The all-new update to the Windows operating system is here: on June 24th, 2021, Microsoft officially released the new upgrade to its operating system after releasing updates for Windows 10 for more than six years. This new Windows 11 has changed the way people look at Windows operating systems, and for many, it is a big game-changer for sure. But if you are someone who is still using Windows 10 and wants to move to Windows 11, you need to know how to migrate from one to the other properly, and for that, we have written this article to help you on this journey.
Today, we are going to show you how you can download and install Windows 11 on your computer safely. In addition to this, we will also discuss some of the benefits you will receive after installing Windows 11 on your computer. Finally, we will leave you with some things to keep in mind when you are installing Windows 11 so that your migration to the new operating system will be safe and sound.
What Is Windows 11?
So, what’s new with Windows 11, and why are they releasing a new version after telling users that Windows 10 was the last operating system they ever created?Well, for starters, let’s say there are not many changes at the core of Windows; it’s more like a new dressing. Both Apple and Google are trying their best to acquire the market that Microsoft is dominating. Both of these companies are coming up with new, sleek designs, which makes working on their operating systems a treat for the eyes.
Most of the functions that you will be performing in Windows 11 will be the same as in Windows 10. Because Microsoft went with the approach that says, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” There are some added features and conveniences. But Windows 11 sure is a fresh take on the good old operating system, which is loved by millions of users worldwide. Microsoft has finally made a new operating system that is the talk of the town, and their efforts to acquire the centre stage of modern-day operating systems have finally paid off.
What are the Requirements of Windows 11?
The latest Windows will be coming from recent and new PCs which you will be buying on the market. Then it will be made available as a free upgrade to all Windows 10 users.This process will be on a rolling basis and will be based on the hardware configurations. This rollout is expected to be completed by the middle of 2022. When it was first announced, there was a lot of excitement.a lot of fuss about what the requirements of Windows 11 would be. But most computers are able to handle it with ease, so do not worry whether your old school computer might not be able to run Windows 11. Given below are the minimum system requirements for Windows 11 to run on a computer.
- CPU – Anyone with more than 1Ghz of power.
- RAM – 4 GB DDR3 or above.
- Processor – 64 bit, no 32-bit version of the operating system is available.
- Storage – 64GB
- Other features – TPM Security Chip and Secure Boot capability.
Now you might be wondering what the TPM security chip stands for, and if your motherboard has it, or do you need to install it on a graphic card? Well, the answer is yes. Most of the motherboards that have been produced in the past five to six years come with these security chips pre-installed along with the Secure Boot capability. But if you still have doubts, you can go to the official website of Windows 11, and there you can check the compatibility of your system with Windows 11. The real issue which you need to look for is the CPU model year, which needs to be from about the past four years.
One more thing: if you have installed the new Windows 11 but are not satisfied with its implementation and other things, you have ten days to roll back to your previous version of Windows. Microsoft has announced that they will keep on providing updates and patches for Windows 10 until 2025.
Benefits of using Windows Operating System
For almost a decade, Microsoft was sitting quiet and not coming up with the new version of Windows, and then suddenly, in 2021, they announced Windows 11. which now comes with more customization along with easy integration. Microsoft has claimed that they have made an operating system that is going to be loved by every single PC user. According to us, these are the seven significant benefits that you get with Windows 11.
AI-Powered Widgets
Well, widgets are a thing now again! If you are someone who likes to have widgets that are floating informational windows present on the right side of your screen most of the time in Windows 7 and Vista, then you are going to enjoy Windows 11 for sure. The new widgets are more in tune with the system hardware and come with a much easier navigation interface.
The dedicated pane slides will be sliding out from the left side, as usual, so you don’t have to scroll to find the widget that you are looking for. Everything is present on a single page and can be customized according to your liking.
Android Apps
Yes, you read that correctly; Android Apps are now available for the Windows operating system; what a time to be alive, right?Microsoft has partnered up with Amazon to provide users with the Android apps that they want to use on their computers. In contrast, some users can easily access Android apps on Windows 10 via software like Bluestacks. Now Android apps can be downloaded straight from the OS with no problem at all. Some of the Android applications will not be available on the store, but users can still enjoy plenty of other applications.
Virtual Desktops
Now with Windows 11, you can create more individual virtual desktops. You can even customise them with different wallpapers so as to know which one of them you are using currently. These desktops will work quite like how Mac OS works on multiple screen setups where you are switching between various apps and programs.
Layout
What if you could control an unlimited number of windows on your screen all at once? Now imagine being able to see everything that is happening in all the other windows while you work. A new feature called Snap Layouts makes it possible for you to achieve this ability. With the use of Snap layout, you can arrange a number of different layouts on a single screen. Moreover, once you are satisfied with the layout, you can even save it, so you don’t have to re-arrange it again every time you want to see multiple screens.
When you open a window, you will always find an option that is present in the top right corner to configure that particular window. Click on it and then select the desired layout from all the available options.
Best method to download & Install Windows 11 on your Computers
So now that you know the benefits of having Windows 11 on your computer, now is the time to find out how to download and install Windows 11 on your computer. Let’s start out with the download of Windows 11; for this, you don’t have to visit a goofy website or an external link.
If you are running a Windows operating system, you can go to the system update section and search for the new updates. If Windows 11 is available for your computer, it will show up right away. Once you click on the Update button, it will be downloaded, and you are ready to install it on your computer.
If you are not able to find the update in your operating system, you can always go to the official website of Microsoft, and from there, you can download the ISO of the Windows 11 file, which can be transferred to a bootable USB drive.
Step-by-Step Guide Of Updating Windows 11
So now you have the ISO file, and you have pasted it on the bootable USB drive. Or, in most cases, you have updated it from the operating system itself. So from here starts the actual transfer of data, the uninstalling of Windows 10, and the installation of Windows 11.
Step1. Copy Your Data
Computers have important data, and no matter how much you do your work online, you will always end up with some documents that are saved in your local storage. Before you make the decision to install a new Windows operating system, make sure you have all the necessary documents, software, and tools backed up.
Not every time you wipe up the whole hard drive, but it is better to be cautious and save your files somewhere else in the first place. You can put it on an external hard drive, or you can even use cloud storage to put all your essential data there and retrieve it once the installation of the new Windows operating system is complete.
Step2. Make A Bootable Drive Of USB Or DVD
Your USB or DVD needs to have more than 8 GB of storage for this. Also, both of these storage devices must be cleaned and should not have any files left on them. If there are any files, they will be deleted during the installation of Windows Installer in their respective storage. For this, you need to follow the steps that are present on your screen to make the device bootable.
Step3. Reboot Your Computer
Once you are done with the installation on a bootable device, the next thing to do is turn off the computer and restart it once again. When you are restarting the computer, you need to be a little quick and press F2 or F12, depending on the manufacturer of your computer. Once you press it when the manufacturer’s logo shows up on the screen, you will be sent to the boot menu of your system.
Here you will make sure that your computer will boot from the device that you have inserted and not from the internal hard drive. Once you select the bootable device in the menu, your computer will restart once again, and it will start with the Windows 11 installation.
Step4. Start The Installation From Various Options
There are two methods of installing Windows on your computer, the first being installing via Windows Update, which is also considered to be an “in-place” or “incremental” installation. In this installation process, the code for Windows 11 will be added to your computer while all the remaining documents, folders, and apps will remain precisely the same. It is more of a safe approach, provided you do have a backup of the existing files somewhere safe. That’s why, at the start of the article, we asked you to make a backup of your documents.
On the other hand, there is an installation process called “clean-install,” where you are given the option to start fresh. In this process, all your documents, settings, applications, folders, etc., will be deleted from the computer. We would like you to take a minute to think of these two options. According to us, you should go with the second option, which is the “clean install.” Now you might be wondering why we are favouring the second option. Well, the plain answer is that Windows 11 isn’t stable as of now. Once you start using it, you will find minor bugs, and if you have documents that were present before the installation, they might as well get affected by it.
You will eliminate some of the bugs and have a better user experience with Windows 11 if you perform a clean install. Keep in mind that if you performed a clean install and chose the first option, you will have ten days to return to Windows 10. Following that, you must download the Windows 10 ISO and follow all of the steps outlined above for Windows 10 installation.
Step5. The Installation Process
So now, once you have made up your mind about how to install Windows 11, all that is left for you to take care of is just pressing the next and next buttons. Given below are the steps that will be promoted to you during the installation setup.
- First, choose the language for the installation of Windows; this will set up the language of your operating system, so take your time and make your decision wisely. After that, choose the time and current format.
- Once these options are set, click on the “Install Now” button on the setup.
- At this site, you will have to enter the product key for Windows 11, which you have received from Microsoft. Besides, if you are reinstalling Windows 11, then the best choice would be to enter the product key into the operating system after the installation is complete.
- Now you are eligible, and there will be options to choose from for your Windows 11 installation. Choose the one you purchased from Microsoft; otherwise, your product key will become invalid, and you will have to restart the entire process.
- Accept the licence terms and conditions by clicking on the Next button.
- Now you have to click on the Custom: Install Windows 11 Only (Advanced) option in order to proceed with the clean installation. If you want to proceed with an “incremental” installation, then upgrading will be the choice you need to click on.
- Select the partition where your previous or current Windows operating system has been installed. Click on it, and it will ask you to delete the data. Click on Okay, and your data will be formatted from the drive. At this stage, you will delete all the data present in different partitions of your computer to start fresh.
- Windows 11 will now install on your computer, and you will have to wait; it can take up to half an hour to complete the installation based on the hardware that you have.
- After that installation is done, you will have to fill in the options you want in the out-of-box experience to finish up the personal settings of your computer.
Wrapping Up
I hope this article help you gain an understanding of the steps you need to take in order to download and install Windows 11 as easily as possible. There are a plethora of advantages to installing the new Windows operating system. At the same time, you should be aware of the risks associated with a new, unpolished operating system. Windows 11 is excellent software, and most computers will have it within the next few years. As a result, now is the time to be an early adopter and see what the new Windows 11 has in store for you.