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.

Sign out of Hotmail or Outlook.com. To sign out, go to Outlook.com. Select your account initials or account picture at the top corner of your Inbox. Select Sign out. Tips: If you don't see your picture at the top of screen, check to see if ad blocking is turned on. Sometimes this prevents the picture from showing.

Find out how to install Windows 11 on your device, whether you need to use Windows Update, Cloud download, or Local reinstall. Get tips and troubleshooting help from Microsoft Support.

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Learn about the recovery options in Windows. Find out how to reset your PC, go back to a previous version of Windows, or use media to reinstall Windows.

Decide which documents to recover from an unexpected close, delete recovered files you don't want, or close recovered files to review later.

Fix File Explorer if it won't open or start. Note: File Explorer is not the same tool as Microsoft Edge. To open Microsoft Edge, in the search box on the taskbar, type Microsoft Edge, and then select it from the results. To open File Explorer in Windows 11, select File Explorer on the taskbar or press the Windows logo key + E on your keyboard.

Learn how to access and manage your Windows sign in options. Use a password, Windows Hello, or a security key to unlock your device.

Learn how to remove malware from your PC. Use Microsoft Defender Antivirus in Windows 10 or Windows 11 to scan your PC for malware, viruses, or other threats.

Activate Windows using a product key. A product key is a 25-character code, that looks like this: PRODUCT KEY: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX. During installation, you'll be prompted to enter a product key. Or, after installation, to enter the product key, select the Start button, and then select Settings > System > Activation > Update product ...