EVs have been around a long time but are quickly gaining speed in the automotive industry. Learn how the long-coming and inevitable shift to electric impacts you.
Whether you want to build your own home theater or just learn more about TVs, displays, projectors, and more, we've got you covered. Microsoft Window 11
Get tech's top stories in 30 seconds:
The Windows 8 to Windows 11 free upgrade is no longer available, but you still have options
This article explains two ways you can upgrade Windows 8 to Windows 11. One method lets you keep all your files and run both operating systems simultaneously, and the other method will delete Windows 8 and install Windows 11.
There was a time when you could update Windows 8 to Windows 11 via Windows Update. Unfortunately, this no longer works.
Windows 11 came out nine years after Windows 8, so it's probably not surprising to hear that Microsoft ended this free installation path in 2023. This means there's no direct way for Windows 8 computers to upgrade to Windows 11 (or Windows 10).
However, as you'll see below, you can still install Windows 11 on your Windows 8 computer. It's just not free, or as easy as it used to be.
Before we go any further, you need to check if your computer can actually run Windows 11. You can do so by downloading a free program from Microsoft, detailed in that link. There are minimum system requirements that your PC has to meet to be eligible for the installation.
Also decide which version of Windows 11 you want. There are two: Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro.
If you'll be installing a fresh copy of Windows 11 and you want to keep your files, you'll need to back up your data, at least the most important stuff. There will not be an option to keep them during the installation.
There are two ways to get Windows 11 on your Windows 8 computer:
If you have the system resources for it, installing Windows 11 within Windows 8, through a virtual machine, is the quickest way to get the latest version of Windows without overwriting all your files.
Windows 11 will exist basically as its own software program that you can open whenever you want to use it, and Windows 8 will remain on your computer as well, so you can switch between them at any time.
The other option is to delete Windows 8 completely and install Windows 11 instead. We have a whole guide on how to install Windows 11 that details your options. If you go this route, remember to restore your backed-up files once you get to your desktop.
Alternatively, you can install Windows 10 to your computer. If you do that, the upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is still free and easy to perform.
Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day
Hit Refresh on Your Tech News
Office Home & Student 2021 By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.