How to Upgrade to Windows 11 (Even With an Incompatible PC)

What many consider to be the golden age of Windows is coming to a close. The beloved Windows 10 will lose ongoing support in 2025, so Microsoft is pushing users to adopt its newer operating system. So, it’s a good time to learn how to upgrade to Windows 11, even if your computer doesn’t meet the minimum requirements.

Why Should I Upgrade to Windows 11?

While you may be hesitant to leave Windows 10, you should upgrade to Windows 11 for security reasons. When Windows 10 stops receiving updates in October 2025, it could quickly become vulnerable to newfound attack methods. The newer OS, by contrast, will get regular bug fixes and security patches to protect against these threats.

Similarly, you should upgrade to Windows 11 if you want a better-functioning experience. Any unfixed glitches in Windows 10 will remain forever unpatched once Microsoft stops supporting it. The newer version also has plenty of quality-of-life updates, such as a handful of artificial intelligence (AI) features.

On the other hand, any new operating system will take time to get used to, so you don’t have to upgrade immediately. However, anyone still using Windows 10 should move away from the OS before October 2025.

Windows 11 PC Requirements

Before learning how to upgrade to Windows 11, you should know about its system requirements. Not every device currently running Windows 10 — which is about 61.2% of the market — can even support its successor, so you should double-check your hardware before proceeding.

The biggest change is that Windows 11 requires a TPM 2.0 chip — a security device built into modern motherboards. While the TPM 2.0 standard has been out for over a decade, your PC may not have a physical TPM 2.0 chip, especially if it’s a bit older. You can work around this issue, but more on that later.

Your PC must also be compatible with Secure Boot and have 4 gigabytes (GB) or more of RAM. You’ll also need a one-gigahertz (GHz) CPU with two or more cores. None of these requirements should pose much of an issue for modern computers, though.

How to Upgrade to Windows 11 With a Compatible PC

You can tell if your PC meets Windows 11’s system requirements with Microsoft’s PC Health Check tool, which may already be installed on your computer. Once you know your specs are good to go, use one of these two methods to upgrade to the new OS.

Using Your Settings

The easiest way to upgrade to Windows 11 is through your PC’s settings. Open the Start menu and click the little gear icon to open the Settings menu.

Go to “Update & Security” and click “Check for updates.” You’ll be able to download and install Windows 11 from this screen if your computer meets the minimum requirements. Simply click the “Download and install” button and follow any instructions it gives you. 

Using Windows 11 Installation Assistant

Some glitches can cause Windows 11 to not appear as an available update in your settings. Thankfully, you can still upgrade through Microsoft’s Installation Assistant.

Start by going to the Download Windows 11 page on Microsoft’s website. Click the “Download Now” button toward the top of the screen. This will give you a .exe file to run, which you can open, click “Accept and install,” and then follow the instructions to replace Windows 10 with the updated OS.

How to Upgrade to Windows 11 on an Incompatible PC

As mentioned earlier, not all Windows 10 devices are compatible with Windows 11. However, you can work around some of the requirements through a tool called Rufus. All you’ll need is a USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of available space — ideally, one you don’t have any important files on, as you’ll reformat the drive during the process.

1. Back Up Your Files

Before you start, you’ll want to back up any files you don’t want to risk losing on your computer or flash drive. You can get 5 GB of free storage on iCloud if you don’t already use another cloud service. OneDrive and Google Drive both offer free space, too.

Alternatively, you could move all your important stuff to another computer or external drive. Choose whichever option is easiest for you — just make sure you have copies of everything before going through the later steps. The update shouldn’t harm anything, but it’s best to be safe in case of technical issues during the process.

2. Download the Windows 11 ISO

Next, you’ll download Windows 11 as an ISO file. You can find this at the bottom of Microsoft’s Download Windows 11 page, under “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices.”

3. Download and Install Rufus

While the ISO file is downloading, you can download Rufus for free from the app’s website. Don’t download it from any other site — especially the Microsoft Store — as other versions may not work for this particular purpose.

This is also a good time to find a flash drive and clear its memory to leave you with at least 8 GB. You might as well clear everything from it, as Rufus will reformat it later. Once you’re down downloading, launch and install the app.

4. Format the USB Drive

Next, plug your USB drive into your computer and run Rufus. Under “Device,” select your flash drive, and select the Windows 11 ISO file you downloaded under “Boot selection.” Double-check the “Image” section to ensure it says “Standard Windows installation.”

Click “START” at the bottom of the window, which will result in a pop-up with a few customization options. Check the box next to “Remove requirement for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0” and click “OK.” From there, Rufus will reformat your flash drive into a bootable drive for Windows 11.

5. Follow the Instructions to Set Up Windows 11

You’re now ready to finally upgrade to Windows 11 on your unsupported PC. Plug the newly reformatted USB drive into the computer you want to upgrade and double-click “setup.exe” when you pull the drive up in File Explorer.

Follow any instructions that show up, and Windows 11 will install itself. You may see a warning about compatibility, but you can ignore this and proceed with the update.

Upgrade to Windows 11 However You Need To

Now you know how to upgrade to Windows 11, even on an unsupported computer. Regardless of which method you choose, always back up your important files before updating and be sure to make the switch before October 2025. You can stick with Windows 10 for now, but come back here sometime before then to stay safe.