Ways to install Windows 11

The Windows 11 installation media is an alternate method of installing Windows 11. Installation media is normally used to install Windows 11 on a device that doesn't already have Windows installed on it. However, it can also be used to upgrade existing installations of Windows to Windows 11.

For details on where to obtain the Windows 11 installation media and how to create it, see the article Create installation media for Windows.

Once the installation media is created, it can be used to upgrade an existing installation of Windows to Windows 11 using one of the following two methods:

Run the installation media in the current version of Windows.

Boot from the installation media to install a fresh copy of Windows 11.

Run the installation media in the current version of Windows

Windows 11 installation media can be used in the current version of Windows, for example Windows 10, to upgrade to Windows 11:

Sign into Windows on the device being upgrade to Windows 11.

Insert the Windows 11 installation media into the Windows device. For example, if the Windows 11 installation media was created on a USB flash drive, attach the USB flash drive to the Windows device.

A pop-up notification window should appear asking what to do with the inserted media. Select Run setup.exe.

If a pop-up notification doesn't appear:

Right-click on the Start menu and then select File Explorer .

When File Explorer opens, in the navigation bar, select This PC.

In the results pane under Devices and drives, right-click on the Windows 11 installation media and select Install or run program from your media.

Note:聽If the User Account Control window appears, select the Yes button. If the User Account Control window asks for an admin user name and password, enter a user name and password of an account that has administrator privileges. Once the user name and password are entered, select the Yes button.

The Windows 11 Setup window opens. Step through the Windows 11 Setup pages, following instructions at each step.

At the Ready to install page, the default is to Keep personal files and apps. However, selecting the Change what to keep link gives the following options:

Keep personal files and apps - Personal files, apps, and Windows settings are all kept and migrated to the new Windows 11 install. This option is the default option.

Keep personal files only - Personal files are kept and migrated to the new Windows 11 install, but apps and Windows settings are deleted.

Nothing - Everything is deleted, including personal files, apps, and Windows settings. If this option is selected and personal files are needed, they should first be backed up, for example to OneDrive or an external backup device.

Select the desired option or accept the default of Keep personal files and apps. To start the upgrade, finish stepping through the Windows 11 Setup pages.

The device is upgraded to Windows 11.

Boot from the installation media to install a fresh copy of Windows 11

Windows 11 installation media can be booted from on an existing Windows device to upgrade to Windows 11:

Warning:聽

This method completely wipes the contents of the hard drive and the existing installation of Windows and installs a fresh copy of Windows 11. All files and installed apps on the device are lost. Make sure that any necessary files are backed up before proceeding, for example to OneDrive or to an external backup device.

Although this method does check to make sure the device meets some of the minimum system requirements for Windows 11, it isn't as thorough as the PC Health Check app or using Windows Update. Microsoft recommends running the PC Health App in the current installation of Windows to verify that the device meets all requirements to run Windows 11. Running the PC Health App should be done before attempting to use the installation media to install a fresh copy of Windows 11. For more information on how to use the PC Health App to check if the device meets the minimum requirements for Windows 11, see How to check if your device meets Windows 11 system requirements after changing device hardware.

Insert the Windows 11 installation media into the Windows device. For example, if the Windows 11 installation media was created on a USB flash drive, attach the USB flash drive to the Windows device.

Turn on the device that is being upgraded to Windows 11 and then initiate the device's boot menu. The boot menu is initiated by selecting an appropriate key on the keyboard when the device first boots. This key varies by device manufacturer and model but is usually one of the function keys (F1 - F12) at the top of the keyboard or the DEL key. For more information, see the device's documentation or the device manufacturer's website.

From the device's boot menu, select the Windows 11 installation media.

Once the device boots from the Windows 11 installation media, the Windows 11 Setup window appears. Step through the Windows 11 Setup and follow the on-screen instructions.

The device is upgraded to Windows 11 and a fresh copy of Windows is installed.