With Microsoft set to end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, users are advised to transition to Windows 11 or another supported operating system to maintain security updates. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you smoothly upgrade your system.
Ensure Your Files Are Safe
The first step is to back up vital documents and photos. It's essential to use an external hard drive, USB flash drive, or OneDrive. You can manually copy files via File Explorer or choose a system-wide backup using Windows Backup. Search 'backup' in the Start menu and follow the prompts to secure your data. Maintaining two separate backups is advisable for added security, and remember to disconnect and store the drives safely after backing up.
Download and Install Windows 11
To transition to Windows 11, you can choose between an 'in-place upgrade' or a 'clean install.' An in-place upgrade can be initiated by accessing Start > Settings > Update & Security and selecting the Windows 11 upgrade option. This approach typically preserves your settings, applications, and files.
For those opting for a clean install, a blank USB flash drive of at least 8 GB is needed. Download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s website, and use it to create a bootable Windows 11 installation media. Ensure you have administrator rights when setting up the USB installer.
Executing the Installation
Restart your computer while holding the Shift key to enter the Windows Recovery Environment. From here, you can boot from the USB drive and follow the Windows Setup instructions. For a clean install that fully erases the internal drive, select 'Custom: Install Windows.' After installation, you can restore a full system backup from your external drive or OneDrive, or manually restore files if backed up separately.
Consideration of Alternatives
While the in-place upgrade is generally quick and reliable, a clean install may prevent potential issues with legacy drivers or settings conflicts. Users who opt not to upgrade to Windows 11 need to consider alternatives, since using an unsupported Windows version post-October 14 makes systems vulnerable. Switching to Linux can be a viable choice. Distributions such as Linux Mint and Ubuntu offer user-friendly experience and are supported by active communities. Note that Linux may necessitate finding alternative solutions for Windows-only applications.
In summary, ensure your data is secure, determine the most suitable upgrade path for your needs, or explore transitioning to Linux. Remaining on an unsupported Windows 10 is ill-advised without extended security solutions.
