Upgrading to Windows 11 might seem pretty straightforward, but trust me, it’s not always as simple as clicking “Download.” Sometimes, things get stuck at various points—like compatibility checks, download errors, or weird bugs after you’ve installed it. It’s pretty frustrating when everything looks good, but then the upgrade just won’t play ball. This guide’s got your back with troubleshooting tips for those common issues, especially if the upgrade stalls or fails silently. Once you get past the hiccups, your PC will look fresh as, and you’ll start discovering new features like Snap Layouts and a centered Start menu. Fingers crossed, these tips save you a lot of time and hassle.
How to Fix Windows 11 Upgrade Problems
Compatibility check gets stuck or says no
If your PC is having trouble passing the PC Health Check, don’t stress. Sometimes, Windows doesn’t recognise your hardware properly, or the app gives a false negative. First off, double-check your system meets the minimum requirements. Here’s what to verify:
- At least a 1 GHz dual-core CPU or faster
- 4 GB RAM or more
- 64 GB storage or bigger
- TPM 2.0 enabled (check by running
tpm.mscin Run) - Secure Boot turned on in BIOS/UEFI
To double-check TPM, open Run with Windows + R, type tpm.msc, and hit Enter. If it says TPM 2.0 isn’t there or isn’t enabled, you’ll need to jump into your BIOS to turn it on. Usually, during boot, tap Delete or F2 to enter BIOS, find the Security tab, and enable TPM and Secure Boot. It’s a bit of a wild goose chase, but it’s worth the effort.
Upgrade is stuck on ‘Downloading’ or ‘Preparing’?
This happens more often than you’d think. The fix is often dead simple—clear out temp files or reset the Windows Update cache. Here’s what to do:
- Open PowerShell as Admin (search for PowerShell, right-click, Run as administrator).
- Run this to stop the update services:
Stop-Service -Name wuauserv -Force - Then clear the cache folder:
Remove-Item -Path C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\* -Recurse -Force - Start the update service again:
Start-Service -Name wuauserv
Now, head back to Windows Update and check for updates again. Sometimes, Windows hangs onto old files that get in the way, and clearing the cache sorts things out.
Download crashes or the installer bombs out mid-way
If the download goes fine but the install throws a wobbly, try doing a clean boot first. Disable any third-party antivirus temporarily because they often interfere with installs. Here’s how:
- Type msconfig into Run (Windows + R) and go to the Services tab.
- Check Hide all Microsoft services and then disable the rest.
- Switch to the Startup tab (or open Task Manager in newer Windows) and disable everything you don’t need.
- Click OK, reboot, and try the upgrade again.
This can be a pain, but sometimes third-party apps just don’t play nice during OS upgrades. Once you’re all set, don’t forget to re-enable your antivirus and revert your boot settings.
Post-upgrade issues, like missing features or crashes
If Windows 11 installed fine but things seem a bit off—drivers not working, apps crashing—try updating your drivers manually. Head to your hardware manufacturer’s website and grab Windows 11-compatible drivers. Windows Update doesn’t always have the latest for your GPU, sound card, or Wi-Fi. Also, give the built-in Troubleshooter a bash: go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot. Sometimes, it picks up common issues that are easy to fix.
Another handy tip—reset some Windows components by running these commands in PowerShell:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannowThis scans and repairs system files that might be causing glitches after the upgrade. Honestly, I’m not sure why it works, but it often sorts out UI weirdness and app errors. Worth a go.
At the end of the day, troubleshooting Windows upgrades can be a bit trial and error, but these tips usually do the trick and get you past the common roadblocks.