How Long it Takes to Upgrade to Windows 11 [Honest Answer]

Upgrading to Windows 11 is really going to be a valuable decision when you’re considering a fresh and handy operating system for your PC.

But, before initializing the process, you need to analyze a few variables, such as the compatibility and the timeframe required ‒ to complete the upgrade. Especially if you are concerned about time efficiency, like me, it is a must for you to know how long it will take to upgrade to Windows 11.

Cause you don’t want to waste constructive hours from your day just to install an operating system, right?

Here, in this article, I have stacked up the relative information you must know beforehand installing Windows 11.

Let’s dig deep in.

Check out our separate post: Upgrade to Windows 11 on Mac Using Boot Camp

How Long Does it Take to Upgrade to Windows 11?

It took 22 minutes to upgrade to Windows 11 on my Dell Latitude laptop. And as per my friend’s XPS series computer, it only took 14. From that fact, you got the idea that there must be something volatile that enhances/ decreases the time limit of updating to Windows 11.

It actually depends on different variables. For instance, your internet speed, PC configuration, and processor speed play an important role in determining the time frame. Additionally, direct update costs less time than the ISO file installation.

Also, installing Windows 11 upgrade assistant on your computer reduces the download and installation time, especially if you are updating from Windows 10.

So, without knowing the substantial factors, you can’t determine how long it will take to upgrade to Windows 11.

Let’s dig deep into those deciding factors determining Windows 11 upgrading time.

What Factors Decide Upgrading Time of Windows 11?

Obviously, the size of the upgradable OS impacts mostly on the time requirement. As per the fact, Microsoft is adding constant larger files to improve security and make OS more compact. So, naturally, upgrading will need more time.

However, that’s not the only time deciding factor. Continue reading to learn more about those.

Here are the variables that determine how long will it take to upgrade to Windows 11:

1. The Windows File Size

I know; I stated this reason in the first place and that to emphasize this specific reason. In most cases, when you are trying to update from Windows 10 (inwardly update), you’re downloading about 3.5 GB to 4GB of files.

But, if you are planning to install Windows 11 from an ISO file, we’re talking about 5-6 GB of data, which usually takes more time to download. Hence, Windows will require more time to upgrade.

2. PC Specs to Process the Update

Your computer’s configuration takes an important part in the updating time. Think it simply, a computer with 16 GB RAM installed will definitely get the advantage in the processing time over a 4 Gigs of RAM computer.

“The more, the better”— this saying is actually true in terms of computing time.

The same theory applies in the other hardware section, such as processor speed and storage device. If you are using an SSD rather than the traditional HDD for Windows installation, you’ll get the upper hand in the update time.

Also, there are distinctions between the SSD users. Definitely, you’ll get better performance using the NVME SSD than the Sata users. And not to mention the impact of the processor’s clock speed differences.

That is also a crucial reason for determining Windows 11 updating time.

Check our exclusive tutorial on Stop Apps Running in Background Windows 11.

3. Internet Speed

Your internet connection speed and the server you’re downloading the files from are both important when it comes to time consumption. Usually, Microsoft’s server speed is about 10Mbps per connection.

If your network speed can collaborate with Microsoft’s server to download Windows 11 files faster, then you’ll be able to install it within your expected timeframe.

So, these are the variational factors that identify how long it should take to upgrade to Windows 11. 

Is your Windows taking forever to install, and you don’t know why? Keep reading to find out why it is taking so long to update to Windows 11 & how to install it quickly.

Also, check our exclusive tutorial on how to Fix Blue Screen on Windows 11.

How to Make Windows 11 Install Faster?

Slow internet connection is the fundamental reason behind your Windows 11 update taking too long. Additionally, using an old HDD filled with data, bugs in the current version of windows, and issues with Microsoft’s server, generates more time to update Windows.

Those reasons not only make the installation process slower but also cause a sudden BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) when installing Windows. There are a few tweaks that can help you to avoid those issues and help install Windows 11 more quickly.

Here are the techniques to update Windows 11 faster: 

Free up Disk Storage

If your dedicated storage for Windows installation contains enough space, installing Windows 11 gets a lot faster than usual.

Here are the steps to free up disk space:

• Open the file manager of your computer.
• Right-click on the local disk and select properties. In most cases, that’s C: drive.
• Click on disk cleanup > Clean up system files.
• Select the files you want to remove and hit delete.

Once you clean up the junk files, windows will take less time to install on your system. You can check out other methods in the following section.

Follow our guide to fix remote desktop not working on Windows 11.

Disable Windows Startup Programs

Windows update starts to slow down if you have a large number of applications set up in the start menu. As they start at the same time, your PC gets worn out to run all the programs. Disabling the startup programs will be ideal if you want to install Windows 11 faster on your computer.

Here are the steps to disable startup programs:

• Press Windows + R to launch the run prompt.
• Type MSConfig in the Run prompt and hit enter.
• Go to the service tab and click on Hide all Microsoft Services.
• Click disable all after that.
• Go to the startup tab and select open task manager.
• Disable all the tasks that you think are slowing your system’s speed.

Note: Close the tasks such as Update/Spotify/ Discord, which means consuming internet applications.

Schedule Update for Low-Traffic Period

You can update the Windows anytime you want. But, your internet speed might not be up to the mark throughout the entire day.

There must be a certain time when you get the lowest volume of traffic. That’s the office after-hours. Schedule your Windows update for that time. Indeed, you’ll get a better connection speed compared to the traffic period.

You can implement these tweaks if your Windows 11 update takes so long to install.

How to Upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 Easily

Before you upgrade from Windows 10, I would suggest taking a look at the system requirement for upgrading to Windows 11.

As you know, you can update directly from Windows 10. The process will be more hassle-free when you ensure the minimum system requirement.

Here’s the hardware requirement chart for Windows 11:

I suppose your rig meets this hardware requirement, and you’re ready to upgrade from Windows 10. Let’s get to the procedure of how you can do that.

Here are the steps to manually upgrade to Windows 11 from Windows 10:

• Open Windows Settings by pressing Windows + I button.
• Go to Update & Security settings from the bottom.
• Move to Windows Update > Check for updates.
• Follow the on-screen manual to complete the process.

Note: Make sure you check the box saying keep personal files and apps unless you want a fresh Windows 11 install.

After multiple reboots, you’ll need to provide your Microsoft account details. And this whole procedure can take hours or even a few minutes, depending on the factors that I explained earlier.

If you have further queries regarding this upgrade time issue, check out the following section.

Here’s a complete guide on how to fix Windows 11 spotlight not working.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much time Will it take to upgrade and run Windows 11?

The time is determined by your Internet connection speed and your CPU processing power. Usually, the installation itself may take about 20 minutes to 45 minutes, but sometimes it takes longer than an hour.

How much does it cost to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11?

It won’t cost you, not even a single buck, if you are using the latest version of Windows 10.

How can I Know if my Current Windows 10 PC meets the Hardware Requirements for Windows 11?

You can download this PC health app to check if your PC can handle Windows 11.

What are the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11?

Windows 11 is the latest version of this operating system and offers tons of additional features to improve productivity.

Final Word

In this article, I have cleared out the most asked question of how long it takes to upgrade to Windows 11. And with explaining the question, I mentioned the problems that you might encounter while upgrading to Windows 11.

I hope you won’t have any issues after a thorough read of this article. Then again, if you face any confusion reading the article, don’t hesitate to comment below. My team will be happy to clear out your queries.