If an organization’s environment is running fully working and supported Windows 10 and older operating systems, Microsoft recommends using an in-place upgrade strategy to deploy Windows 11 to these devices.

The upgrade process updates the operating system while retaining the apps, user data, and user settings. Utilizing in-place upgrades can offer a low-risk, quick, and reliable method of transforming devices and enabling users to be productive once the upgrade has been completed.

If administrators fear that an existing installation is “old” or not a reliable candidate to upgrade to Windows 11, they could redeploy the legacy operating system—complete with apps, policies, and settings—and then perform the in-place upgrade shortly afterward. Another benefit of using an in-place upgrade approach is that driver and app compatibility issues are minimized.

When planning to deploy Windows 11, you should consider whether your existing version of Windows can be directly upgraded to Windows 11 and whether you can migrate from one version of Windows 11 to a different version of the same release.

When upgrading from one version of Windows to a later version, the upgrade process can preserve personal data, settings, and applications. If you recently upgraded from a previous version of Windows and want to downgrade, you can only downgrade to Windows 10 within 10 days of upgrading when using the built-in rollback process within the Settings app.

In a few situations, you can perform an edition downgrade. In these situations, you should note that all personal data is maintained, though any incompatible applications and settings will be removed.

Note Windows 11 LTSC

An in-place upgrade from Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 Semi-Annual Channel to Windows 11 Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) version is not supported. For more information on Windows 11 LTSC and how it should be used, visit https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/deployment/update/waas-overview#long-term-servicing-channel.

Windows upgrade and downgrade paths

You should review the information in Tables 1-4 and 1-5, which shows the various upgrade and downgrade paths available in Windows 10 and 11.

When reviewing the table, use the following key:

• X The upgrade path is supported.
• D The downgrade path is supported.

The process is quick and easy for organizations performing a supported upgrade from one edition of Windows 11 to another. The new product key can be added to the device and will be upgraded. There are multiple possible variants of the edition upgrade; some require a reboot, and others allow the upgrade without a reboot.