Although Windows 11 is based on Windows 10, no matter the release on your laptop or desktop computer, the upgrade process will require complete reinstallation, which means there is a good chance of problems before and after the installation. However, if you prepare your system before the installation, you will minimize the chances of issues and will have a way to recover quickly if something wrong happens. This guide will highlight several tips to prepare your computer for a successful Windows 11 upgrade.

Prepare PC to install Windows 11

If you plan to upgrade to Windows 11 (version 22H2) from Windows 10, there are several things you want to do before beginning the process manually, like checking hardware compatibility, enabling required security features, creating a backup of the current setup, and more.

  1. Check if PC will run Windows 11 2. Enable TPM 2.0 on the BIOS 3. Enable Secure Boot on the BIOS 4. Create full backup of the computer 5. Uninstall conflicting and non-essential apps 6. Free up space on the computer 7. Check and repair system errors 8. Disconnect non-essential peripherals

1. Check if PC will run Windows 11

Although Windows 11 is a free upgrade for existing Windows 10 computers, it doesn’t mean that your device is compatible. The new operating system has increased the minimum system requirements, which means confirming whether your computer’s hardware meets the requirements is among the first things you want to do before proceeding with the installation. To check if a computer is compatible with Windows 11, use these steps: Once you complete the steps, if the hardware is compatible, you will receive a message confirming you can upgrade to the new version. If the hardware isn’t compatible, you will get a message detailing why the device can run version 22H2.

2. Enable TPM 2.0 on the BIOS

Windows 11 requires Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0 chip to provide better security. If the device doesn’t have this feature, you won’t be able to proceed with the in-place upgrade or clean installation. To enable TPM 2.0 to pass the Windows 11 requirements check, use these steps: If the computer does not have a TPM 2.0 chip, and you have an AMD processor, the module is likely built into the processor, and the option will be available as “fTPM” (firmware-based TPM 2.0) or “AMD fTPM switch.” If the device is an Intel-based system, the security feature will be available as Platform Trust Technology (PTT).

If the device does not have a TPM option, and this is a custom build, you may be able to purchase a module to add the support. However, consult the motherboard’s manufacturer’s website to confirm the support exists. After you complete the steps, the Windows 11 check should pass, allowing you to upgrade the computer to the new OS.

3. Enable Secure Boot on the BIOS

Secure Boot is another security feature that is required to install Windows 11. This module ensures that the computer can boot only using the software that the manufacturer trusts. If your device is using the legacy BIOS (Basic Input Output System), you need first need to convert the MBR (Master Boot Record) drive to GPT (GUID Partition Table) and then switch to UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) mode and enable Secure Boot. Otherwise, the computer will no longer boot if you enable the newer firmware. If you are trying to perform a clean installation, you can skip the convention, but if you are trying to upgrade from the Windows 10 desktop, this is a requirement. To enable Secure Boot before installing Windows 11 (version 21H2), use these steps: Almost all devices featuring UEFI firmware will include Secure Boot, but if this is not the case, you will need to upgrade the system, or you should consider getting a new computer that meets the Windows 11 requirements.

After you complete the steps, the computer should pass the hardware verification process to proceed with the in-place upgrade or clean install of Windows 11.

4. Create full backup of the computer

A backup is perhaps the best recovery strategy if something happens during or after the installation. You can use any third-party backup software, but you can still use the built-in system image backup on Windows 10. To create a full backup of your computer, connect a USB storage with enough space, and use these steps. Once you complete the steps, the backup process will begin. You will see a prompt asking to create a recovery disk, but you can ignore the option as you can use a Windows 10 installation USB media to access the recovery settings.

In addition to creating a full backup, it’s also recommended to create a backup of your files to an external storage or cloud storage service like OneDrive. You can also use this guide to create automatic file backups on your computer.

5. Uninstall conflicting and non-essential apps

During the upgrade process to a new version of Windows, poorly designed applications or third-party security tools like antivirus can cause problems that may prevent you from completing the installation of Windows 11. As a rule of thumb, uninstall conflicting apps before upgrading to avoid problems. To uninstall apps on Windows 10, use these steps: Once you complete the steps, the application will be removed from the device. You may need to repeat the instructions to uninstall any other program that may conflict with the Windows 11 21H2 installation.

You can learn more ways to uninstall applications in this guide.

6. Free up space on the computer

Although Windows 11 requires a hard drive with at least 64GB of space, the device still needs around 20GB of available space to process the installation.  You can use these instructions to determine what files are taking the most space and understand what stuff you need to remove to clear some of the space. To free up space on Windows 10, use these steps: After you complete the steps, Windows 10 will clean up the drive making more room to process the Windows 11 installation. 

Windows upgrade log files. System created Windows Error Reporting Files. Windows Defender Antivirus. Thumbnails. Temporary files. Recycle Bin. Previous Windows installations. Temporary Internet Files. Device driver packages. Delivery Optimization Files. DirectX Shared Cache.

In addition to clearing out temporary and other files, apps and games can also take a lot of space. If this is the case, use the previous steps to remove apps and games from your computer to free up space.

7. Check and repair system errors

If you have had the same installation for a while, the setup might likely contain corrupted files and other issues that may prevent a successful upgrade. If you plan to perform an in-place upgrade, you can use the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) and System File Checker (SFC) command-line tools to check and repair any problems with installing Windows 11 successfully. To check and repair errors before installing Windows 11, use these steps: Once you complete the steps, the SFC tool will repair the system files using the local image files that were also repaired using the DISM tool. The log files will be saved on %windir%/Logs/CBS/CBS.log and %windir%\Logs\DISM\dism.log which you can view to get more details about the process.

8. Disconnect non-essential peripherals

When you plan to upgrade to any new release of Windows, there could be hardware conflicts that prevent the installation from completing successfully. For example, storage devices (such as USB flash drives and external hard drives), printers, and cameras connected to the computer can cause errors and other problems during installation. As a result, it’s best to disconnect all the peripherals to avoid many issues installing version 22H2. Bluetooth can also cause problems. If you have a device using this wireless technology, disable it before upgrading from Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices and turning off the Bluetooth toggle switch. You only need a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and internet connection. After the installation, you can reconnect the devices. In addition to all these tips, before installing Windows 11, you want to ensure you are starting the upgrade process using an account with administrator privileges. Also, if you are performing an in-place upgrade, it’s recommended to note your installed apps and custom settings to make sure you can reconfigure the setup accordingly if you lose any of these things after the process. After you complete the preparation process, you can perform an in-place upgrade or clean installation of Windows 11. All content on this site is provided with no warranties, express or implied. Use any information at your own risk. Always backup of your device and files before making any changes. Privacy policy info.