Want Windows 11 for free? Here’s what you need to know

The latest edition of Microsoft’s operating system for personal computers can be installed for free in several ways.

The Windows 11 version is a worthy upgrade to Windows 10, with a sleeker and more modern user interface. But on the other hand, your computer will have to meet strict hardware requirements and there is no longer a 32-bit version.

If you’re looking to upgrade or reinstall, here’s how you can get Windows 11 for free.

What do you need to know before upgrading?

Windows 11 has stricter hardware requirements than its predecessor. To be eligible for the upgrade, your computer must have Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chip support and Secure Boot enabled in the BIOS.

If you’re wondering if your PC can run Windows 11, download and run the app PC Health Checkup. Although you can bypass the minimum installation requirements, doing so can lead to security issues and risks.

Windows 11 is a free upgrade for all compatible Windows 10 PCs, and you can get it through the Settings app or as a clean install using a bootable USB drive. After installation, Windows will recognize the Windows 10 system digital license associated with your Microsoft account or system hardware and will automatically activate Windows 11.

If your computer did not come with Windows pre-installed, you can manually install Windows 11 from a USB drive. However, a valid license is required to activate the operating system. If this is not the case, some personalization features will not work. More on this later.

If you are using a Windows 7 or 8 computer, you must first upgrade to Windows 10 and then try Windows 11.

1) Upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free

The built-in upgrade tool makes it easy to upgrade from Windows 10. Click Start, select Settings, open Update & Security, and then open the Windows Update tab.

If your computer has the latest updates installed, you should see Windows 11 system update notifications. Click Download and Install and follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 11.

Windows will download the necessary files (approximately five gigabytes) and install the new operating system without affecting your files, applications or other settings.

Although you have to, or rather, are forced to use a Microsoft account to complete the setup, you can set up Windows 11 with a local user account with a workaround.

2) Manually install Windows 11 using the Windows Assistant tool

If the upgrade option is missing from the Settings app, you can install it using the Windows 11 Installation Assistant. Open the Windows 11 system download page i preuzmite Windows 11 Installation Assistant.

After downloading, run the tool, click Accept and Install to start downloading the upgrade package. This may take some time. When finished, follow the on-screen instructions.

3) Free clean Windows 11 installation on a new or old computer

If you want to install Windows 11 on a new PC, Windows Assistant won’t help. Instead, you can do a clean install using the Windows 11 ISO.

This process requires some technical knowledge, but it is doable. You need a copy of the latest Windows 11 ISO, which is a disc image containing the Windows installation files, and a USB storage device to create a bootable drive. If you have a valid license key, enter it to activate Windows during or after installation.

If you skip the activation, you will have to keep looking at the watermark reminding you that you should do it. Personalization options and critical upgrades will also be unavailable, Make Use Of writes.