How to upgrade Windows 10 to 11 23H2

UPDATED 11/1/2023: You can upgrade a Windows 10 setup to Windows 11 23H2 using the ISO file, Windows Update, Update Assistant, and the Windows Insider Program. 

Although Windows 11 23H2 is available starting October 31, 2023, as a free upgrade for devices already running versions 22H2 and 21H2, if you have a Windows 10 computer that meets the minimum requirements, you can continue the installation process.

Microsoft supports multiple upgrade methods. When the Windows 11 2023 Update is ready for your laptop, tablet, or desktop, you’ll receive a notification from “Windows Update” to proceed with the upgrade. However, you can also use the “Installation Assistant” tool to perform an in-place upgrade. Or you can download the ISO file to upgrade using a USB flash drive.

In this guide, I will teach you the steps to upgrade Windows 10 to the Windows 11 2023 Update in four different ways. You can also upgrade the system using a clean installation in six different ways.

• Upgrade Windows 10 to 11 23H2 from ISO file
• Upgrade Windows 10 to 11 23H2 from Windows Update
• Upgrade Windows 10 to 11 23H2 from Installation Assistant
• Upgrade Windows 10 to 11 23H2 from Insider Program

Upgrade Windows 10 to 11 23H2 from ISO file

To upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 23H2 from ISO file, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Support website.

2. Under the “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO)” section, select the Windows 11 option.

3. Click the Download button.

   

4. Select the installation language.

5. Click the Confirm button.

6. Click the Download button to save the Windows 11 23H2 ISO file on the computer.

7. Right-click the ISO file, select the Open with submenu, and choose the Windows Explorer option.

8. Click on the mounted drive from the left navigation pane.

9. Double-click the Setup file to begin the upgrade process.

10. (Optional) Click the “Change how Windows Setup downloads updates” option.

    

11. Select the “Not right now” option.

    

12. Click the Next button.

13. Click the Accept button to agree to the terms.

    

14. Click the Install button.

Once you complete the steps, the upgrade process will begin, and the device will restart several times. Since this is an in-place upgrade, you won’t need to complete the initial setup because your previous settings, apps, and files will migrate automatically to version 23H2.

Upgrade Windows 10 to 11 23H2 from Windows Update

To upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 23H2 manually from Windows Update, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on Update & Security.

3. Click on Windows Update.

4. Click the “Check for updates” button.

   

5. Click the “Download and install” button.

6. Click the Restart now button.

Once you complete the steps, Windows Update will proceed with the upgrade to Windows 11 23H2 from Windows 10.

Upgrade Windows 10 to 11 23H2 from Installation Assistant

To upgrade to Windows 11 23H2 from Windows 10 with the Installation Assistant tool, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Support website.

2. Under the “Windows 11 Installation Assistant” section, click the Download Now button.

3. Double-click the Windows11InstallationAssistant.exe file to launch the tool.

   

4. Click the “Accept and install” button.

Once you complete the steps, the system will upgrade to the latest version of Windows 11.

Upgrade Windows 10 to 11 23H2 from Insider Program

If you want to install Windows 11 23H2 before it is officially available, you can enroll the computer in the “Release Preview Channel” of the Windows Insider Program to download and install the latest preview build of the new version.

To upgrade to Windows 11 23H2 (preview), use these steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on Update & Security.

3. Click on Windows Insider Program.

4. Click the Get started button.

   

5. Click the “Link an account” button.

   

6. Sign in with your Microsoft account.

7. Click the Continue button.

8. Under the “Pick your Insider settings” section, select the “Release Preview Channel” option.

9. Click the Confirm button.

10. Click the Confirm button to agree to the terms and conditions.

11. Click the Restart button.

12. Open Settings after the reboot.

13. Click on Update & Security.

14. Click on Windows Update.

15. Click the “Check for updates” button.

    

16. Click the Restart button.

After you complete the steps, the upgrade process to Windows 11 23H2 from Windows 10 will begin.

Once the upgrade is complete, you can gracefully opt out of the program using the “Windows Insider Program” settings page and turn on the “Stop getting preview builds” toggle switch. Although the device will stop receiving new preview builds, the system will continue to download maintenance and security updates for as long as version 23H2 is supported.

Update September 25, 2023: The update available on September 26, 2023, only enables some of the features for version 23H2 (including Copilot, Windows Backup, redesigned File Explorer, updated Settings, Dynamic Lighting, and others) on Windows 11, not Windows 10. However, the system will continue to show version 22H2 on the About settings page. Once Microsoft completes this rollout, at a later time, before the end of 2023, another update will become available to finish deploying the rest of the feature update and switch the system from version 22H2 to 23H2. After this point, the company is expected to update the Media Creation Tool, Installation Assistant, and ISO file. Also, devices with older releases of the operating system may be able to update directly to version 23H2 from Windows Update.

Update November 1, 2023: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect that the Windows 11 2023 Update is already available.