- Microsoft designates Windows 11 for broad deployment.
- This means that the new version is fully available for compatible devices.
- The upgrade is still optional, but the option will now be available for everyone.
Starting May 17, 2022, Microsoft has made the original version of Windows 11 ready for broad deployment. Although the new version has been around since October 5 of last year, it was only available for a limited number of computers. However, it’s now fully available for any device that meets the minimum requirements.
According to a new update on the health dashboard website, Windows 11 is now “designated for broad deployment.” The announcement only means that the OS doesn’t have significant issues and should be compatible with most hardware and software configurations.
The new version will still appear as an optional install for devices running Windows 10, but now, everyone will see the option to upgrade through the Windows Update settings page.
If your computer has Windows 10, you have several ways to upgrade. The easiest way is to perform an in-place upgrade through “Windows Update.”
The Windows Update option will perform a reinstallation, and files, apps, and settings will be kept. In addition, the setup will create a copy of the current installation in case something goes wrong and roll back to the previous version as necessary.
You can also use the Installation Assistant, a tool that allows you to upgrade a compatible computer similar to the Windows Update experience. The difference is that you can use it to force the installation without waiting. The tool has been designed for Windows 10 devices only.
Alternatively, you can upgrade using the Windows 11 ISO file. Once you download the official ISO file, you can mount it to File Explorer and launch the setup to upgrade.
Previously, you were able to use the Media Creation Tool to upgrade a device, but now the tool can only be used to create a bootable installation media.
This guide includes all the methods you can use to upgrade to Windows 11 from virtually any version, including Windows 10, 8.1, and 7. See also this walkthrough video to learn everything that is new on Windows 11.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].