Windows 10 stopped getting security updates on October 14, 2025 (I wrote about what that means here). For most people still on it, the best next step is simply moving to Windows 11. If your computer supports it, the upgrade is free and keeps your files and programs where they are. Here's how to find out if yours qualifies, and how to do it without drama.
What Windows 11 needs
Windows 11 is pickier about hardware than Windows 10 was. The main requirements are:
- A supported processor. Roughly speaking, Intel 8th generation or newer, or AMD Ryzen 2000 series or newer. Microsoft keeps an official list, and a few chips close to the line are on one side or the other.
- TPM 2.0. A small security chip (or a feature built into the processor) that Windows uses for things like encryption and sign-in. Most PCs from the last several years have it, though sometimes it's switched off.
- UEFI with Secure Boot. A modern startup system that checks nothing has tampered with Windows before it loads. Again, often present but not always turned on.
- At least 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. These are the minimums. In practice, 8 GB of RAM makes it a much more pleasant experience.
As a rough guide, PCs bought from around 2018 onward usually qualify, but the exact hardware is what counts, not the year on the receipt.
How to check your PC
You don't need to open anything up. There are a few ways to check, from easiest to most detailed:
- Windows Update. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. If your PC qualifies, you'll often see a message offering Windows 11, or saying it meets the requirements. If it doesn't, it usually says so here too.
- The PC Health Check app. A free app from Microsoft. Search for "PC Health Check" in the Start menu (it's often already installed), or get it from Microsoft's website. Click "Check now" and it tells you yes or no, and which requirement is the problem.
- tpm.msc. Press the Windows key and R, type tpm.msc and press Enter. Look for "Specification Version". If it says 2.0, you're fine on that front. If it says no compatible TPM was found, it may simply be turned off.
- msinfo32. Press the Windows key and R, type msinfo32 and press Enter. This shows your processor, "BIOS Mode" (you want UEFI rather than Legacy) and "Secure Boot State".
I'm also putting together a free Windows 11 checker on this site that walks you through these answers one question at a time.
One thing worth knowing: a "no" isn't always final. If the only problem is that TPM or Secure Boot is switched off, it can usually be turned on in the computer's startup settings. That's a fiddly job with menus that differ from brand to brand, so if you're not comfortable in there, it's the kind of thing I'm happy to do for you.
Before you upgrade: back up
The upgrade is designed to keep your files, and it usually does. But "usually" isn't a word you want next to your family photos. Make a fresh backup of anything you'd miss before you start. If you don't have a backup routine yet, here's the easy way to set one up.
A few other things help it go smoothly:
- Plug in the laptop charger and don't let it go to sleep partway through.
- Make sure you know your Microsoft account password, or your PC sign-in password or PIN.
- Leave yourself time. It can take an hour or more, with several restarts, depending on the computer and your internet speed.
How to upgrade
If your PC qualifies, the simplest route is Windows Update. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and if the Windows 11 offer is there, choose to download and install it. It's free. Windows downloads what it needs, restarts a few times, and you come back to the same desktop files and programs, just with a new look.
If you change your mind, Windows 11 usually lets you go back to Windows 10 for a short time afterwards (typically ten days), under Settings > System > Recovery. Keep in mind that going back means going back to a version that no longer gets security updates.
What changes day to day
Less than people fear. Your files, programs and most settings come across as they were. The main differences you'll notice:
- The taskbar is centered. The Start button and your pinned programs sit in the middle of the bar instead of the left. If that bothers you, it can be moved back to the left in the taskbar settings.
- The Start menu looks different. The old tiles are gone. Instead there's a grid of pinned apps, a "recommended" list of recent files, and a search box at the top. Typing the name of what you want still works just like before.
- The right-click menu is shorter. Some older options are tucked under "Show more options" at the bottom.
- Settings has been reorganized. Most things are still there, just in a new layout with a menu down the left side.
Most people I help are comfortable with it within a day or two.
If your PC isn't eligible
If your computer really can't run Windows 11, you're back to the same options I described in the Windows 10 post: sign up for Extended Security Updates (free for home users in Portugal, but only until October 13, 2026), or plan for a new computer. You'll find ways to force Windows 11 onto unsupported hardware online, but I don't recommend it for most people: it's unsupported for a reason, and future updates aren't guaranteed.
If you're not sure whether an older machine is worth putting more money into, the repair-or-replace calculator can help you think it through.
And if you'd rather not do any of this yourself, I can check your PC and do the upgrade for you, or tell you honestly if it isn't worth it.