This article applies if you’ve recently made changes to your device hardware and are trying to upgrade to Windows 11. Hardware changes might affect your upgrade eligibility, though you’ll need to take a few steps to see your updated eligibility in Settings.

Important: The following steps apply only to devices currently running an activated copy of Windows 11 Home.If you’re not activated, we recommend you activate Windows 11 Home first. For more info, see Activate Windows.

Safe mode starts Windows in a basic state, using a limited set of files and drivers. If a problem doesn't happen in safe mode, this means that default settings and basic device drivers aren't causing the issue.

An upgrade moves your PC from a previous version of Windows—such as Windows 7 or Windows 8.1—to Windows 10. An upgrade can take place on your existing device, though Microsoft recommends using Windows 10 on a new PC to take advantage of the latest features and security improvements.

If you're running Windows 8.1 or earlier, or if your PC doesn't meet the minimum system requirements to run Windows 11, consider moving to a new Windows 11 device. Find a PC that meets your needs. Set up your Microsoft account to transfer files and favorites. One account connects your device across Microsoft apps and services like Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Edge, and Microsoft Store.

Note: Recovery drives created and used on machines with the April 9, 2024 security update and the revocation policy applied may be impacted.For more, see KB5025885: How to manage the Windows Boot Manager revocations for Secure Boot changes associated with CVE-2023-24932.

Published August 2021. This article is intended for users who are not able to upgrade to Windows 11 because their PC is not currently Secure Boot capable.

Message recall is available after you select Send and is available only if both you and the recipient have a Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Exchange email account in the same organization.Messages sent to or from a Hotmail, Gmail, or live.com account can't be recalled.

Windows 11 is designed to bring you closer to what you love and is releasing at a time when the PC is playing an even more central role in the way we connect, create and play.

Step 2: Back up your folders. Windows Backup is an easy, single stop for all of your backup needs. Your free Microsoft account comes with 5 GB of OneDrive cloud storage (and more storage is available if you need it), and backing up your folders syncs the folders you specify to your OneDrive account, making them instantly accessible on all computers that you use with this Microsoft account.