Setting up Windows 11 on a brand-new PC that’s just a shiny box without any OS can seem a bit daunting — but honestly, it’s easier than it looks. The main thing is to have a good bootable USB, check your BIOS settings, and follow a few simple steps. If all goes well, you’re looking at about half an hour to get it sorted, maybe a bit longer if you’re a perfectionist or want to tweak a few bits along the way. Just a heads-up: make sure your hardware plays nicely with Windows 11 — not all brand-new machines are ready to go straight out of the box. It’s a pain when you’re halfway through and find out your CPU isn’t supported or TPM isn’t turned on, so better to check those first.
This guide will show you how to create that bootable USB (using Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool), change BIOS settings to boot from USB, and then run the install once your PC sees the drive. Once it’s finished, you’ll be greeted with a fresh Windows 11 setup screen, ready for you to personalise and get stuck into your new system. A bit of patience, a few clicks, and the right setup — you’ll be up and running without much hassle, mostly.
Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Windows 11 on a New PC
Before you dive in, double-check that your hardware is compatible with Windows 11. Otherwise, it’s just a waste of time. Also, having a solid internet connection during setup helps heaps — Windows might need to download updates or drivers as you go. The goal is a clean install running smoothly on your shiny new hardware. Follow along, and you’ll see — it’s pretty straightforward.
Create a Bootable USB Drive & Get It Set Up Properly
This part saved me a fair few headaches. Use the Microsoft Media Creation Tool — it’s free and reliable. Download it on an existing Windows PC if you have one. Plug in a USB stick with at least 8GB of space (nothing smaller, or it’ll stuff up). Run the tool, select your USB, and let it do its thing. It’ll download the Windows 11 ISO and make the drive bootable. You’ll get a warning about formatting — so back up anything important on the USB, ’cause it’ll get wiped. If you prefer more control or want to use the command line, you can also make a bootable USB with Rufus. It’s a bit more involved but offers options for GPT or MBR, UEFI booting, and so on, depending on your setup.
Plug in the USB & Enter BIOS/UEFI Settings
Turn off the PC completely, then pop in the USB. When you power it back on, you’ll need to get into BIOS/UEFI. Usually, this means quickly pressing F2, DEL, F10, or ESC during startup. Not sure which key? It’s often shown on the screen right after you turn it on, or check your motherboard manual. Inside BIOS, find the Boot menu. Set the USB as the first device to boot. Sometimes there’s a boot menu shortcut like F12 or ESC during startup, which lets you pick the boot device without changing BIOS settings permanently. On some systems, you might need to enable Secure Boot or switch to Legacy Mode, but mostly, Secure Boot is the way to go for Windows 11.
Pro tip: if your USB isn’t showing up as an option, double-check that your image was created properly and that the USB is formatted as FAT32 (for GPT systems). Some BIOS firmware can be tricky — keep hitting that boot menu until you find the right option.
Begin Installing Windows 11 & Follow the Onscreen Prompts
Once you’ve set the boot priority to the USB, save your settings and exit BIOS. Your PC should reboot from the USB drive. You’ll probably see the Windows logo and then the setup screen. Just follow the prompts — pick your language, keyboard layout, and click Install Now. If it asks for a product key and you’re reinstalling, just skip it for now unless you’ve got it on hand; you can activate it later. If your drive isn’t formatted, delete any partitions (be careful, all data will be wiped), then select the unallocated space and click Next. Windows will take care of the rest — copying files and installing updates in the background. It might take a while, especially if it’s a slow drive or big update, so hang tight. You might get a couple of reboots, but don’t switch the power off unless it’s frozen solid.
Finish Up & Personalise Your Windows 11
After the install, Windows 11 will ask about your preferences — privacy settings, account type, and internet connection. If you’ve got a Microsoft account, log in to sync your settings and access perks like OneDrive and the Microsoft Store. Prefer a local account? No drama, you can choose that too — it’s up to you. You’ll also see some onboarding screens with handy tips and new features — feel free to skip what doesn’t interest you. Once it’s all done, you’ll arrive at the desktop — fresh, shiny, and ready to go. You might need to grab some drivers or updates from your motherboard or PC maker’s website, especially if some hardware isn’t detected automatically. For graphics, audio, and chipset drivers, always grab the latest from the source rather than relying solely on Windows Update.
And that’s pretty much it — your Windows 11 is all set. It might take a few minutes to settle in, but the new interface is pretty slick once you get used to it. Make sure to run Windows Update straight away to grab any patches or fixes that might be out.