The upgrade itself is straightforward, but a little preparation avoids the handful of issues that trip people up — mostly around hardware compatibility and driver readiness rather than the upgrade process itself.
Step 1: Confirm Hardware Compatibility
Run Microsoft's PC Health Check tool first. If your CPU, TPM, or Secure Boot status doesn't qualify, know that before starting rather than discovering it mid-upgrade.
Step 2: Back Up Your Files Regardless
The in-place upgrade is designed to be non-destructive, but any major OS change carries some risk — back up documents and anything irreplaceable first as standard practice.
Step 3: Update Drivers Beforehand
Update graphics, chipset, and network drivers to their latest versions on Windows 10 before upgrading — this significantly reduces the odds of post-upgrade driver hiccups.
Step 4: Free Up Disk Space
Windows 11 needs meaningfully more free space during the upgrade process than it needs to simply run afterward — aim for well above the stated minimum before starting.
Step 5: Run the Upgrade
Use Windows Update (Settings > Update & Security) if Windows 11 is offered directly, or the Media Creation Tool's "Upgrade this PC now" option otherwise — see our complete guide to Windows 11 for what changes once you're in.
Step 6: Verify Everything After
Check that key applications launch correctly, peripherals are recognized, and activation completed under Settings > Update & Security > Activation.
