if one thing goes incorrect through the set up (or in the event you merely can’t stand Windows 11).

There are quite a few totally different packages that may clone your laborious drive. R-Drive Image has lengthy been one our favourite full-featured program. For a free model, it’s laborious to beat EaseUS.

I’ve seen some stories of issues getting the pc in addition from a ready-made clone, so don’t overlook to check earlier than you proceed.

Further studying: How to save your older PC when Windows 10 hits end of life

Update from Windows 10 or reinstall?

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Now the query is: Should you put in Windows 11 as an replace to your current Windows 10 system, or do you have to spring clear your laptop with a contemporary set up? This query comes up each time Microsoft releases a model new model of Windows.

You can discover customers who swear that the system might be quicker and endure from fewer bugs with a model new set up. But there are additionally customers who imagine that that is pure nonsense and that an replace is quicker and simpler as you don’t should reinstall all of your packages and different issues.

My suggestion if you’re not sure is to have a strong backup (see above) and begin by testing an replace. If all goes properly, you’ll be up and operating in Windows 11 significantly quicker, and within the unlikely occasion that you just run into any difficulties, you possibly can all the time do a reinstallation afterwards. If you run the replace and go and do one thing else within the meantime, you’ll lose nearly no time.

Update in place – maintain information, packages, and settings

To carry out an everyday replace with out having to redo something after set up, there are two choices. The best is to undergo Windows Update in Settings and let the system itself handle the replace. Then it really works very like a serious common replace, for instance when Windows 10 22H2 was launched. The laptop will restart a couple of instances through the set up, however in any other case it is rather like an everyday replace.

If for some cause you aren’t provided to replace in Windows Update, otherwise you simply want it, you possibly can obtain an iso file with the latest version of the system and set up from it. You don’t must create set up media on a USB stick, simply double-click the .iso file in Explorer, go to the mounted disc picture, and run the Setup.exe program.

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After a couple of steps the place the installer checks the pc and some different issues, you’ll get to a dialog field the place you possibly can select what you wish to maintain. The default possibility is to maintain all the things — that’s, information, put in packages, and settings.

You also can select to maintain solely information, however because you then should reinstall packages and redo system settings, I believe it’s higher to do a complete reinstallation after which transfer again private information from the backup.

Blow out and begin from scratch

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If you could have a weekend to spend on the replace, it may be a fantastic alternative to spring clear your laptop. Over the years, Windows accumulates loads of junk that by no means will get cleaned up. Old packages you’ve forgotten you ever put in. Settings, caches, downloaded updates, and far more can progressively refill your disk.

Reformatting and ranging from scratch will unencumber house and make your system extra secure. If you then begin by eradicating all of the pre-installed packages you don’t want after which putting in solely those you really need, you’ll find yourself with a system that feels airier.

If you do that, it’s notably essential that you’ve a full backup. Make positive you possibly can boot from it, and that every one essential information and different issues are there.

Then use an .iso file of the most recent model of Windows 11 and Microsoft’s set up media creation instrument on a USB stick. Boot your laptop from that and if you get to the step the place you select the place to put in the system, you possibly can reformat the disk.

If you could have a couple of SSD or laborious drive, it will be important that you just select the appropriate one, and you will have to disconnect all of the drives besides the one you might be putting in on first. The Windows installer is a bit finicky about this.

Further studying: The Windows 11 upgrade checklist

First acquaintance with Windows 11

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Once the replace is full and also you begin Windows 11 for the primary time and log in, you’re greeted by a full dialog field you should undergo earlier than you get to the desktop. It’s about location companies and varied options associated to how Microsoft collects analytics knowledge and the like. You can all the time change your thoughts later in Settings.

Next, the system will counsel you “complete the installation,” which is Microsoft’s barely sneaky try and get you to decide on Edge because the default browser, allow backup to OneDrive, and some extra issues. You can click on by way of however solely choose the belongings you really need. (If you don’t wish to see this “helpful” dialog field once more, you possibly can open Settings > System > Notifications > Additional settings and tick off the varied choices.)

Nothing extra, and also you are actually greeted by the desktop with the Taskbar in its typical place on the backside. The Start menu and software icons have moved to the middle of the display as a substitute, however you possibly can transfer them again to the left in the event you want.

One main change is the Start menu itself, which has a brand new look and structure. Microsoft has made some modifications since Windows 11 was first launched, and model 24H2 lastly has the choice to show all put in packages in a listing as a substitute of a grid. Click on the All apps button on the prime proper. Unfortunately, there isn’t a method to open that view by default.

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The taskbar additionally behaves in another way than earlier than. If you could have a number of home windows open in a program, these are usually not proven as separate icons, however it’s a must to hover the pointer over this system icon to see the totally different open home windows. If you wish to return to the best way it was earlier than, you possibly can go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar Behaviors and choose Never for Combine taskbar buttons and conceal labels on different taskbars. In the identical menu you may as well left align the Taskbar.

Here are another issues which have turn into totally different and should confuse or require a while to get used to:

Copy and Paste

Both the toolbar and the context menu in Explorer have modified, and the commonest instructions, like copy and paste, have turn into icons. Fortunately, Microsoft has listened to consumer suggestions and the context menu additionally exhibits the title subsequent to every icon.

Action Center is gone

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On the far proper of the Taskbar was the Action Center, which introduced collectively notifications, fast settings, and shortcuts to varied capabilities. The entire function is gone in Windows 11 and as a substitute there’s a new notification view.

Default packages

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Microsoft has modified the way you arrange default packages for various file and hyperlink sorts. Open Settings > Apps > Default apps. Here you can see a listing of put in packages. Click on an software and a listing of file sorts for which that software is the default software will seem. You also can seek for file extensions or hyperlink sorts within the search bar on the prime and alter the default software for that kind.

Better Microsoft Store

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In the previous, it was nearly all the time finest to obtain packages immediately from the builders, and the Microsoft Store didn’t have commonplace desktop packages. In Windows 11, the shop has gotten higher and at the moment most of the main packages could be discovered right here. It’s typically value checking the shop first and going through the net in the event you can’t discover it.

Copilot replaces Cortana

As lengthy as you’re signed right into a Microsoft account, you’ll have entry to the corporate’s AI chatbot immediately in Windows, and the previous assistant Cortana is lengthy gone.

New design on Settings

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Finding your means by way of all of your system settings simply received simpler. The program now has a everlasting checklist of classes on the left. There are nonetheless very deep hierarchies for some settings, however the search perform typically works properly to discover a particular setting.

Further studying: 11 things I love (and hate) about Windows 11 after using Windows 10

How to revive to Windows 10

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If you could have put in Windows 11 as an replace with Windows Update, you possibly can roll it again immediately in Settings. Go to System > Recovery and click on Go again. Follow the directions. Wait for it to complete (it could take so long as putting in the replace).

If this feature is lacking, it’s both since you didn’t replace with Windows Update, you’ve run System Cleanup after the replace, or it’s been so lengthy that Windows has robotically cleaned up the information wanted.

In that case, you possibly can restore your previous set up by cloning again the system from the clone backup you made earlier than updating. Keep in thoughts that it will overwrite any newer information, so it’s finest to make one other backup of the system as it’s now so you possibly can copy again all the things new if you’re carried out. Of course, this requires an extra laborious drive that’s massive sufficient.

The incontrovertible fact that it’s a lot simpler to roll again with the Go Back function is one other argument in favor of updating to Windows 11 as a substitute of reformatting and reinstalling.