To upgrade a business from Windows 10 to 11, check every PC against Microsoft's hardware requirements (TPM 2.0, a supported 64-bit processor, UEFI with Secure Boot), confirm each runs Pro or better, test your key apps, back up, then push the free upgrade in waves through Intune or Windows Update. Cover machines that can't move with ESU.
The timing is tight. Windows 10 Extended Security Updates Year 1 coverage ends October 13, 2026, the same day Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro get their last update. Our Windows 11 upgrade service runs this checklist for you, from the hardware report to the last wave. If you are still weighing ESU against replacement, start with our Windows 10 end of support guide.
What are the Windows 11 requirements?
| Component | Microsoft's minimum |
|---|---|
| Processor | 1 GHz or faster, two or more cores, on a compatible 64-bit processor or system on a chip |
| Memory | 4 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB |
| Firmware | UEFI, Secure Boot capable |
| TPM | Trusted Platform Module version 2.0 |
| Graphics | DirectX 12 compatible, with a WDDM 2.0 driver |
| Display | 720p, 9 inches or larger, 8 bits per color channel |
| Starting point | Windows 10, version 2004 or later, with the September 14, 2021 security update or later |
Microsoft says installing Windows 11 on hardware that fails these checks isn't recommended: the PC loses Microsoft support and isn't guaranteed security updates. Treat a failed TPM or processor check as a replacement, not a workaround.
Windows 11 Home vs Pro: which edition does a business need?
Pro. Home lacks the features that make a PC manageable as company equipment.
| Business need | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Join Microsoft Entra ID or a domain | No | Yes |
| BitLocker Drive Encryption | No (device encryption on supported hardware) | Yes |
| Remote Desktop into the PC | No | Yes |
| Windows Autopilot setup | No | Yes |
| Intune update rings and feature update policies | No | Yes |
To move a PC from Home to Pro, open Settings > System > Activation. With a Pro product key, select Change product key; without one, expand Upgrade your edition of Windows and buy the upgrade in the Microsoft Store, which shows the price there. A full Windows 11 Pro license, for a PC that needs a new one, lists at $199.99 in the US Microsoft Store as of October 2026. For new purchases, buy business PCs with Pro already installed.
How do you upgrade from Windows 10 to 11, step by step?
1. Inventory every PC and check the hardware
Pull TPM version, processor, firmware mode, memory and disk for every machine from Intune or your monitoring tool; for a single PC, Microsoft's PC Health Check app gives the answer. Sort the list into three columns: upgrade now, replace, and cover with ESU until replaced. Note each machine's Windows 10 version too, since ESU requires version 22H2.
2. Confirm the edition
Upgrade Home machines to Pro first, using the steps above. A PC running Windows 10 Pro in S mode must switch out of S mode before the upgrade, and that switch can't be undone.
3. Test your apps and peripherals
Microsoft expects most software and accessories that worked on Windows 10 to work on Windows 11, but it tells you to confirm with each publisher and manufacturer. Test what runs the business: accounting and practice software, line-of-business apps, VPN and security agents, scanners, label printers and card readers.
4. Back up and check recovery keys
The upgrade keeps files by default, and Microsoft still recommends a backup first. Confirm OneDrive is syncing users' Desktop and Documents folders, that your business backup ran, and that BitLocker recovery keys are stored in Entra ID or Active Directory in case a machine asks for one.
5. Choose an in-place upgrade or a reset
An in-place upgrade keeps apps, settings and files, and suits most machines. A reset gives a clean start to PCs carrying years of clutter: register the device with Windows Autopilot, and it rebuilds itself with your apps and policies. Our Windows Autopilot guide explains the setup.
6. Pick the target version
Go straight to a version with time left. As of October 2026, Microsoft lists version 25H2 with Home and Pro updates until October 12, 2027, and version 26H2, released September 29, 2026, until October 10, 2028. Do not land on 24H2: its Home and Pro updates end October 13, 2026, as our 24H2 end of support guide explains, and our 25H2 rollout guide covers what changed in that release.
7. Deploy through Intune or Windows Update
In Intune, a feature update policy sets the target version, keeps devices from going past it, and can roll out gradually. It needs Intune Plan 1, a Windows license with the Autopatch entitlement (Business Premium qualifies), Pro or better, and Entra joined or hybrid joined devices. Set the feature update deferral in your update rings to zero so the two policies don't fight. Without Intune, Windows Update offers the upgrade once it confirms a PC is eligible; that works for five PCs, not fifty.
8. Tell people what will happen
Microsoft notes the upgrade usually takes longer than a typical update, and it can be scheduled. Pick a time outside working hours, ask people to save their work and leave machines plugged in, and say who to call if something looks wrong. Our help desk is staffed seven days a week from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern, with emergency service 24/7.
9. Pilot, then upgrade in waves
Start with IT and a few volunteers doing real work, then move department by department. By default a PC can roll back to Windows 10 for 10 days and keep its files. Administrators can set that window anywhere from 2 to 60 days with the DISM option /Set-OSUninstallWindow, which is worth doing for the pilot group.
10. Cover PCs that can't move, and set a retirement date
Machines that fail the hardware check need ESU or replacement. Microsoft sells commercial ESU through volume licensing at $61 per device for Year 1, as of October 2026; the price doubles each year, and buying a later year means paying for the earlier ones too.
| ESU year | Coverage ends | Price per device, as of October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | October 13, 2026 | $61 |
| Year 2 | October 12, 2027 | $122 (double Year 1) |
| Year 3 | October 10, 2028 | $244 (double Year 2) |
ESU costs nothing extra for Windows 10 virtual machines in Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop. Give every ESU machine a replacement date, because Year 3 is the end of the program.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Windows 11 upgrade free for a business?
Yes, for eligible PCs. Microsoft says upgrades from Windows 10 to Windows 11 are free. The costs are the time to test and deploy, a Home-to-Pro upgrade where a PC runs Home, and replacing PCs that fail the hardware check.
How long does the Windows 11 upgrade take?
It varies with internet speed and the machine, and Microsoft says it usually takes longer than a typical update. Schedule it outside working hours, and pilot a few PCs first so you know how long your hardware needs.
Can we go back to Windows 10 after upgrading?
Within 10 days by default, under Settings > System > Recovery, keeping files and data. After that, going back means a clean install. Windows 10 gets no security updates without ESU, so treat a rollback as a pause to fix a problem, not a destination.
Can a PC without TPM 2.0 run Windows 11?
Not in a supported way. TPM 2.0 is part of Microsoft's minimum requirements, and Microsoft warns that PCs below the minimum lose support and aren't guaranteed security updates. Replace those machines, or bridge them with ESU while you budget for it.
Sources and further reading
- Microsoft Learn: Windows 11 requirements: hardware and starting-version requirements, and S mode.
- Microsoft Support: Upgrade to Windows 11 FAQ: the free upgrade, PC Health Check, app compatibility and the 10-day rollback.
- Microsoft Support: Windows 11 on devices that don't meet minimum requirements: support and updates on ineligible hardware.
- Microsoft Support: Upgrade Windows Home to Windows Pro and Microsoft Store: Windows 11 Pro: Pro features, upgrade steps and the license price, checked October 2026.
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Entra joined devices and Windows Autopilot requirements: supported Windows editions.
- Microsoft Learn: Manage Windows feature updates and Windows Autopatch prerequisites: licensing and device requirements.
- Microsoft Learn: Windows 11 release information: versions and end-of-update dates, checked October 2026.
- Microsoft Learn: Windows 10 ESU program and Lifecycle FAQ: Extended Security Updates: ESU price, rules and coverage dates.
- Microsoft Learn: DISM operating system uninstall options: the rollback window.
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