If you don’t want to wait for the Windows 11 update to roll out to your PC, you can install the new operating system manually.
It may take several months before the Windows 11 invite arrives to eligible Windows 10 PCs as a free update. In fact, Microsoft says the rollout won’t be complete until mid-2022. So the option for a manual installation is your best bet if you want Windows 11 immediately, want to install the OS on a newly built PC, or want it as a virtual machine. That installation tool is now available on the Windows 11 download website for Windows 10 users upgrading to the new OS.
However, users should be aware of the risks when installing the OS, especially on a PC that doesn’t officially support Windows 11.
“If you proceed with installing Windows 11 on a PC that does not meet the requirements, that PC will no longer be supported and won’t be entitled to receive updates. Damages to the PC due to lack of compatibility aren’t covered under the manufacturer warranty,” Microsoft says.
Microsoft is also encouraging Windows 10 users to avoid manually updating to Windows 11, likely because of software bugs that’ve been cropping up in the upgrade process.
The company’s website gives users three ways to manually install the new operating system. The first involves the Windows 11 Installation Assistant, which is designed to upgrade a Windows 10 system to the new OS while keeping your old files. However, the tool will first check to see if your PC meets the Windows 11 system requirements before the installation begins.
The second option lets you install a fresh copy of Windows 11 through Microsoft’s media creation tool, which can place the installation file on a 8GB or higher USB drive. The drive can then be hooked up to a PC for installation during boot up. After the installation finishes, you can then purchase a Windows 11 license key via Settings > System > Activation > Go to Store.
The third option lets you install Windows 11 via a digital ISO file, making it easy to install on a virtual machine. This is a handy option for users who’d like to try out Windows 11 without ditching Windows 10, since a virtual machine can run as a windowed app on a Windows PC.
