Microsoft has surprised everyone with their new operating system (OS), Windows 11, as it has been revamped mostly, and everyone is excited to check out this platform; however, is Windows 11 free? That’s the question many people have in their minds, and If you are among them, I have the right answer for you today.
In this post, I’ll discuss this topic and share my thoughts on Windows 11 and its compatibility with your PC. Let’s jump right into it.
Is Windows 11 Free?
If you own a PC/ laptop with Windows 10, you can upgrade to Windows 11 for free of cost; however, If you are using Windows 7/ 8, you won’t get Windows 11 for free.
There is a big misconception that Windows 11 is completely free, but that’s not the case. If you currently use the latest version of Windows 10 with an activation key, you can easily get the new Windows 11 without paying anything. If your PC runs the older version, such as Windows 7/ 8, you can’t get Windows 11 for free.
If you do no know how to upgrade to Windows 11 from Windows 10, continue reading as I’m about to show you exactly how to do that with simple steps.
System Requirements For Windows 11:
Here are the system requirements for Windows 11 on your PC or laptop:
- Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) with 2 or more cores.
- RAM: 4GB or more.
- Storage: 64GB or more storage.
- System firmware: UEFI and Secure Boot capable.
- Trusted Platform Module: 2.0
- Graphics card: Compatible with DirectX 12 or later models.
- Display: 720P display.
If you want to try Windows 11 on your PC or laptop, it must match at least these requirements, which Microsoft officially mentions. If your PC/ laptop doesn’t match your requirements, you’ll have difficulty upgrading your system to Windows 11.
Even If your system doesn’t match these requirements, you can bypass the official method and still run Windows 11; however, Microsoft has stated that those devices will not get security and regular updates.
If you are okay with this, you can install Windows 11 unofficially, or else you should install it only on devices that match the system requirements.
Additionally, there is another way to check the compatibility of your PC with Windows: the PC Health Check app itself.
Here’s how to use the PC Health Check app on your PC:
- Download the PC Health Check app from the official site link here.
- Install the app on your Windows laptop/ PC.
- Launch the app, click “Check Now” from the top, and wait a few minutes.
- Finally, you’ll get the result of whether your system is capable of running Windows 11 or not.
If the result seems to be in your favor, you can install it officially, or else you’ll have to find an unofficial way. Also, ensure you get this tool only from the official site I mentioned above, and don’t download it from somewhere else.
How To Upgrade From Windows 10 To 11 (For Free)?
Here is a step-by-step process to help you upgrade from Windows 10 to 11 without paying anything:
Step 1: Launch the home screen on your Windows desktop and open the “Start Menu”.
Step 2: Click on the “Settings” icon and select “Update & Security”.
Step 3: Click on the “Download & Install” option below where it says “Upgrade to Windows 11 is ready”.
Step 4: Wait till the download is completed, and after that, your PC will restart a few times, and after that, you’ll get Windows 11 on your PC.
This is the only method I would recommend you go with If you are trying to install Windows 11 on your PC because it is pretty easy to follow, and you don’t need to be a technical person to follow these steps.
Suppose your Windows desktop is compatible with Windows 11 operating system. In that case, you’ll get a different notification in the setting that says, “Upgrade to Windows 11 is ready- and It’s free”.” In contrast, non-compatibility devices will not get such a notification.
You can download the OS below that notification and install it immediately without any extra tools. Finally, after your desktop restart, you’ll find a new Windows 11 operating system on your PC/ laptop when the download is complete.
What Happens If I Don’t Upgrade To Windows 11?
If you don’t want to upgrade to Windows 11 for some reason, Windows will only download the important updates to your system and install them at the right time.
Windows 10 isn’t very old, and still, many people admire it because of its ease of use If you don’t want to upgrade to Windows 11 for a similar reason, that’s perfectly fine for now. You can still use Windows 10. However, it would be best if you were on the safe side. You can upgrade to Windows 11 whenever you are ready after some time.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely, Yes. Upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is worth it because the new design is visually appealing and practical. You also get new features such as AI-powered file recommendations, Windows 11 Snap Layouts, and more.
Windows forces you to update to Windows 11 because they want you to stay updated to protect your data without falling victim to any hacker.
It is always a good idea to stay up-to-date, whether it is an app or software like Windows. That’s why Microsoft wants you to upgrade to the latest operating system.
Yes, you can use your Windows product key to activate Windows 11.
If you have an active Windows 10 activation key, you can use that to activate Windows 11 without any additional charges.
Windows 11 is slightly faster than Windows 10 as the Microsoft team has optimized this latest operating system with major changes.
Microsoft has greatly improved this latest operating system and made huge improvements, leading to faster performance.
Conclusion:
Even though Windows 10 is still one of the best operating systems out there, Microsoft has released Windows 11 for users who want to try some new and exciting features, but many users don’t know properly if Windows 11 is free or not. The answer to this question is NO. In most cases, you don’t have to pay anything to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11, but it is impossible If you are using Windows 7 or 8.
If you have any other doubts or questions about Windows 11, let me know in the comments below, and I’ll talk to you soon. Thanks.
Since 2014 I have been writing about tech and helping others to fix tech issues related to Android, Windows, iOS, Chromebook, and more.
I love to help others to fix any technical issues they might be facing.