Should You Install Windows 11 in 2026?

Windows 11 is now a mature release, with version 24H2 shipping in late 2024 and ongoing feature drops in 2025 and 2026. Most of the launch-era bugs are fixed, hardware compatibility has improved, and Microsoft will end free support for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025. The question is no longer whether Windows 11 is ready — it is whether your hardware is ready for it, and whether the upgrade makes sense for the way you use your PC.

Windows 10 End of Support: The Deadline That Forces a Decision

Microsoft ended free security updates for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025. Paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) are available for consumers for one year, and for businesses for up to three years, but they are a stopgap, not a strategy. If you plan to keep the same PC past 2026, you should either move to Windows 11 or budget for ESU. Our comparison of Windows 11 vs Windows 10 in 2026 goes into the full trade-off.

Can Your PC Run Windows 11?

The minimum requirements have not changed since launch: 64-bit CPU from the 8th-generation Intel Core or AMD Zen+ lineup (or later), 4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot, and TPM 2.0. The TPM requirement in particular disqualifies many PCs built before 2018.

The fastest way to check is the PC Health Check tool from Microsoft. If it says you are compatible, an in-place upgrade through Windows Update is the easiest route. For a deeper look at why TPM matters, see our explainer on TPM and its role in Windows 11.

How to Install Windows 11

There are three common paths:

• Windows Update — simplest for supported devices. Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates.
• Installation Assistant — Microsoft's guided upgrade tool for an existing Windows 10 install.
• ISO or bootable USB — use the Media Creation Tool for a clean install or for unsupported hardware workarounds.

Our walkthrough on how to download Windows 11 Pro or Home covers each method step by step. If you are deciding which edition fits your needs, our Windows 11 Pro vs Home comparison lays out the differences.

Running Windows 11 on Unsupported Hardware

Microsoft publishes a registry workaround that lets Windows 11 install on systems without TPM 2.0 or a supported CPU. The catch: Microsoft reserves the right to withhold security updates from unsupported installs, and historically some feature updates have refused to apply. For a home machine that is one or two generations short of the requirement, this is usable; for a work PC, it is not.

What's Actually Better About Windows 11 Now?

The headline improvements, five years in, are:

• Snap Layouts and Desktops — noticeably better multi-window workflow than Windows 10
• DirectStorage and Auto HDR — real gains for gaming on supported GPUs
• Performance on modern silicon — Windows 11's scheduler is tuned for hybrid CPUs (Intel 12th-gen onward, Snapdragon X). On these chips, Windows 11 is measurably faster than Windows 10.
• Copilot integration — AI features are now baked in at the OS level on Copilot+ PCs
• Security baseline — mandatory TPM 2.0, Virtualisation-Based Security, and Smart App Control raise the floor significantly

Reasons to Wait or Stay on Windows 10

An upgrade is not automatic for everyone:

• Your PC is pre-2018 and lacks TPM 2.0 — a new machine or ESU is the pragmatic choice
• You rely on software that has not been recertified for Windows 11 (rare in 2026, but still true for some legacy industrial tools)
• You are about to replace the PC anyway — wait and skip the upgrade step

Getting a Licence

If you need a Windows 11 key — either because your current PC shipped with Windows 10 and the upgrade offer has expired, or because you are building a new machine — Licendi sells genuine Retail licences with instant delivery. Retail keys are fully transferable, so they follow you to your next PC. Our guide on transferring a Windows licence to a new PC walks through the activation process end to end.

Browse Windows 11 licences →

Best regards,
The Licendi Team