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Do You Have to Pay for Windows 11? - MUO - MakeUseOf

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Microsoft is gradually rolling out Windows 11 across all compatible devices. As such, there's a good chance that you're looking to upgrade your device to Microsoft's latest OS.

However, the question remains: do you have to pay to upgrade to Windows 11? Or can you upgrade your Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 for free? Read on to find out.

When Do You Have to Pay for a Windows 11 Upgrade?

If your device is compatible with Windows 11, and you're running Windows 10, you won't have to pay for Windows 11. All Windows 10 users can upgrade to Windows 11 for free.

We're not sure how long this offer will last, but chances are that Microsoft will support a free Windows 10 to Windows 11 upgrade for quite some time. Even Windows 7 users can easily upgrade to Windows 11 from the Windows update menu.

That being said, there are two major scenarios that could force you to pay for Windows 11.

Building a New Computer Without a Windows 10 Licence

If you're assembling a new PC, then you may have to pay for Windows 11. We say "may" because it entirely depends if you have another Windows 10 PC and the kind of license it has.

There's a good chance that if you have a Windows 10 PC, it's using an OEM license key[1]. OEM keys only work on one PC, so you can't carry the license over to your new PC. As such, you'll need to buy a new license key to get Windows on your new PC.

At the time of writing, you can't buy a Windows 11 key specifically. Instead, you'll have to purchase a Windows 10 product key, and then claim the free upgrade to Windows 11.

Related: How to Build a Gaming PC That Plays the Latest Games[2]

There's a good chance you'll find some websites that claim they're selling Windows 11 product keys, but most of them are shady. There is a high likelihood that they will try to scam you. Fortunately, you can easily purchase Windows 10 from Microsoft's official website:

Windows 10 Download Page.
  1. Go to the Windows 10 download page[3].
  2. Decide whether you want to purchase the Home or Pro edition of Windows 10[4], and click on the one you want.
  3. Complete the purchase process on the next page.
  4. You can download Windows 10 or note down the product key to activate it on another computer.

Alternatively, you can also create a bootable Windows 10 USB drive[5] from another PC. Simply insert this USB on your new computer, and it will automatically detect the OS. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 10. Remember to activate Windows using the product key you purchased earlier.

There are also trustworthy online retailers that sell Windows 10 product keys at a discounted rate when compared to Microsoft's official website.

You Own a Device Incompatible With Windows 11

The other reason why you could have to pay for Windows 11 is if you own an incompatible device. Microsoft has laid out some recommended requirements for Windows 11. This includes TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. Additionally, Microsoft has stated that 6th and 7th Gen Intel CPUs as well as first-generation AMD Ryzen processors are also unsupported for Windows 11.

Related: Can Your PC Run Windows 11? Check These System Requirements[6]

However, these are not hard requirements. There are plenty of workarounds available to install Windows 11 on unsupported devices that already run Windows 10. But there are several drawbacks to installing Windows 11 on an unsupported device.

Microsoft makes you accept that the company can stop providing updates, and security patches to Windows 11 on these devices. While Microsoft is unlikely to do that in practice, it's still better to be on the safer side. Also, you're likely to run into driver incompatibility issues on unsupported devices. Especially, if your computer is running hardware that is more than 5-6 years old.

Thus, it's better to purchase better hardware and then install Windows 11. However, if you still want to proceed with the upgrade, the Microsoft Support website[7] outlines a few methods to do so.

Getting a Free Upgrade to Windows 11

Computers with do not have compatibility issues and already run Windows 10 can easily be upgraded to Windows 11. Though, it may take time for the update to arrive on your specific device. Luckily, this too can be bypassed, and you can install Windows 11 for free right now[8].

Install Windows 11 for Free on a Supported Computer

It's a breeze to check for compatibility and install Windows 11:

Windows 10 Update settings page.
  1. Click on the Start button and then click on the Settings cog.
  2. On the Settings dashboard, click on Update & Security.
  3. Ensure that you're on the Windows Update section.
  4. Click on Check for updates.
  5. Now, see if there's a prompt that tells you if your computer can run Windows. It should look like the one shown in the image above.
  6. Your computer could already be eligible for an update, so just click on Download and install to get started with Windows 11.

There's also a chance that your computer is compatible with Windows 11, but it is still unavailable for you. It's advisable to wait until it's made available; however you can still install it using the Windows 11 installation assistant. While Microsoft doesn't recommend it, it shouldn't pose any major problems.

Windows 11 Installation Assistant.
  1. Download the Windows 11 Installation assistant from Microsoft's official website[9].
  2. Run the downloaded application.
  3. Click on Accept and install.
  4. The Windows 11 Installation assistant will begin downloading Windows 11.
  5. Once the download is complete, you can either choose to Restart now or wait until Windows automatically restarts.
  6. After rebooting, follow the on-screen instructions to easily install Windows 11.

Install Windows 11 for Free on an Unsupported Computer

Here is where things start to get a little complicated. While you can install Windows 11 on unsupported devices, the process is a little tedious. Also, you are bound to run into multiple errors. Therefore, it is advisable to back up all your important data[10] before proceeding further.

You essentially have to create a bootable USB drive containing the Windows 11 ISO file:

Download Windows 11 ISO.
  1. Go to the Windows 11 download page[11] and scroll down to the Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) section.
  2. Here, select Windows 11 from the dropdown menu.
  3. Click on Download.
  4. Insert a USB drive with at least 16 GB of storage.
  5. Download a tool called Rufus[12]. Install and then launch Rufus.
  6. Click on the Select button and navigate to the downloaded Windows 11 ISO file.
  7. Click on Start.
  8. Wait for the burning process to complete.
  9. Your bootable USB drive with Windows 11 will be ready.

To install Windows 11, simply shut down your computer, then boot it up again. Your PC will automatically detect the bootable USB, and you can follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 11.

Easily Upgrade to Windows 11

As is evident from the information above, upgrading to Windows 11 is quite easy. Also, in most cases, it will be a free upgrade for you. However, it could be worth waiting for Microsoft to iron out all the creases before committing yourself to the update. Additionally, it may be worth figuring out which edition of Windows is actually suited for your needs.

The Windows 11 logo
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[13] About The Author
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Manuviraj Godara (135 Articles Published)

Manuviraj is a Features Writer at MakeUseOf and has been writing about video games and technology for over two years. He is an avid gamer who also spends his free time burning through his favourite music albums and reading.

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