How to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 25H2

You can upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 25H2 using four methods: the Windows Insider Program, Windows Update, Installation Assistant, or the ISO file.
Currently, only the Insider option through the Release Preview Channel is available, while the other methods will be accessible once Microsoft releases the update in October 2025.
Before upgrading, your device must already be on Windows 10 22H2 and meet the standard hardware requirements for Windows 11.

On Windows 10, as support is coming to an end on October 14, 2025, you can upgrade to Windows 11 25H2 (2025 Update) early and for free using the Windows Insider Program. You can also use the ISO file, Windows Update, and Installation Assistant once the feature update officially launches. The only requirement is that the hardware must be compatible to continue with the newer version of the operating system.

Currently, version 25H2 is available through the Release Preview Channel. This method requires upgrading to version 24H2 first, then enrolling the device in the Windows Insider Program, and finally installing the enablement package to switch to the new version.

Alternatively, once Windows 11 25H2 is released for everyone and it’s ready for your laptop or desktop computer, you’ll receive a notification from “Windows Update” to proceed with the upgrade. However, you’ll have to upgrade to version 24H2 first to access the option to install version 25H2.

Other options include using the “Installation Assistant” tool to perform an in-place upgrade or downloading the ISO file to upgrade using a USB flash drive. You can also upgrade the system using a clean installation of the operating system. These options will be available once the feature update launches for everyone at some point in October 2025.

It’s important to note that this process will perform a complete reinstallation of the operating system, which can cause issues during and after the installation. In my experience, a clean installation is the better approach. It takes more time, but you will likely experience less frustration.

In this guide, I will teach you the steps to upgrade Windows 10 to the Windows 11 2025 Update in four different ways.

Upgrade Windows 10 to 11 25H2 from Insider Program
Upgrade Windows 10 to 11 25H2 from Windows Update
Upgrade Windows 10 to 11 25H2 from Installation Assistant
Upgrade Windows 10 to 11 25H2 from ISO file

Warning: If you plan to upgrade an existing system, it is also recommended that you create a backup before proceeding. Also, at the time of this writing, you can only upgrade using the Release Preview Channel. The Windows Update, Installation Assistant, or ISO file will work once the feature update is released to the general public, not before. You have been warned.

Upgrade Windows 10 to 11 25H2 from Insider Program

To upgrade early from Windows 10 to Windows 11 25H2 using the Windows Insider Program, follow these steps:

Open Settings on Windows 10.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the “Check for updates” button.

Quick note: When upgrading to Windows 11 from Windows 10, ensure that the system has the latest Windows 10 22H2 updates installed before proceeding with the upgrade to avoid issues.
Click the “Download and install” button.
Click the Restart now button to complete the initial upgrade.
Open Settings on Windows 11 24H2.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the Windows Insider Program page.
Click the Get started button.
Click the “Link an account” button.
Sign in with a Microsoft account.
Click the Continue button.
Select the “Release Preview” option under the “Pick your Insider settings” section.
Click the Continue button.
Click the Continue button to agree to the terms and conditions.
Click the Restart button.
Open Settings after the reboot.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the “Check for updates” button.

Quick note: This action will first install the latest update for version 24H2. Once the device has been updated, the option to upgrade to version 25H2 will be available in the “Windows Update” settings.
Click the Restart button.
Open Settings.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the “Download & install” button for the “Windows 11, version 25H2 is available” option.
Click the Restart now button.
Open Settings.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the Windows Insider Program page.
Click the “Stop getting preview builds” setting.
Turn on the “Unenroll this device when the next version of Windows releases” toggle switch.

Once you complete the steps, the computer will be upgraded to Windows 11 25H2, and then the system will automatically unenroll from the Windows Insider Program once the feature update is officially released to prevent upgrading to the next version.

Upgrade Windows 10 to 11 25H2 from Windows Update

To upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 25H2 manually from Windows Update (in October 2025, not before), follow these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the “Check for updates” button.
Click the “Download and install” button.
Click the Restart now button to complete the upgrade.
Open Settings on Windows 11 24H2.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the “Check for updates” button.
Turn on the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle switch.
Click the “Download & install” button to install Windows 11 25H2.
Click the Restart now button.

Once you complete the steps, Windows Update will proceed with the upgrade to the Windows 11 2025 Update.

Upgrade Windows 10 to 11 25H2 from Installation Assistant

To upgrade to Windows 11 25H2 from Windows 10 with the Installation Assistant tool (in October 2025, not before), follow these steps:

Open the Microsoft Support website.
Click the Download Now button under the “Windows 11 Installation Assistant” section.
Double-click the Windows11InstallationAssistant.exe file to launch the tool.
Click the “Accept and install” button.

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

Upgrade Windows 10 to 11 25H2 from ISO file

To upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 25H2 from the ISO file (in October 2025, not before), follow these steps:

Open the Microsoft Support website.
Select the Windows 11 option under the “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices” section.
Click the Download button.
Select the installation language.
Click the Confirm button.
Click the Download button to save the Windows 11 25H2 ISO file on the computer.
Open File Explorer.
Right-click the ISO file, select the Open with submenu, and choose the Windows Explorer option.
Click on the mounted drive from the left navigation pane.
Double-click the Setup file to begin the upgrade process.
(Optional) Click the “Change how Windows Setup downloads updates” option.
Select the “Not right now” option.
Click the Next button.
Click the Accept button to agree to the terms.
Click the Install button.

Once you complete the steps, the computer will be upgraded to the new version of the operating system. 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 25H2.