Upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 (24H2)

For most people, upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is easy: If your Windows 10-based PC supports Windows 11, Windows Update will simply offer you the upgrade. But that assumes your PC is also ready to upgrade to Windows 11. And being ready involves two main requirements that you can easily resolve:

Your PC must have the latest software updates. Check Windows Update, install any updates offered, and restart as necessary.

Your PC’s drivers must be up to date and compatible with Windows 11. This one is a little more complicated. Some PCs get all their drivers from Windows Update, but others don’t. If your PC manufacturer provides its own application for updating drivers and obtaining services, use that application to ensure that your PC has all the latest drivers. Again, install any driver updates offered and restart as necessary.
Prime examples of these applications include Dell Support Assist, HP Support Assistant, and Lenovo Vantage.
Handle safeguard holds
If you’re still not receiving the Windows 11 update, it’s likely your PC is being held back by what Microsoft calls security. This is a documented condition – an unsupported driver, an incompatible app, or perhaps even an incompatible hardware peripheral – that prevents the Windows 11 upgrade from being offered to you, all in the name of ensuring you have the best experience possible.

The problem is that the protections aren’t particularly transparent: Microsoft doesn’t always provide a clear list of problems so you can try to resolve them. And if the protection hold is related to non-Microsoft software, drivers, or devices, Microsoft may never tell you what the problem is.
One thing you can try is disconnecting unnecessary hardware peripherals that could be blocking the update. The problem here, of course, is that if the update is offered now, it’s possible – unlikely, but possible – that the problematic peripheral won’t work correctly with Windows 11.
But you can at least try to find out if a protection is blocking the Windows 11 update. To do this, open Settings (WINKEY + I) and navigate to Update & security > Windows Update. If you see a section titled “Coming soon: Upgrade to Windows 11,” you can click the “Learn more” link to view a web page listing a personalized summary of any protections that impact your PC.

If, however, you see a section titled “Get Ready for Windows 11,” then Microsoft has no safeguards to report. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. But Microsoft has nothing to report. Yes, clear as mud.
Manually update to Windows 11
If your PC meets the Windows 11 hardware requirements but Windows Update doesn’t offer the update, you can do it manually. And since you wouldn’t be reading this if you weren’t ready to upgrade, let’s see how this process works. It’s not difficult.

To do this, create a USB-based Windows 11 installation media (or a Windows 11 ISO installation media) using the instructions in the…