How Do I Download Windows 11

To download Windows 11, check your PC's compatibility, then use Windows Update or Microsoft's official download page. Windows Update is the recommended route for an eligible upgrade. The download page also offers an Installation Assistant, a tool for creating USB installation media, and ISO files.

Check your PC before downloading

If you are upgrading from Windows 10, run Microsoft's PC Health Check app and select Check now. It identifies compatibility problems that may prevent installation. A processor's speed alone does not establish eligibility: its model must also be supported.

Microsoft's Windows 11 system requirements include:

• A compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip with at least two cores running at 1 GHz or faster.
• At least 4 GB of RAM and a storage device with a capacity of 64 GB or more.
• UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability and TPM version 2.0.
• Graphics compatible with DirectX 12 or later, using a WDDM 2.0 driver.
• A 720p display larger than 9 inches diagonally, with 8 bits per colour channel.

The storage requirement describes drive capacity, not the download size or the free space needed for every installation. Setup may require additional free space. Windows 11 Home and Pro for personal use also require an internet connection and a Microsoft account during initial setup.

If TPM or Secure Boot appears unavailable, consult your PC manufacturer's instructions before changing firmware settings. A disabled feature may be supported by the hardware, but enabling it will not make an unsupported processor eligible.

Choose the download method that fits your task

Downloading installation files does not give you a Windows licence. Check your existing activation status and edition before reinstalling. An eligible upgrade or an existing digital licence may cover activation; a new PC without a licence needs an appropriate one.

Download through Windows Update

Microsoft's installation guidance recommends waiting until Windows Update offers the upgrade for your device.

1. On Windows 10, open Start, then Settings, Update & Security, and Windows Update.
2. Select Check for updates. Install pending updates and restart if requested.
3. If Windows 11 is offered, select Download and install, then accept the licence terms if you agree.
4. Keep the computer connected to power and the internet while it downloads.
5. Save your work and restart when prompted. Allow the installation to finish through any further restarts.

If the upgrade is missing, check PC Health Check and any message in Windows Update. A known compatibility issue can delay an offer even when the hardware meets the minimum requirements.

Use Microsoft's Windows 11 download page

For the following methods, open Microsoft's Download Windows 11 page. Select the section matching your task rather than the first Download Now button. Avoid modified installers and downloads from unofficial sources.

Upgrade with the Installation Assistant

The Installation Assistant works on supported x64 PCs; it does not run on Arm-based PCs. Check Microsoft's listed prerequisites before starting, and resolve any compatibility warning first.

1. Under Windows 11 Installation Assistant, select Download Now.
2. Run the downloaded tool with administrator permissions.
3. Let it check compatibility. If it requests PC Health Check, complete that check before continuing.
4. Review and accept the licence terms to begin installation.
5. Restart when prompted and leave the computer powered on while setup finishes.

Create a bootable USB installer

Use a blank USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of capacity. Copy anything you need from it first: creating the installer deletes its contents. Microsoft's installation media instructions explain the preparation requirements.

1. Under Create Windows 11 Installation Media, download and run the Media Creation Tool.
2. Accept the terms if you agree, then select the appropriate language and edition.
3. Choose USB flash drive and carefully select the intended USB device.
4. Wait for the download and media creation to finish before removing the drive.

This tool creates x64 installation media. For an Arm-based device, use Microsoft's separate Arm64 download option and follow the device manufacturer's installation guidance.

Download an ISO file

1. Find the Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) section for your device's architecture.
2. Select the available Windows 11 download and confirm your language.
3. Download the ISO to a location with enough free space.

An ISO is a disk image, not an executable installer. For an upgrade from within Windows, right-click the downloaded ISO, choose Mount, open the mounted drive, and run setup.exe. Merely copying an ISO onto a USB drive does not create bootable installation media.

Install without choosing the wrong recovery path

To retain files and apps, start setup from within your existing Windows session and review the final choices. Select Keep personal files and apps when available. If that option is missing, stop and check the language, edition and upgrade compatibility before proceeding.

Booting from a USB installer is a different route used for a clean installation. Follow your manufacturer's boot-menu instructions and verify the target drive carefully. A clean installation removes files, apps and settings; deleting or formatting partitions also destroys their contents. Microsoft's reinstallation guidance explains these choices.

Resolve download problems and finish setup

If downloading fails, check your internet connection and free disk space, restart the PC, and retry through the same official method. Record any error code and use Microsoft Support if it persists.

If Windows is already installed but you are investigating a sign-in problem, our separate guide to Command Prompt access from the Windows 11 lock screen covers that recovery topic.

After installation, check Settings, Windows Update for updates and Settings, System, Activation for activation status. Once setup is complete, you can create desktop shortcuts for apps pinned to the taskbar or browse our Windows guides for other setup tasks.

Before starting the installation, make a backup and open a few copied files to check that you can access them.