Find operating system info in Windows 11. To find out which version of Windows your device is running, press the Windows logo key + R, type winver in the Open box, and then select OK. Here’s how to learn more: Select Start > Settings > System > About . Open About settings.

A Windows product key is a 25-character code used to activate Windows. It looks like this: PRODUCT KEY: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX. Locate your product key for Windows 10 or Windows 11.

For Windows 8.1, see Create a USB recovery drive. To download Windows 11 installation media, see Recovery options in Windows. Create a recovery drive so you can reinstall Windows 10 or Windows 11 in case you experience a major issue such as hardware failure.

Once the Windows 11 upgrade has been tested and validated for your specific PC, Windows Update will indicate that it's ready for installation. To check if Windows 11 is ready for your device, go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates.

For version 22H2 devices that receive updates directly from Windows Update or Windows Server Updates Services (WSUS), devices automatically get the enablement package by installing the feature update to Windows 11, version 23H2.

Microsoft support is here to help you with Microsoft products. Find how-to articles, videos, and training for Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft 365, Windows, Surface, and more.

Fixing the Secure Boot bypass described in CVE-2023-24932 requires revoking boot managers. This could cause issues for some device boot configurations. Mitigations against the Secure Boot bypass detailed in CVE-2023-24932 are included in the Windows security updates that were released on or after July 9, 2024.

This update makes quality improvements to the servicing stack, which is the component that installs Windows updates. Servicing stack updates (SSU) ensure that you have a robust and reliable servicing stack so that your devices can receive and install Microsoft updates.

In addition to diagnostic checks, there is a push-button simple way to check upgrade eligibility for Windows 11. Once Windows 11 is released, Windows Update will also offer a way to assess upgrade eligibility. You will be able to access this from Settings > Update & Security .

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.