How to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 11 using two options

Users still on Windows 7 might need to do a clean installation. Those users could upgrade first to Windows 10 and then to Windows 11. Before doing a “clean” installation of Windows 11, users should back up their data.

Most devices can upgrade to Windows 11 easily. You can upgrade, reset, or reimage a Windows 10 device to Windows 11. For Windows 7 devices that meet the system requirements, you'll need to do a clean install or reimage. These solutions might also work for other devices running older versions of Windows. But first, make sure your PC is eligible to run Windows 11. This article discusses how to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 11.

Can I upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 11 for free?

If you're still on Windows 7, you have two upgrade options. You can perform a clean install using an ISO file to update your system to Windows 11 without losing your data, or you can upgrade to Windows 10 first and then to 11, which will require a reinstall, and apps and settings won't migrate to the new installation. Make sure your device meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 11 before upgrading from Windows 7.

In order to install Windows 11, your device needs to support TPM 2.0, fast startup, have a 64GB SSD, and 4GB of RAM. While Windows 11 is a free upgrade for those running Windows 10, it's not an officially supported option for Windows 7 users. So, if you don't have a license, get one today and enjoy your upgrade experience!

Create a disk backup before upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 11

It is highly recommended to create a System Restore Point and a full data backup before installing Windows 11 on your primary or secondary machine. Early builds of Windows 11 might have numerous bugs and issues that could impact your day-to-day tasks.

If something goes wrong during installation, you can quickly restore from a backup. Before installing Windows 11, back up your data to an external drive or the cloud.

The ability to recover data as of a specific point in time can help an organization pick up the pieces after an unexpected shock. Because the original data may be lost or corrupted, backups are essential. That is where tools Todo Backup comes in: it is a free backup software that can back up system drives, individual folders, and hard disks.

With tools Todo Backup, you can easily and quickly retrieve your backup data.

1. Launch Todo Backup, and on the main screen, click “Create Backup” and then “Select backup content”.

**Step 2:** To back up your hard drive, click "Drive" to begin the backup process.

**Step 3:** In tools Todo Backup, you can choose to back up the entire hard drive or specific partitions as you need. Then click "OK".

4. Choose the location where you want to save the disk. You can save it to a local drive or a NAS device.

5. Click “Backup Now”. After it's done, you can right-click on any task to manage your backups (e.g., restore, incremental backup, etc.).

And, with a system image backup, you can easily downgrade Windows 11 to Windows 10 or 7 by restoring to a previous backup point.


Bypass Windows 11/10 Rollback Limit: Downgrade to Windows 7/8 After 30 Days

To prevent unexpected data loss or system failures due to Windows 10 downgrading issues, we highly recommend backing up your current Windows system and important data.

Solution 1: Install Windows 11 on a Windows 7 PC using an ISO

Prefer the direct download links for the full version of Windows 11 Pro ISO? Check out the linked page.

To upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 11 using an ISO image file, follow these simple steps with the UTF-8 encoding:

Step 1: Download and boot the Windows 11 ISO.

Step 2: Navigate to the mounted drive in the left pane.

Step 3: Double-click the Setup file to begin the Windows 11 update.

Step 4: (Optional) If prompted, choose how you want the installer to get updates for Windows. Change how updates are downloaded from the internet.

Step 5: Choose the "Later" option.

Step 6: Disable automatic updates during the upgrade process.

Step 7: Select the "Next" option from the drop-down menu.

Step 8: Click Accept to agree to the terms. When you're done, click Install to keep your files and programs.

Solution 2: Upgrade to Windows 10 first, then upgrade to Windows 11

If you're a Windows user who wants to upgrade to Windows 11 but doesn't know how, this guide is for you. We'll walk you through a quick and easy process! First, you need to update your operating system to Windows 10, so your computer is ready for the Windows 11 upgrade. Here are the steps:

**How to Upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10** 1. **Check Compatibility**: First, ensure your computer's hardware supports Windows 10. Visit Microsoft's official website to review the system requirements. 2. **Create Installation Media**: - Go to Microsoft's "Create Windows 10 installation media" page (https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10). - Download and run the "Media Creation Tool." - Within the tool, select the "Upgrade this PC now" option. - Follow the prompts to create a USB installation drive or an ISO image file. 3. **Backup Your Data**: Before upgrading, always back up your important files and data in case something goes wrong. 4. **Start the Upgrade**: - Insert the created USB drive or load the ISO image. - Restart your computer and enter the BIOS settings to set the boot device to USB or DVD (the steps vary depending on your computer model). - Save the settings and exit; your computer will boot from the installation media. - Follow the on-screen instructions, selecting your language, edition, and installation type. - Accept the license terms and choose the "Upgrade this PC now" option. 5. **Wait for Installation Completion**: The upgrade process may take some time and involve multiple reboots. Be patient. 6. **Activate Windows 10**: Upon completion, Windows 10 should activate automatically. If your Windows 7 was genuine and connected to the internet, Windows 10 should activate automatically. If not, you can manually enter a product key or contact Microsoft support. 7. **Update and Restore Settings**: Set up necessary updates according to your preferences, restore personal files and settings. You might need to reinstall some applications as well. 8. **Get Familiar with the New Environment**: Windows 10 has a different interface and features than Windows 7, so allow yourself some time to adapt to the new operating environment. Please note that Microsoft ended technical support for Windows 7 on January 14, 2020. It is strongly recommended to upgrade to Windows 10 promptly to receive the latest security updates and performance improvements.

Step 1: Make sure you have backed up all important files, programs, and data

Step 2: Go to the Windows 10 download page on Microsoft's website.

Step 3: Under “Create installation media for another PC,” click the “Download tool now” link, and run the app.

Step 4: If prompted, choose to Upgrade this PC now.

Note: After installation, you can find the official Windows 10 license in Settings > Update & Security > Activation.

How to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11

If you're already running Windows 10 and have decided to upgrade to Windows 11, here's how you can get it right away:

Step one: Use Microsoft's PC Health Check app to see if your computer is eligible for Windows 11.

Step 2: Back up your important files, apps, and data regularly.

Step 3: From the Start menu on your Windows 10 computer, choose Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

Step 4: Look for an update. If one is available, you'll see an option to download and install the free upgrade to Windows 11.

Step 5: To download and install, select Download and Install.

Step 6: Follow the on-screen prompts to set up your Windows 11 options.

Conclusions

This article has explained how to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 11. You can perform a clean install with an ISO file, or manually upgrade your OS from Windows 7 to 10 and then to 11. In either case, it's crucial to back up your data before upgrading Windows. Luckily, you can safely use tools Todo Backup to save important files or restore any lost data.