How to install Windows 11 for free

The latest update for Windows 11, version 24H2, is now available for download and installation. This update introduces numerous features and improvements, including a new setup wizard. Consequently, the procedure for installing Windows 11 has changed, offering different options for partitioning your computer and a new personalization wizard. If you need assistance downloading and installing Windows 11, whether from a USB drive, DVD, or ISO file, read this guide:

What you need to install Windows 11

If you’re using Windows 10 and want to check whether your computer is compatible with Windows 11, open Settings and go to Update & Security > Windows Update. If you see a banner recommending you get the latest version of Windows, like the one in the screenshot below, your computer is compatible with Windows 11. If you don’t want to make a clean installation of Windows 11, simply click or tap Download and install, and then follow the instructions in the personalization wizard.

Windows 10 Update tells you whether you can upgrade to Windows 11

If you want to make a clean Windows 11 installation, continue reading this guide and all the instructions shared below.

If you’re installing Windows 11 on a computer with no operating system installed or an operating system other than Windows 10, read all the minimum Windows 11 system requirements. You can also use the PC Health Check app to check whether your computer is compatible with Windows 11. If your computer doesn’t meet the system requirements, read this guide: How to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware.

If your computer or device works with Windows 11, you can download the latest Windows 11 setup file directly from Microsoft, or you can use any of the sources presented in this guide: How to download Windows 11 for free.

Once you have a Windows 11 ISO file, use a tool like Rufus to create a bootable USB memory stick with the necessary installation files. You can also use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool to create a USB stick with the Windows 11 setup files.

Create a bootable USB drive with the Windows 11 setup from Media Creation Tool

If you’re using an ISO file with the Windows 11 installation, and want to install the operating system in a virtual machine, follow this guide instead: How to install Windows 11 on a virtual machine, which provides specific step-by-step instructions.

Before you start, you should also have your Windows 10 or Windows 11 product key ready. You need it to activate the operating system during the installation process or afterwards. If you need help recovering your product key, read this guide: How to find your Windows product key.

If you just want to try it for a while, you can install Windows 11 for free, before deciding whether to stick to it and buy a genuine product key. Windows 11 doesn’t require a product key to install, and you can skip the step of providing a product key. I have more details in the installation guide below.

If you’re installing Windows 11 on a PC that previously had an activated copy of Windows 10 or Windows 11, you can skip providing a product key. When Windows 11 finishes installing, the operating system should detect your previous Windows 10 or Windows 11 license and automatically activate Windows 11 for free. So, if the question on your mind was “Can I install Windows 11 for free?”, yes, you can!

How to clean install Windows 11 using a USB drive, a DVD, or an ISO file

If you have created a USB memory stick (or DVD) with the Windows 11 installation, you first need to boot your PC from this drive. The steps involve accessing the UEFI (BIOS) and setting the USB drive as the boot device. After you boot from the USB drive (or DVD), wait for a few seconds, and your computer or device should briefly display a message asking you to “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD.” Do as instructed to load the Windows 11 Setup wizard.

Press any key to boot from your USB drive or DVD

The Windows 11 Setup wizard starts and asks you to select the language you want to install. Click on the appropriate drop-down list and select the language you want. Then, choose the Time and currency format, and press Next.

Choose the language and the time and currency format you want to use

Then, you’re asked to select the keyboard language you want to use. Choose it from the Keyboard or input method drop-down list, and click or tap Next.

Select the keyboard you want to use

You are asked what you want to do:

• Install Windows 11 – this is the option you should choose when you want a clean installation of this operating system.
• Repair my PC – this option is useful for troubleshooting a computer on which Windows 11 is already installed. Therefore, for the purposes of this tutorial, I won’t select this option.

If you don’t want to keep the existing operating system, apps, files, and settings, it is a good idea to check the option that says: I agree everything will be deleted including files, apps, and settings. When you’re done making your selections, click or tap Next.

Choose what you would like to do

The Windows 11 Setup asks you to enter a product key. If you’re reinstalling Windows 11 or previously had a Windows 10 copy installed on this PC, click or tap “I don’t have a product key.” Your Windows 11 will automatically activate after you finish installing it. Do the same if you want to try Windows 11 for free, without buying it right now. If you have a product key, type it carefully, and then click or tap Next.

Provide the product key or select that you don’t have one

After a couple seconds spent getting a few things ready, you are asked to select which edition of Windows 11 you’d like to install. Ensure you choose the edition for which you have a product key. The product key for Windows 11 Home won’t work on Windows 11 Pro, and the other way around. Keep in mind that Windows 11 Education or Windows 11 Enterprise are suitable for organizations, not home users.

Choose the Windows 11 edition you want to install

Microsoft presents you with the “Applicable notices and license terms” for Windows 11. Read what the company has to say, and if you want to continue installing Windows 11, click or tap Accept. Note that you can’t install Windows 11 without accepting these terms.

Accept the license terms to go ahead with the Windows 11 installation

After a few seconds, you choose where to install Windows 11. Select the drive or partition for it, and then press Next. If you’re using a new computer and its storage is not yet formatted, you’ll see an entry named Disk 0 Unallocated Space. In this situation, click or tap Create Partition, set its size, and press Apply. If you need or want to configure partitions in a specific way, you can delete partitions, format them, extend them, etc. When you’re done setting things up and selecting where you want to install Windows 11, press Next.

Select the partition on which you want to install Windows 11

You’re getting close to starting the actual installation process. But before it starts, you’re shown a summary of your settings. As you can see, I’ve chosen to Install Windows 11 Pro, decided to Keep nothing, and have all the existing data removed. Make your choices, then click or tap Install.

Click or tap Install to go ahead with the process

The actual Windows 11 installation process begins, and you see its progress in percentages, like the one in the screenshot below.

Windows 11 is finally installing

The installation process involves two or more reboots. After each one, you should see the progress displayed, similar to the screenshot below.

The progress of your Windows 11 installation

When you no longer see black screens sharing the progress of the installation process, you’re done with Windows 11 installing its files, and the customization process begins.

How to customize your Windows 11 installation

As the installation is almost over, now comes the time to customize Windows 11. The setup wizard first asks you to select the country or region you live in. Choose it from the list, and then click or tap Yes.

Select the country or region you’re in

The setup wizard proposes a keyboard layout at the top of the list, based on the region you chose earlier. Select the keyboard layout you prefer to use and press Yes.

Select the keyboard you want to use

You can add a second keyboard layout. If you don’t want to do that, click or tap Skip. Note that you can install new keyboard layouts after installing Windows 11, so it’s not mandatory to do this right now.

Do you want to add a second keyboard layout?

If your computer or device is connected to the internet, Windows 11 checks for and installs any available updates. If it isn’t, it asks you to connect to a network. On a laptop, the setup wizard shares the Wi-Fi networks found in your area and asks you to select one, type its password, and connect to it. Then, wait for the setup wizard to check for updates. This process may take a while. When it’s over, your computer reboots one more time.

The setup is checking for updates

After the reboot, the Windows 11 Setup wizard asks if you’d like to name your device. Type the name you want and press Next. If you don’t care and are OK with a name chosen by Microsoft, you can choose to Skip for now.

Name your computer or device

Another reboot takes place, in which your computer or device is renamed. Then, the setup wizard continues by asking how you’d like to set up your device: “Set up for personal use” or “Set up for work or school.” As you’re probably a home user, choose “Set up for personal use” and press Next. However, if your computer belongs to an organization like a company or school, select “Set up for work or school” and use your business account to sign in.

Choose Set up for personal use

TIP: The previous step is not shown if you’re installing a Home edition of Windows 11, because you can only use personal accounts on it.

The setup wizard checks for updates one more time, and then starts downloading and installing them on your computer. This step takes place only if you’re connected to the internet, and it may take a long time, depending on how many updates are available for download and on the speed of your internet connection. Arm yourself with patience and wait for this stage to complete. During this time, you see the progress at the bottom of the wizard, and the setup wizard browses through different tips teaching you how to use Windows 11.

Updates are downloaded and installed

When you get to the part where updates are installed on your computer, another restart is performed, and you’re shown the progress of this operation. In some situations, two restarts may be performed, not just one.

After all the updates are installed, you get to the part of the Windows 11 installation process, in which you add or create a Microsoft account. Go to the next page of this article to continue reading our step-by-step guide.