Safe, Free Ways to Upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 in 2025

Microsoft’s clock on Windows 10 is ticking, and for many users the practical question is no longer “should I upgrade?” but “how do I upgrade safely and with the least friction?”

Background​

Microsoft has set a hard stop on mainstream security updates for Windows 10: the platform reaches end-of-support in October 2025. That deadline leaves millions of Windows 10 machines facing the choice of upgrading to Windows 11, paying for temporary extended updates, or migrating to another platform.
Windows 11 brought a stricter compatibility baseline than previous feature upgrades. Microsoft requires a modern processor from its approved list, TPM 2.0, UEFI Secure Boot, and baseline resources such as 4 GB RAM and 64 GB of storage, along with graphics and display requirements tied to DirectX 12 / WDDM 2.0. These checks are enforced to deliver platform-level security and to reduce driver and compatibility headaches over time.
That vetting means a sizeable minority of otherwise serviceable Windows 10 PCs are officially “incompatible.” For many readers, the good news is that there are multiple supported, free upgrade paths to Windows 11 — and one widely used, unsupported workaround for older hardware. This guide explains the three supported methods, the single unofficial option for incompatible systems, and the risks you need to weigh before you act.

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Overview: Which route should you pick?​

• If your PC is eligible, use the supported upgrade route offered by Microsoft because it preserves update guarantees and minimizes risk.
• If your PC is not supported and you rely on updates or need enterprise-level assurances, buy a new PC or enroll in Microsoft’s temporary consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program as a bridge.
• If you’re technically comfortable, accept the risks, and want Windows 11 on an older machine, the community tool Rufus or a registry override + ISO install are common workarounds — but these are unsupported by Microsoft and carry security, driver, and update-delivery risks.

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Check compatibility first​

Run the PC Health Check app​

Before doing anything else, run Microsoft’s PC Health Check app. It tests for TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, processor support, and the other baseline requirements and tells you which requirement — if any — blocks an upgrade. This is the cleanest way to know if your machine is eligible.

Quick hardware checklist (what to look for)​

• TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module) — firmware TPM (fTPM) or discrete TPM must be present and enabled in UEFI.
• UEFI Secure Boot enabled — Windows 11 expects UEFI mode and Secure Boot turned on.
• Supported CPU — Microsoft maintains a list of approved Intel, AMD, and Arm processors; being off that list can block the official upgrade.
• RAM and storage — minimum 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage.

If the app says “eligible,” proceed with a supported path. If it flags missing items, read the rest of this feature for supported options and the caveats around unsupported installs.

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3 Supported, free ways to upgrade to Windows 11​

When your PC meets Microsoft’s requirements, you have three straightforward, no-cost paths that keep you on supported ground.

1) Let Windows Update do the work (simplest, safest)​

If Microsoft is offering the feature update to your device, it appears inside Windows Update (Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update) as a “Download and install” option. This in-place upgrade preserves installed apps, settings, and your files in most cases and is the most risk-averse route.
Benefits:

• Preserves apps and settings in-place.
• Keeps the system on the supported update channel with official Microsoft patches.
• Minimal manual steps.

Limitations:

• Rollout is staged; you might not see the offer immediately even if eligible.

2) Windows 11 Installation Assistant (guided, official)​

If Windows Update hasn’t offered the upgrade yet but your machine is compatible, Microsoft’s Windows 11 Installation Assistant upgrades a running Windows 10 PC. Download the Assistant from Microsoft’s download page, run it, accept the prompts, and it will upgrade your device while you continue using the PC during background download and setup. Reboot when prompted to finish.
Key steps:

• Download the Installation Assistant from Microsoft’s Windows 11 download page.
• Run the installer and click Accept and install.
• Let it download; restart when prompted.

This method is friendly for users who want a guided, in-place upgrade without building installation media.

3) Media Creation Tool or ISO (most flexible)​

The Media Creation Tool creates a bootable USB or an ISO file you can use to upgrade multiple PCs, perform a clean install, or keep the media for later recovery. It’s the recommended choice if you want control over the install media or must update several machines offline. The download page also allows a direct ISO download if you prefer.
Practical notes:

• Use a USB drive with at least 8 GB of free space for the Media Creation Tool.
• When you mount an ISO or use the USB inside Windows, run setup.exe and choose whether to keep personal files and apps or do a clean install.

Advantages:

• Works for multiple systems.
• Lets you perform clean installs (recommended for machines with accumulated cruft).
• Keeps you on supported upgrade paths and ensures Windows Update remains available.

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1 Option for incompatible PCs: the Rufus / ISO bypass (unsupported)​

If your PC doesn’t meet Microsoft’s official checks but you still want Windows 11, the most common community approach uses the free tool Rufus to create patched installation media that removes TPM, Secure Boot, and RAM requirements. Another commonly used method is a small registry tweak inside Windows before running setup from a mounted ISO. Both are widely documented and used, but both are explicitly unsupported by Microsoft.

How the Rufus method works (summary)​

• Download the official Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft.
• Run Rufus and select the ISO. Choose the option to create a “Standard Windows installation” and check the checkboxes Rufus offers to remove requirements for TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and minimum RAM. Start the build.
• Boot or run setup.exe from the USB on the target PC and proceed through the installer, selecting “keep personal files and apps” if you want an in-place upgrade.

The registry-tweak alternative (inside Windows)​

A registry change — creating the DWORD AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup and setting it to 1 — is another community workaround that can allow setup.exe to proceed on some incompatible machines. This method is more manual and typically followed by an ISO install.

Why this is risky and what Microsoft says​

Microsoft warns that installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware is not recommended. Unsupported systems are not guaranteed to receive updates, may encounter driver or stability issues, and could be missing hardware-level protections that Windows 11 expects (the very protections TPM and Secure Boot provide). Microsoft may also mark such installs with a desktop notification or watermark and reserves the right to restrict updates on unsupported configurations. These are not hypothetical — vendors and community reporting show drivers, boot issues, and update delivery problems for some unsupported upgrades.

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Risks, trade-offs, and mitigation​

Security and update delivery​

By removing TPM and Secure Boot protections you weaken the platform’s hardware-rooted defenses against firmware, bootloader, and certain kernel-level attacks. On top of that, Microsoft’s official stance is that unsupported devices are not guaranteed to receive updates — including cumulative security patches. If you rely on Microsoft-supplied security patches, this is a significant trade-off.
Mitigation:

• If you proceed with an unsupported install, maintain an isolated backup strategy and consider using third-party security software, though that is not a substitute for platform protections.
• Keep a tested fallback: create a system image or have a Windows 10 recovery drive ready before upgrading.

Driver and stability issues​

Older hardware may lack Windows 11–compatible drivers, which can cause device malfunctions, degraded battery life on laptops, or poor performance for graphics and networking. Some users report missing features or degraded system behavior after unsupported upgrades.
Mitigation:

• Check OEM driver support pages before upgrading.
• Update BIOS/UEFI firmware where possible — sometimes a firmware update unlocks TPM/UEFI features that make the system officially eligible.

Warranty, compliance, and enterprise risk​

If you’re upgrading a work machine, unsupported installs can break company compliance and will likely void corporate device management policies. Enterprises should use Microsoft’s supported channels or cloud/ESU strategies.

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Practical upgrade checklists​

Pre-upgrade checklist (applies to every path)​

• Back up everything — file copy to external storage and a full system image if possible.
• Ensure Windows 10 is fully updated (install pending updates).
• Update BIOS/UEFI and drivers from your OEM.
• Ensure you have a Microsoft Account or product key handy (some editions require a Microsoft Account for setup).
• Make a recovery drive or keep your Windows 10 installation media handy for rollback.

Windows Update / Installation Assistant (supported, easiest)​

• Run PC Health Check and confirm eligibility.
• Try Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates. If the upgrade appears, click Download and install.
• If not offered, download and run the Windows 11 Installation Assistant, follow the prompts, and reboot when asked.

Media Creation Tool / ISO (flexible)​

• Download the Media Creation Tool or ISO from Microsoft.
• Use an 8 GB+ USB for the Media Creation Tool or mount the ISO and run setup.exe.
• Choose whether to keep personal files and apps or do a clean install.

Unsupported install with Rufus (advanced, unsupported)​

• Obtain the official Windows 11 ISO.
• Run Rufus and allow the option to remove TPM/Secure Boot/RAM requirements when creating the USB.
• Boot or run setup.exe from the USB and proceed. Keep in mind Microsoft’s warnings and plan a rollback.

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Alternatives if upgrading isn’t right for you​

If your hardware can’t reasonably be upgraded or you choose not to run unsupported software, several options let you keep using older PCs safely.

• Buy a new Windows 11 PC — this is the surest path to a supported, updatable platform and often includes trade-in/recycle programs to help with costs.
• Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) — Microsoft’s consumer ESU program can extend critical security updates for a limited time as a bridge, though it has enrollment requirements and is intentionally temporary.
• ChromeOS Flex — repurpose an older PC as a lightweight, cloud-first device for browsing, email, and web apps.
• Linux — modern Linux distributions provide security updates and can breathe new life into older hardware; expect a learning curve and potential compatibility workarounds for Windows-only apps.
• Cloud PCs / Windows 365 — organizations can shift computation to hosted Windows desktops and keep older hardware as terminals. This is typically an enterprise-focused option.

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Final analysis and recommendation​

• If your PC is eligible: take a supported path — Windows Update, the Installation Assistant, or the Media Creation Tool. These keep you on the update track and minimize long-term risk.
• If your PC is incompatible but you can enable TPM/Secure Boot via firmware updates: update BIOS/UEFI and check again. Firmware updates from OEMs resolve many “incompatible” reports.
• If your PC remains incompatible and you need strong security or corporate compliance: prefer a new PC or the consumer ESU bridge rather than an unsupported hack.
• If you understand and accept the risks and are prepared for unsupported maintenance: the Rufus bypass or registry tweaks let you run Windows 11 on older machines — but plan for driver troubleshooting, limited update guarantees, and possible reinstalls. Test first on a spare machine or virtual machine where possible.

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Closing note for careful upgrade planning​

Upgrading an operating system is always a balance between new features and the risk of disruption. With Windows 10 support ending in October, every Windows user has to choose a path forward. For most users, the supported free routes to Windows 11 are the best combination of convenience and safety — but for the technically adventurous, community workarounds exist when hardware stands in the way. Whatever path you choose, back up your data, update firmware and drivers first, and keep a tested recovery plan at hand.

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Source: PCMag 3 Ways to Upgrade to Windows 11 for Free (And 1 Option for Incompatible PCs)