You can upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free in November 2026 if your PC runs a genuine, activated copy of Windows 10 and meets the Windows 11 hardware requirements. Microsoft has set no deadline for the free offer. You only pay when the PC has no valid Windows licence, when you want Pro instead of Home, or when you are building a new machine.
| Your situation | Free or paid? | Best route |
|---|---|---|
| Activated Windows 10 Home or Pro, compatible PC | Free | Windows Update or Installation Assistant |
| Activated Windows 10 Home, want Windows 11 Pro | Free to Home, then paid Pro upgrade | Upgrade, then enter a Pro key |
| Windows 10 not activated | Paid | Buy a Windows 11 key and activate |
| New PC or self-build with no licence | Paid | Clean install with a Windows 11 key |
| PC fails TPM 2.0 or CPU checks | Not supported by Microsoft | Windows 10 ESU (to 12 Oct 2027) or replace the PC |
Is the Windows 11 upgrade still free in 2026?
Yes. Microsoft's own Windows 11 upgrade FAQ states that upgrades from Windows 10 to Windows 11 are free, and it gives no end date for the offer. The upgrade keeps your edition, so Windows 10 Home becomes Windows 11 Home and Windows 10 Pro becomes Windows 11 Pro, with a digital licence created automatically.
The only cost Microsoft mentions in its Upgrade to Windows 11 FAQ is data: the download is large, so a metered connection may incur charges. There is no fee for the licence itself.
"Free" depends on having a genuine Windows 10 licence to convert. If you are unsure whether an old key still counts, our guide on using a Windows 10 key to activate Windows 11 explains which keys carry over and which do not.
When do you have to pay for Windows 11?
You pay when there is no genuine Windows 10 licence to upgrade: an unactivated copy, a new self-built PC, a second-hand PC whose OEM licence was lost, or a virtual machine. You also pay if you want to move from Home to Pro, because the free upgrade keeps the edition you already own.
At the time of writing (November 2026), Microsoft's US online store lists Windows 11 Home at $139 and Windows 11 Pro at $199.99. Authorised resellers also sell genuine Windows 11 keys; for LicenceHouse, see the current price on the Windows 11 Pro key product page.
What we commonly see: people buy a new Windows 11 licence for a PC that already had an activated Windows 10 Pro installation. Check Settings > Update & Security > Activation on Windows 10 first; if it says Windows is activated, the upgrade to Windows 11 costs nothing.
How do I check if my PC can run Windows 11?
Download and run Microsoft's PC Health Check app on the Windows 10 PC and select Check now. It tests the processor, memory, storage, TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot against Windows 11 requirements and tells you exactly which item fails, so you know whether the problem is a setting or the hardware.
- Install PC Health Check (linked from Microsoft's upgrade FAQ) and open it.
- Under Introducing Windows 11, select Check now.
- If TPM or Secure Boot fails, check firmware settings before assuming the PC is too old.
- If the processor fails, the PC is not on Microsoft's supported CPU list.
Many PCs from 2018 onwards have a firmware TPM that is simply switched off. Our guide to Windows 11 requirements, TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot shows where those settings live on common motherboards.
How do I upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 step by step?
The simplest route is Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates; if the PC is eligible, a Windows 11 offer appears with a Download and install button. If no offer appears, use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant from Microsoft's download page, which performs the same in-place upgrade.
- Back up important files to an external drive or OneDrive.
- Install all pending Windows 10 updates and restart.
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
- Select Download and install on the Windows 11 offer, or run the Installation Assistant.
- Accept the licence terms, leave the PC plugged in, and allow several restarts.
- After setup, open Settings > System > Activation to confirm Windows 11 is active.
Microsoft's Windows 11 download page offers three tools: the Installation Assistant (requires Windows 10 version 2004 or later), the Media Creation Tool for USB or DVD, and an ISO image. At the time of writing it delivers the Windows 11 2026 Update, version 26H2.
Will I lose my files and apps when upgrading?
No, not by default. An in-place upgrade from Windows 10 moves your files, data and most installed apps to the new Windows 11 installation. Microsoft still recommends a backup first, because power cuts, failing drives or driver problems can interrupt any major upgrade, and a backup is the only reliable undo.
Some older apps and drivers may need updating after the upgrade, and a few Windows 10 features no longer exist in Windows 11. Check that your security software, VPN client and printer drivers list Windows 11 support before you start.
Cause and effect: the upgrade inherits whatever is already wrong with the Windows 10 installation. A system with corrupted files or a nearly full drive is far more likely to fail or roll back, so freeing plenty of disk space and installing pending updates first avoids many failed upgrades.
Can I go back to Windows 10 after upgrading?
Yes, for 10 days. Microsoft's FAQ says you can return to Windows 10 within 10 days of upgrading while keeping your files, using Settings > System > Recovery > Go back. After that window the old installation files are removed, and returning means backing up your data and clean installing Windows 10.
Disk Cleanup or Storage Sense can remove the previous installation sooner, so leave those settings alone until you are sure. If the Go back button is greyed out, the old files have already been deleted.
What if my PC doesn't meet Windows 11 requirements?
Microsoft does not support Windows 11 on hardware that fails the requirements. Its support article says such installs are "not recommended", that these devices "aren't guaranteed to receive updates, including but not limited to security updates", and that a watermark appears on the desktop. For most people the safer choices are Windows 10 ESU or a newer PC.
Microsoft's page on installing Windows 11 on devices that don't meet minimum requirements sets out those conditions in full. Registry or setup workarounds exist, but they leave you running an unsupported system and may stop working with future feature updates.
Advanced nuance: a valid key can still activate Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, so activation success is not proof of support. If the machine handles sensitive data, the update guarantee matters more than the licence status.
Should I stay on Windows 10 with ESU instead?
ESU is a bridge, not a destination. Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025, and on 25 June 2026 Microsoft extended consumer Extended Security Updates to 12 October 2027. ESU suits PCs that cannot run Windows 11 or users who need more time; compatible PCs are usually better off upgrading for free now.
According to Microsoft's Windows 10 ESU page, consumers enrol through Windows Update with a Microsoft account: free by syncing PC settings, by redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or for a one-time $30 (US) fee, covering up to 10 devices. The PC must run Windows 10 version 22H2.
ESU delivers security fixes only. Microsoft 365 apps continue to receive security updates on Windows 10 until 10 October 2028, but new Windows features and most new hardware drivers target Windows 11.
Which version of Windows 11 will I get?
A new upgrade installs the current release, Windows 11 version 26H2, which Microsoft released on 29 September 2026. PCs already on Windows 11 version 24H2 or 25H2 move to 26H2 with a small enablement package. Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro reached end of servicing on 13 October 2026, so staying current matters.
After upgrading, our guide to checking your Windows 11 version and updating shows how to confirm you are on 26H2. If the upgrade stalls at a percentage or rolls back, start with our fixes for a Windows 11 update that is stuck or failed.
Should I clean install instead of upgrading?
Choose a clean install when the Windows 10 installation is slow, cluttered or unstable, when you are replacing the system drive, or when you are moving from Home to Pro with a new key. Choose the in-place upgrade when you want to keep apps and settings with the least effort. Both routes give the same Windows 11 licence.
A clean install uses a USB stick made with the Media Creation Tool; our guide to creating a Windows 11 bootable USB covers both Microsoft's tool and Rufus. On a PC with a digital licence, choose I don't have a product key during setup and select the same edition, and activation happens once you are online.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a deadline for the free Windows 11 upgrade?
Microsoft has not announced one. Its upgrade FAQ simply says upgrades from Windows 10 to Windows 11 are free, without an end date. Because Microsoft could change the policy, upgrading a compatible PC sooner rather than later locks in the digital licence while the offer stands.
How long does the Windows 10 to 11 upgrade take?
On a modern PC with an SSD and fast broadband, the download and installation usually finish within an hour or two, including several restarts. Older hard drives and slow connections can stretch that considerably. Start when you can leave the PC plugged in and untouched until the Windows 11 sign-in screen appears.
Do I need a Microsoft account to upgrade?
Upgrading an existing Windows 10 PC keeps your current accounts, including local accounts. New Windows 11 Home and Pro setups for personal use require internet access and a Microsoft account during initial setup, according to Microsoft's specification page. Enrolling in Windows 10 ESU also requires a Microsoft account with administrator rights.
Can I upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 11 Pro for free?
No. The free upgrade keeps your edition, so Windows 10 Home becomes Windows 11 Home. To get Pro features such as BitLocker, Remote Desktop hosting and Hyper-V, upgrade to Home first and then apply a Pro key, as explained in our guide to upgrading Windows 11 Home to Pro without reinstalling.
Why don't I see the Windows 11 upgrade in Windows Update?
Usually the PC fails a requirement such as TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot, has a known compatibility hold from a driver or app, or is not on Windows 10 version 22H2 with recent updates. Run PC Health Check to find the cause, or use the Installation Assistant once the PC passes the checks.
Related guides
- Can I use a Windows 10 key to activate Windows 11?
- Windows 10 end of support: what to do now
- Windows 11 vs Windows 10: key differences
- Windows 11 Pro vs Home: which one to buy
Links in this guide
| Link | Type | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade to Windows 11: FAQ (Microsoft) | External | Confirms the upgrade is free, the 10-day rollback and PC Health Check |
| Use a Windows 10 key on Windows 11 | Internal | Which Windows 10 keys carry over to Windows 11 |
| Windows 11 Pro key | Internal | Licence for PCs without a valid Windows 10 entitlement |
| Windows 11 requirements, TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot | Internal | Fixes the most common compatibility failures |
| Download Windows 11 (Microsoft) | External | Official Installation Assistant, Media Creation Tool and ISO |
| Windows 11 on unsupported devices (Microsoft) | External | Microsoft's conditions for unsupported hardware |
| Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (Microsoft) | External | Official ESU end date and enrolment options |
| Check your Windows 11 version | Internal | Confirms you are on version 26H2 |
| Windows 11 update stuck or failed | Internal | Fixes for stalled or rolled-back upgrades |
| Create a Windows 11 bootable USB | Internal | Media for a clean install |
| Upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro | Internal | Moves from Home to Pro after the free upgrade |
| Windows 10 end of support | Internal | Options for PCs that stay on Windows 10 |
| Windows 11 vs Windows 10 | Internal | What changes after you upgrade |
| Windows 11 Pro vs Home | Internal | Helps decide whether to pay for Pro |