By FreePortal Team · Reviewed by FreePortal Editorial Team · Last updated October 2026

How to Download and Install Windows 11 Free Guide

Microsoft's latest operating system — download and install the Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) safely from official sources.

Visit Official Site →

Is Windows 11 Free?

Yes — for most users. Windows 11 is a free upgrade for anyone with a genuine, eligible Windows 10 licence, and that upgrade remains available with no official deadline. You do not need to pay for a new licence if you are upgrading an eligible Windows 10 PC.

For new builds or PCs without a Windows licence, a retail Windows 11 Home or Pro licence costs roughly $139–$199 depending on edition and region. Microsoft also offers a free ISO download for clean installs — you can download and use the ISO without a licence key, though you will be asked to activate after installation.

Eligibility caveat: a licence that originated from Windows 7 or 8/8.1 and was later upgraded to Windows 10 is not eligible for the free Windows 11 upgrade. If your PC started life on Windows 7, check activation status before assuming the free path applies.

Windows 10 status: Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025. Security updates for regular users stopped. Microsoft's consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme has been extended to 12 October 2027, and enrollment is manual through Windows Update. For most users, upgrading to Windows 11 is still the recommended path.

Current release: Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2), build 26300, available since 29 September 2026. Supported until 10 October 2028 (Home/Pro) or 9 October 2029 (Enterprise/Education).

System Requirements

Processor: 1 GHz or faster with 2+ cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or SoC
RAM: 4 GB minimum (8 GB+ recommended)
Storage: 64 GB or larger storage device (more may be needed for updates and features)
TPM: Trusted Platform Module version 2.0
Graphics: DirectX 12 compatible with WDDM 2.0 driver
Firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable
Display: 9-inch or larger with 720p resolution, 8 bits per colour channel
Internet: Required for updates and some features. Windows 11 Home requires internet and a Microsoft account at first setup; Windows 11 Pro can join a domain or use a local account.

What's New in the 2026 Update (26H2)

AI actions in File Explorer. Summarise documents and edit supported images directly from the context menu. Summarise requires a Microsoft 365 subscription and a Copilot licence for OneDrive/SharePoint files.
More archive formats. File Explorer handles additional compressed formats natively.
Task Manager NPU monitoring. New columns for AI workloads and neural processing unit usage.
Deeper Copilot integration. Copilot hooks in File Explorer and search, with a progress panel for agents such as Researcher.
Accessibility improvements. Narrator Braille Viewer and a wider range of voice-driven commands on Copilot+ PCs.

If you are already on 24H2 or 25H2, 26H2 arrives as a small enablement package — a quick download and a single restart, not a full reinstall.

How to Install Windows 11

Check compatibility first. Download the free PC Health Check app from Microsoft to confirm your PC supports Windows 11. If it fails, the app explains why — usually TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot.
Back up your data. Save important files to an external drive or cloud storage before installing. An upgrade usually preserves data, but a clean install wipes everything.
Check your current version. Run winver. If you are on 24H2 Home or Pro, note that it stopped receiving updates on 13 October 2026 — you should move to 25H2 or 26H2 regardless of your install method.
Choose your method. On the official download page, pick one:
- Windows 11 Installation Assistant — upgrades your current PC in place (easiest, preserves files and apps).
- Create Installation Media — makes a bootable USB for a clean install or upgrading another PC.
- Download Disk Image (ISO) — the raw file for advanced users or virtual machines.
Run the installer. Follow the on-screen prompts. The process restarts your PC a few times — just let it run.
Complete setup. Choose your region, keyboard layout, and sign in. Windows 11 Home requires a Microsoft account and internet; Windows 11 Pro can join a domain or use a local account.
Run Windows Update. After setup, install all updates and the latest drivers.

Troubleshooting "This PC can't run Windows 11"

The most common reason Windows 11 installation fails is a hardware requirement check — usually TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot. Here is how to fix each:

TPM 2.0 not detected. On most modern Intel CPUs, TPM 2.0 is called PTT (Platform Trust Technology) and must be enabled in BIOS/UEFI. On AMD CPUs, it is called fTPM (Firmware TPM). Enter BIOS/UEFI (usually F2, Del, or F10 during boot) and enable it. This is a firmware setting, not a software one — it must be enabled at the BIOS level.
Secure Boot not enabled. Secure Boot requires UEFI firmware (not legacy BIOS). In BIOS/UEFI, find the "Boot" or "Security" section and enable Secure Boot. You may also need to switch from legacy boot to UEFI mode — this can prevent Windows 10 from booting, so proceed carefully.
CPU too old. If your CPU is not on Microsoft's supported list, you cannot install Windows 11 officially. The PC Health Check app will name the specific CPU. Some users install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware using registry tweaks, but Microsoft does not support this and warns that updates may fail.
Disk not GPT or not UEFI. Windows 11 requires a GPT disk and UEFI firmware. If your Windows 10 install is on an MBR disk with legacy BIOS, you will need to convert to GPT using mbr2gpt or reinstall. The PC Health Check app will flag this.

Getting Started

Run Windows Update. Go to Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates to grab the latest patches and drivers.
Update your drivers. Visit your PC or GPU manufacturer's site (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) for the newest graphics drivers.
Pin your apps. Right-click frequently used apps and select "Pin to taskbar" for quick access.
Set up OneDrive (optional). Decide whether you want automatic cloud backup of your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders.
Customize your Start menu. Remove pre-installed apps you don't use by right-clicking them and selecting "Uninstall".
Enable BitLocker (optional). Windows 11 Pro supports BitLocker drive encryption — useful for laptops. Home edition has Device Encryption instead.

Useful Tips

🪟 Snap Layouts are powerful. Hover over any window's maximize button to snap it into halves, thirds, or quarters instantly.
⌨️ Learn key shortcuts. Win + V opens clipboard history, Win + Shift + S takes screenshots, Win + . opens the emoji picker.
🎨 Widgets board. Press Win + W for news, weather, calendar, and traffic at a glance.
📱 Phone Link. Connect your Android or iPhone to see notifications, messages, and photos directly on your desktop.
🛡️ Windows Defender is enough. You don't need paid antivirus software — built-in Defender provides solid protection.
💾 Create a restore point. Search "Create a restore point" in Start and enable it, so you can roll back if an update causes problems.
🎮 Auto HDR and DirectStorage. Windows 11 improves gaming with Auto HDR (for compatible displays) and DirectStorage (faster game loading on NVMe SSDs).
🔒 Windows Hello. Set up facial recognition or fingerprint login for faster and more secure sign-in.
📁 Right-click menu changed. Windows 11's simplified right-click menu hides some options. Press Shift + F10 for the classic full menu, or edit the registry to restore it permanently.
🤖 Try the new File Explorer AI actions. In 26H2, right-click supported files for **Summarize** or image-edit actions. Some require a Microsoft 365 or Copilot licence.
🔎 Check your build. Run winver to confirm whether you are on 24H2, 25H2, or 26H2. 24H2 Home/Pro is no longer receiving updates as of 13 October 2026.

Windows vs macOS vs Linux

Windows (Windows 11 26H2): The most widely used desktop OS, with the broadest software and hardware compatibility — especially for gaming, business applications, and legacy tools. Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. Best for most users who need maximum compatibility, gaming support, and the widest choice of hardware.
macOS: Apple's desktop OS, available only on Apple hardware (MacBook, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio). Excellent build quality, strong privacy defaults, deep integration with iPhone and iPad, and a polished Unix-based environment popular with developers and creatives. Best for users already in the Apple ecosystem, and for creative or development work where macOS-native apps matter.
Linux: Free and open source, with dozens of distributions — Linux Mint and Ubuntu are the most beginner-friendly. Runs well on older hardware, is highly customizable, and is the standard for servers and software development. Gaming support has improved dramatically via Steam Proton, but some Windows-only applications still require workarounds. Best for privacy-conscious users, developers, older hardware, and anyone willing to learn a new system.

Each is the right choice for a different situation. Windows wins on compatibility and gaming, macOS on hardware integration and creative/development polish, and Linux on freedom, longevity, and older hardware. Many users run more than one — for example, Windows for gaming and Linux for development, or macOS for creative work and Windows in a VM for specific applications.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

❌ Installation fails with "This PC can't run Windows 11". See the section above — usually TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot. Confirm both are enabled in BIOS/UEFI. If your CPU is genuinely too old, you may need to stay on Windows 10 (with ESU) or install Linux Mint.
🐌 Windows 11 feels slow after upgrade. The first few hours after upgrade are spent indexing and optimizing. Let it settle. If it stays slow, disable startup apps (Task Manager → Startup), run Disk Cleanup, and check for driver updates. Windows 11 runs well on 8 GB RAM but is faster on 16 GB.
🔊 No audio after upgrade. Windows 11 sometimes fails to install the correct audio driver. Open Device Manager, find your audio device, and click "Update driver". If that fails, download the driver from your motherboard or laptop manufacturer's site.
💾 "Windows.old" is taking 20+ GB. This is your previous Windows 10 installation, kept for 10 days to allow rollback. To reclaim the space: Settings → System → Storage → Temporary Files → Previous Windows installation(s) → Remove. This makes rollback impossible afterward.
🌐 No internet after upgrade. Windows 11 sometimes fails to install the correct network driver. If you have no internet, you cannot download one — this is why having a backup network driver on a USB stick is worth doing before upgrading. Alternatively, connect by Ethernet if Wi-Fi fails, download the driver, then reconnect Wi-Fi.
🎮 Games stutter or crash after upgrade. Update GPU drivers — the Windows Update version is often outdated. Also check that Windows 11's VBS (Virtualization-Based Security) is not reducing game performance — for gaming PCs, disabling Memory Integrity in Windows Security may improve FPS.
🖥️ Windows 11 setup wants a Microsoft account and internet. Windows 11 Home requires both at first setup. The old oobe\bypassnro command was removed in March 2025 and no longer works on 24H2/25H2/26H2. The remaining options are: (a) create the USB with Rufus, which can patch the ISO to skip the Microsoft-account requirement; or (b) complete setup with a Microsoft account, then create a local admin account and remove the online account afterward. Windows 11 Pro can join a domain or use a local account during setup.
📱 Android apps won't run. Windows Subsystem for Android and the Amazon Appstore were retired on **5 March 2025**, and the runtime components are disabled. Sideloading does not work. Use **BlueStacks**, **Genymotion**, or the **Android Studio emulator** instead.
⏳ I'm on Windows 11 24H2 and updates stopped. 24H2 Home and Pro reached end of updates on **13 October 2026**. Upgrade to **25H2 or 26H2** via Windows Update. Enterprise and Education 24H2 remain supported until 12 October 2027.
🔑 Free upgrade says I'm not eligible. Check whether your Windows 10 licence originated from Windows 7 or 8/8.1 — those licences are not eligible for the free Windows 11 upgrade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free?

Yes. The Windows 11 Installation Assistant performs a free in-place upgrade on eligible Windows 10 PCs, and Microsoft has confirmed the free upgrade remains available with no official deadline. Your files, apps, and settings are preserved. The upgrade is reversible within 10 days (via “Go back” in Settings), after which the previous Windows 10 files are removed. One exclusion: licences that originated from Windows 7 or 8/8.1 and were later upgraded to Windows 10 are not eligible for the free Windows 11 upgrade.

Do I need TPM 2.0 to install Windows 11?

Officially, yes — TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are required with no exception. Some hardware can run Windows 11 unofficially with registry tweaks, but Microsoft does not support this and warns that updates may fail. For supported systems, TPM 2.0 is enabled in BIOS/UEFI (called PTT on Intel, fTPM on AMD).

Can I install Windows 11 on older hardware?

Unofficially yes, but Microsoft does not support it. Registry tweaks (such as BypassTPMCheck and related keys during setup) allow installation on unsupported hardware, but such systems may not receive updates and may experience stability issues. For genuinely old hardware, Linux Mint is a safer choice.

Is Windows 10 still supported?

No. Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025; security updates for regular users stopped. Microsoft offers Extended Security Updates (ESU) for consumers, and the programme has been extended to 12 October 2027 (originally 13 October 2026). Enrollment is manual through Windows Update — it is not automatic. In the EEA, eligible users can receive ESU free until 14 October 2026 without enabling Windows Backup. The practical recommendation is still to upgrade to Windows 11 or move to a supported Linux distribution.

Can I go back to Windows 10 after upgrading to Windows 11?

Yes, within 10 days of upgrading. Open Settings → System → Recovery → “Go back”. After 10 days, the Windows.old folder is removed and rollback requires a clean reinstall of Windows 10.

Does Windows 11 support Android apps?

No — not natively anymore. Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) and the Amazon Appstore integration were retired on 5 March 2025. The Amazon Appstore was removed from the Microsoft Store, and Microsoft disabled the runtime components that launch Android apps at the OS level. Sideloading does not work — Microsoft states there is no registry, PowerShell, or configuration change that restores it. If you need Android apps on Windows 11, use a third-party emulator such as BlueStacks, Genymotion, or the Android Studio emulator.

Which Windows 11 version is current?

The current release is the Windows 11 2026 Update, version 26H2 (build 26300), generally available since 29 September 2026. It is delivered as a small enablement package to devices already on 24H2 or 25H2, so the update is quick and requires only a restart. 26H2 Home/Pro is supported until 10 October 2028; Enterprise/Education until 9 October 2029. Important: Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro reached end of updates on 13 October 2026 — if you are still on 24H2, upgrade to 25H2 or 26H2.

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