How To Upgrade to Windows 11

Windows 11 is here with a new user experience, several improvements and new features including a stunning and awesome new look. If you want to upgrade your system from Windows 10 to Windows 11 or install Windows 11 on other previous Windows versions, this article is for you. 

Windows 11
 
One of the key changes in Windows 11 is the Windows taskbar that sits in the center of the bottom of the screen and the Windows icon is a square. 

Clicking on Windows icon opens a big window with other apps icons. This is your startup menu that has easy access to various apps. 

Upgrade to Windows 11 

Note: If you are upgrading from Windows 10, Microsoft recommends that you wait until you are notified through Windows Update that the upgrade is ready for your PC. When you go to your Windows updates by typing in Windows Search, you will see a message if your PC can run Windows 11 or not. 

Once your Windows 10 has Windows 11 upgrade available, you will get this message to upgrade automatically. This is the easiest way you can upgrade your Windows 10 machine to Windows 11. This is also the recommended option by Windows. 

Windows 10 to Windows 11 Upgrade

If you do not wish to use the above option or have previous Windows versions, continue reading. I did not want to wait for Windows 11 to be available via Windows updates. 

Go to Windows 11 download page by typing in Google or Microsoft. 

When you go to Windows 11 download (see below), you will see this page:

Upgrade to Windows 11 Download
 
There are 3 options below for installing Windows 11. 

1.    Windows 11 Installation Assistant

This is the best option for installing Windows 11 on the device you’re currently using. Click Download Now to get started.

When you clock on download, the download will start.

The download will be followed by Installation and the installation will start in background while you continue to work. 

Windows 11 installing
 
As a matter of fact, I was writing this article while Windows 11 was being installed in the background 😊 

2.    Create Windows 11 Installation Media

If you want to perform a reinstall or clean install of Windows 11 on a new or used PC, use this option to download the media creation tool to make a bootable USB or DVD.

3.    Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO)

This option is for users that want to create a bootable installation media (USB flash drive, DVD) or create a virtual machine (.ISO file) to install Windows 11. This download is a multi-edition ISO which uses your product key to unlock the correct edition.

Before installing, please refer to the PC Health Check app to confirm your device meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 11 and check the Windows release information status for known issues that may affect your device.

Once you have finished installing, a brand new Windows 11 looks like this.

Enjoy Windows 11!

Upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 - Problems

I upgraded to Windows 11 on my Windows 10 HP laptop. I made sure to run PC health app that approved the upgrade. Here are couple of things that will not work for me after the installation.

  • Face Login - I use Windows Hello Facial Recognition. After setup, Facial recognition stopped working. So, the PIN login. I had to use my Email and password for the login and took me a while reset my PIN. If you are using a company account for Teams, somehow Windows 11 keeps thinking that was my account for Windows Hello.
  • Some websites login did not work that were stored in my cookies.


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