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How to upgrade a desktop device from Windows 10 Pro to Windows 11 Pro

Jenessa Somes 0 Reputation points
2026-03-23T18:24:23.43+00:00

Our front desk computer is currently still on Windows 10 Pro, and we want to update it to Windows 11 Pro. However, it also just lost the ability to connect to our wi-fi network remotely. This was all of a sudden -- it was turned off on a Friday and when it logged back in on Monday the computer was no longer connected to the network and I have no way to re-establish that without an ethernet cable (also not a guarantee, as I haven't yet tried an ethernet cable -- I can't locate one in the office anywhere at the moment). Also, when I go to the updates screen on that computer, it says that it cannot currently support Windows 11, but I can't get more details about that until I have the internet connection re-established. And Microsoft has made it impossible to call them for assistance and there isn't a drop-down option on their online services hub that adequately fits this situation, so I'm not sure how to get help on this multi-layered issue. Hopefully someone here in the community can provide answers and a detailed guide on what to do. -- Thank you.

Windows for business | Windows 365 Business

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  1. HLBui 4,945 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-03-24T13:12:23.4766667+00:00

    Good day Jenessa Somes

    Thank you for letting us know the update and I am glad to hear that everything is working as expected and feel free to let me know if you need any assistance

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  2. HLBui 4,945 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-03-23T19:09:10.1966667+00:00

    Good day Jenessa Somes

    I think the sudden loss of Wi‑Fi usually points to either a driver issue or a hardware toggle (like the wireless card being disabled). You'd checking Device Manager to see if the Wi‑Fi adapter is showing up at all. If it’s missing or has a yellow warning icon, you’ll want to reinstall or update the driver from the manufacturer’s site.

    If you can’t get online on that machine, you might need to grab the driver on another computer, put it on a USB stick, and install it manually. That should at least get you back on Wi‑Fi. As for the Ethernet cable, it’s worth trying if you can find one, because a wired connection can bypass a lot of these issues and help you pull updates directly.

    bout the Windows 11 upgrade message: when the update screen says the PC doesn’t support Windows 11, it’s usually due to hardware requirements (like TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, or CPU compatibility). Once you’re back online, you can run the PC Health Check tool from Microsoft to get a clear report on what’s blocking the upgrade. Sometimes it’s just a BIOS setting that needs to be enabled, not a hardware limitation.

    So the short-term fix is:

    Get Wi‑Fi working again (driver reinstall or enable the adapter).

    Try Ethernet if possible, just to stabilize updates.

    Once connected, run PC Health Check to see why Windows 11 isn’t supported.

    If this guidance proves helpful, feel free to click “Accept Answer” so we know we’re heading in the right direction and let me know if you need any assistance. Thank you!

  3. Q&A Assist
    2026-03-23T18:24:53.3766667+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    Follow these steps in order: first restore network connectivity on Windows 10 Pro, then perform the Windows 11 Pro upgrade.

    1. Restore network connectivity on the Windows 10 Pro PC

    Because the device suddenly lost Wi‑Fi and cannot reach the internet, fix that first. If possible, test with Ethernet when a cable is available:

    • Connect an Ethernet cable from the PC to the router/switch.
    • If Ethernet works, run Windows Update to pull any pending driver/firmware updates that might fix Wi‑Fi.

    If Ethernet is not available or does not work, use Network reset on the PC (this is designed for issues like “can connect sometimes / can’t connect to network resources” and post‑upgrade problems, but also applies to broken network stacks):

    1. On the Windows 10 PC, select Start and type settings.
    2. Open Settings > Network & Internet > Status.
    3. Select Network reset.
    4. On the Network reset screen, select Reset now and then Yes to confirm.
    5. Let the PC restart and test Wi‑Fi again.

    Notes after network reset:

    • Any VPN client software or virtual switches (for example, Hyper‑V) might need to be reinstalled or reconfigured.
    • Known networks might be set to Public profile, which makes the PC not discoverable on the LAN. Adjust profiles later if needed.

    If Wi‑Fi still does not work after network reset, test the same Wi‑Fi network with another device. If another device also cannot connect, the issue is likely with the router or ISP rather than the PC.

    1. Confirm Windows 11 hardware eligibility

    Once internet is working again, verify that the device is actually eligible for Windows 11. For education/business scenarios, the documented process is:

    1. Check the Windows 11 system requirements:
      • 1 GHz or faster CPU with 2+ cores, on the supported 64‑bit CPU list.
      • 4 GB RAM or more.
      • 64 GB or larger storage, with ~20 GB free recommended.
      • UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability.
      • TPM 2.0 enabled.
      • DirectX 12‑compatible graphics with WDDM 2.0 driver.
      • Display ≥ 9" and at least 1280×720.
      • Windows 10 version 2004 or later.
    2. Install and run PC Health Check (aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp) to confirm compatibility. It will show which requirement is not met if the device is not eligible.
    3. If PC Health Check reports issues such as TPM or Secure Boot disabled, enable them in the device’s firmware (BIOS/UEFI) and rerun the check.

    If the device is not eligible (for example, unsupported CPU or no TPM 2.0), it cannot be upgraded to Windows 11 Pro via supported paths.

    1. Upgrade from Windows 10 Pro to Windows 11 Pro (if eligible)

    When the PC is online and passes the Windows 11 compatibility checks, upgrade using one of these supported methods:

    Option 1 – Windows Update (recommended)

    1. On the Windows 10 Pro device, go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
    2. Select Check for updates.
    3. If the device is eligible, a banner offering Upgrade to Windows 11 appears. Select Download and install.
    4. Follow the prompts and restart when requested. The PC will reboot several times.

    Option 2 – Windows 11 Installation Assistant If Windows Update does not offer Windows 11 but PC Health Check says the device is eligible, use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant from the Microsoft Software Download site. Run it as administrator and follow the prompts to download and install Windows 11.

    1. If the device is on Windows 10/11 Home (for other PCs)

    For completeness: if another device in the environment is on Windows 10/11 Home and needs to become Pro, that device must purchase a Pro upgrade; Microsoft 365 Business Premium does not include free upgrade rights from Home to Pro:

    1. Open the Microsoft Store app on the device.
    2. Search for Windows 10 Pro.
    3. Select the option to upgrade to Windows 10/11 Pro.
    4. Choose Learn more or Install and follow the prompts; purchase may be required.
    5. If Windows 10 is still in use long term

    Windows 10 support (free updates, security fixes, and technical assistance) ends on October 14, 2025. The PC will continue to work, but remaining on Windows 10 after that date is not recommended for a front‑desk/business machine.

    References:

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