Why You Must Upgrade from Windows 10 in 2026
Windows 10 officially reached end of life on October 14, 2025. This means Microsoft no longer releases security updates, bug fixes, or technical support for Windows 10. Running Windows 10 in 2026 exposes your PC to unpatched security vulnerabilities, ransomware, and malware that target the large remaining Windows 10 user base.
The good news: upgrading to Windows 11 is still free in 2026 if your PC meets the hardware requirements — and this guide shows you every path to get there, including options for PCs that don't officially meet the requirements.
Step 1: Check Windows 11 Compatibility
Windows 11 has stricter hardware requirements than Windows 10. Before upgrading, verify your PC meets them.
1. Download PC Health Check from Microsoft's official site and run it — it gives a pass/fail result with specific reasons if your PC doesn't qualify
2. Check manually: Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, a 64-bit processor, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage, and a DirectX 12 compatible GPU
3. Check TPM status: Press Win + R → type tpm.msc → if it says "TPM 2.0" you're good; if it says "1.2" or "not found", see the TPM fix in Step 2
4. Check Secure Boot: Press Win + R → type msinfo32 → look for "Secure Boot State: On"
Step 2: Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot in BIOS
Many PCs have TPM 2.0 hardware but it's disabled by default in the BIOS/UEFI firmware. This is the most common reason PCs fail the compatibility check.
1. Enter BIOS: restart your PC and press Del, F2, or F10 (varies by manufacturer) during the logo screen
2. Find TPM settings: look under Security, Advanced, or Trusted Computing — the setting may be called "TPM Device", "AMD fTPM", "Intel PTT", or "Security Chip"
3. Enable it and set it to version 2.0 if there's a version selector
4. Enable Secure Boot: find "Secure Boot" under Boot or Security settings → set to Enabled
5. Save and exit BIOS (usually F10), then re-run PC Health Check
Step 3: Upgrade via Windows Update (Eligible PCs)
If your PC passes the compatibility check, the upgrade is free and available directly through Windows Update.
1. Go to Settings → Windows Update
2. Click "Check for updates" — if eligible, you'll see "Windows 11 is ready to download"
3. Click "Download and install" and follow the on-screen prompts
4. The upgrade takes 30–90 minutes and requires at least one restart — keep your PC plugged in
5. All your files, apps, and settings are preserved during the in-place upgrade
Step 4: Upgrade Using the Windows 11 Installation Assistant
If Windows Update doesn't offer the upgrade automatically, use Microsoft's Installation Assistant tool.
1. Download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant from Microsoft's official Windows 11 download page
2. Run the tool as Administrator
3. Accept the license agreement and click "Install"
4. The tool downloads Windows 11 and upgrades your system automatically, keeping your files intact
5. After the upgrade: your previous Windows 10 files are stored in C:\Windows.old for 10 days — Windows automatically deletes this folder after 10 days to reclaim disk space
Step 5: Create a Bootable USB and Clean Install Windows 11
A clean install gives you the freshest Windows 11 experience and is ideal if your PC is slow or has accumulated years of junk software.
1. Download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's Windows 11 download page
2. Insert an 8 GB+ USB drive and run the tool → select "Create installation media for another PC"
3. Boot from the USB: restart, enter BIOS, set USB as the first boot device, save and exit
4. In the Windows 11 Setup: select "Custom Install" for a clean install (erases the drive) or "Upgrade" to keep files
5. Your Windows 10 licence key activates Windows 11 automatically — no new purchase needed
Step 6: Upgrade Unsupported PCs (No TPM 2.0)
If your PC genuinely lacks TPM 2.0 hardware (common on PCs from 2014–2017), you can still install Windows 11 using a registry bypass. Note: Microsoft does not recommend this and unsupported PCs may not receive all future updates.
1. Press Win + R → type regedit
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup
3. Create a new DWORD (32-bit) value named AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU and set the value to 1
4. Run the Windows 11 Installation Assistant — it will now proceed past the TPM check
Warning: Unsupported PCs may eventually stop receiving Windows 11 feature updates. If this PC handles business-critical tasks, consider hardware upgrade or replacement instead.
What Happens If You Stay on Windows 10 in 2026?
Running Windows 10 after EOL means:
- No security patches — new vulnerabilities will never be fixed by Microsoft
- Antivirus limitations — some antivirus vendors are phasing out Windows 10 support
- Browser warnings — Edge and Chrome will eventually drop Windows 10 support
- Business compliance risks — PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and ISO 27001 frameworks require supported OS versions
If your business runs Windows 10 PCs, contact CloudHouse Technologies for a managed Windows 11 migration assessment — we help businesses migrate entire fleets with zero data loss and minimal downtime.
After the Upgrade: First Steps in Windows 11
- Check for the latest Windows 11 updates: Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates
- Update all drivers: Device Manager → right-click each device → Update driver
- Re-install any apps that didn't survive the upgrade (check Programs & Features)
- Set up Windows Hello (fingerprint/face recognition) in Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options
- Customise the Start menu and taskbar in Settings → Personalization