Installing Windows 11 on devices that don't meet minimum system requirements. If you changed your hardware in order to upgrade to Windows 11 and the system is not recognizing the change in a timely manner, this article explains how to initiate the assessment manually.

To learn more, go to Recovery options in Windows. Learn how to create installation media for installing or reinstalling Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10.

Cast to a display from a Windows PC. You can wirelessly connect your PC to a TV, projector, or other kind of external display that supports Miracast. Turn on your TV, projector, or other display. If you're using a Miracast dongle or adapter, make sure it's plugged in to the display.

A BitLocker recovery key is needed when BitLocker can’t automatically unlock an encrypted drive in Windows. This key, which is a 48-digit number, is used to regain access to the drive. You might be prompted for the BitLocker recovery key during startup, due to a security risk or hardware change:

Codes are 25 characters long, include both numbers and letters, and follow a 5x5 format—five blocks of five characters. Codes can be digital or physical cards that you purchase from Microsoft or a trusted retailer.

In early 2024, National Public Data, an online background check and fraud prevention service, experienced a significant data breach. This breach allegedly exposed up to 2.9 billion records with highly sensitive personal data of up to 170M people in the US, UK, and Canada (Bloomberg Law).

Fix sound or audio problems in Windows. If you’re having sound or audio problems, the following suggestions might help. The tips are listed in order, so start with the first one, see if that helps, and then continue to the next one if it doesn’t.

Troubleshooting cloud gaming issues on your device. There are many networking factors that can affect your cloud gaming experience. For more info about known issues and fixes, as well as help with cloud gaming problems on specific devices, see: Troubleshoot problems with cloud gaming.

From the Overview page, select Office apps and on that page, find the Microsoft 365 product you want to install and select Install. To install Microsoft 365 in a different language, or to install the 64-bit version, use the dropdown to find more options.

You can play Fortnite for free through your web browser without needing an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. All you need to play is a Microsoft account with an Xbox profile, which is free, and a supported, Bluetooth-enabled controller if desired.