How to run In-place upgrade in Windows 11

Lester Bernard Reyes 63,525 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2021-11-13T15:30:36+00:00

How to run an in-place upgrade in Windows 11

In-place upgrade is a process wherein it will upgrade the device to the latest version and repair many issues without deleting any files. Usually, it is used to repair corrupted system files, apps, and even incompatible drivers on the system.

You can watch a quick guide on how to perform an in-place upgrade below or continue to follow the steps as listed below. <This line added by Moderator>

How to perform a Windows 11 In-place upgrade | Microsoft - YouTube

Go to Windows 11 website: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11

Under Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) select Windows 11 (multi-edition ISO)

  1. Once done downloading the ISO, kindly right-click on ISO then click Mount> then Click Setup.exe
  2. You may be prompted by User Account Control. If so, click on Yes.
  3. In the Install Windows 11 dialog, click Next.
  4. Setup will check your PC and show a license agreement. Click on Acceptin the license terms dialog.
  5. Wait for the setup program to check for the available free space.
  6. On the Ready to install page, make sure Keep personal files and apps has been checked.
  7. Then click Install and just follow the prompt.
  8. Windows 11 will restart your device several times, and lead you to the lock screen. Depending on the options you set, it will keep all your files, apps, and user accounts.
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Install and upgrade

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-01-17T15:37:18+00:00

    Following the instructions here has hit a dead end. The download has been stuck at zero% for the past hour after a restart. My first attempt was at zero% for 2hrs.

    More context:
    My ISO is saving to desktop,
    The C drive is a Gen4 NVMe SSD with plenty space for this,
    My internet d/l speed is 80mbit (ethernet via network switch to modem/router).

    The reason I'm trying to do this is that my search function is absolutely broken. No search works, be that via the start menu or in Explorer. The troubleshooter does not work, and the OFFICIAL Microsoft tech support directed me to a 3RD PARTY WEBSITE that advised me to buy and install some software called "Restoro PC Repair Tool" to see if that resolves my issue.

    Does anyone know if there is a way to get this moving? The search feature is critical to my work and I've already lost half a days work on this today so far.

    EDIT: Unsure if this is relevant, but I'm using Windows 11 Pro - Version 21H2 - Build 22000.446
    EDIT2: Another point to add: I do not use an antivirus, the only security features on my computer is Windows Defender.

    81 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2022-01-19T12:03:07+00:00

    Will this delete any installed programs?

    You can choose to, or you can choose to keep your files and programs.

    42 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Craig Long 15,875 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2022-01-19T12:39:37+00:00

    Following the instructions here has hit a dead end. The download has been stuck at zero% for the past hour after a restart. My first attempt was at zero% for 2hrs.

    More context:
    My ISO is saving to desktop,
    The C drive is a Gen4 NVMe SSD with plenty space for this,
    My internet d/l speed is 80mbit (ethernet via network switch to modem/router).

    The reason I'm trying to do this is that my search function is absolutely broken. No search works, be that via the start menu or in Explorer. The troubleshooter does not work, and the OFFICIAL Microsoft tech support directed me to a 3RD PARTY WEBSITE that advised me to buy and install some software called "Restoro PC Repair Tool" to see if that resolves my issue.

    Does anyone know if there is a way to get this moving? The search feature is critical to my work and I've already lost half a days work on this today so far.

    EDIT: Unsure if this is relevant, but I'm using Windows 11 Pro - Version 21H2 - Build 22000.446
    EDIT2: Another point to add: I do not use an antivirus, the only security features on my computer is Windows Defender.

    Using the ISO file is a good way to repair a badly corrupted Windows 11.

    You can't download the ISO file? Try pausing OneDrive if you are syncing your Desktop. Maybe OneDrive sync is getting in the way. Try saving to Downloads.

    Forget that Restoro or any 3rd party repair tools to download.

    Do you have indexing turned on? Forget downloading any repair tools:

    https://www.thewindowsclub.com/how-to-configure-indexing-options-settings-for-windows-11-search

    The built-in Windows Security Service is all you need in my opinion.

    28 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2022-01-20T23:28:44+00:00

    Using the ISO file is a good way to repair a badly corrupted Windows 11.

    You can't download the ISO file? Try pausing OneDrive if you are syncing your Desktop. Maybe OneDrive sync is getting in the way. Try saving to Downloads.

    Forget that Restoro or any 3rd party repair tools to download.

    Do you have indexing turned on? Forget downloading any repair tools:

    https://www.thewindowsclub.com/how-to-configure-indexing-options-settings-for-windows-11-search

    The built-in Windows Security Service is all you need in my opinion.

    Hi Craig, thanks for taking your time to reply to me.

    You're absolutely right. I decided to just download the ISO instead of the Media Creation Tool and ran that in minutes without issue. This did indeed resolve my issues. I do not use One Drive (I really dislike it, and have 3 different storage devices that I backup to at home) so that wasn't stopping me this time around. I rely and actually trust Windows Defender to keep my computer safe (I don't download anything from un-trusted places).

    I have absolutely no clue why the Official Microsoft Tech Support are referring people to a 3rd party website that instructs you to pay for that Restoro PC Repair Tool. I think that those type of programs are basically malware. The scarry thing is though that a lot of people trust Microsoft Tech Support, and if they instruct them to get that tool, then they will.

    In my opinion, Microsoft will cost a lot of people a lot of damage and money doing this.

    Thankfully the help community are vastly superior (it shouldn't have to be like this) than the company that provides the OS and support.

    Again, thank you for taking your time to respond to me though.

    65 people found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2022-01-18T19:33:34+00:00

    Will this delete any installed programs?

    42 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments