Windows 10 support ends today: Here’s how to upgrade to Windows 11 for free

After a decade of updates, Windows 10 support officially ends today. That means no more feature updates or patches. Microsoft wants you to move on, and luckily, you can upgrade to Windows 11 for free. Here’s all you need to know about Windows 10’s support, and how you can upgrade to Windows 11.

Why you need to upgrade

Windows 10 served us well, and many users are still on it. Although the support is ending today, that does not mean you can’t continue to use it.

Once the support ends, Windows 10 machines become more vulnerable. No security updates means any new exploit could hit you. Having said that, it’s always best to upgrade to Windows 11. And the good thing is, you can upgrade to Windows 11 for free. Here’s how.

How to upgrade for free

Before you upgrade to Windows 11, you need to check its compatibility with your laptop/desktop. Follow the steps below to check whether your device is compatible with Windows 11.

Step 1: Download and install Microsoft’s PC Health Check app from the official Windows support page.

Step 2: Launch the app and tap ‘Check now’.

Step 3: You should see the results. Most recent laptops and desktops should support Windows 11.

Now to upgrade to Windows 11, can you head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Hit ‘Check for updates’ and you should see the Windows 11 update. Just install it and you are good to go.

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Before you update, note that you will need enough disk space. Also, always take a backup before upgrading.

Other than this method, you can also use the manual installation method. For that, you need to download Windows Installation Assistant from the official Windows 11 page. Then install it and follow the steps on screen to install the latest software on your laptop/desktop.