Why upgrade?
Windows 10 will reach end of life in October 2025 and will no longer receive security updates from Microsoft. At that time it will no longer be supported by ITS or the Educational Technologies Office.
We recommend that all users of Windows 10 computers upgrade to Windows 11 as soon as possible. Waiting until October may make the transition more difficult. The upgrade takes approximately 30–45 minutes to complete.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the ETO at [email protected] or 434-924-7086.
Note: After upgrading, see the Common Questions About Windows 11 section at the bottom of this page.
Automated upgrade to Windows 11
Beginning in August 2025, computers capable of running Windows 11 will start receiving upgrade notifications. Initially the upgrade will be optional, but as October approaches the notifications will appear more frequently and the Snooze option will be disabled.
When the notification appears, a dialog box will appear on your screen with the following options:
- Ok: Begins the upgrade immediately. The computer will restart automatically when the upgrade is complete.
- Snooze: Dismisses the notification for two hours before it reappears. This option may be removed as October 14th approaches.
Once you select Ok, a progress notification will appear on screen showing that the upgrade is underway. After approximately 30–45 minutes the upgrade will complete and your computer will restart automatically.
Important: Save any open documents or work before the restart to avoid losing unsaved changes.
Manually upgrade to Windows 11
Open the Start menu, type check for updates in the search bar, and select Open from the results. This opens the Windows Update settings page.
On the Windows Update page, click the Check for Updates button. You may need to install available Windows 10 updates first — repeat this step until no further Windows 10 updates appear. The Windows 11 upgrade option should then become available.
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When the Windows 11 upgrade appears, click Download and install to begin.
Important: If Windows 11 does not appear as an available upgrade after installing all updates, see the Check your computer compatibility section below, or contact the ETO at [email protected] or 434-924-7086.
Read and agree to the Software License Terms when prompted. The upgrade will then begin downloading in the background.
When the download is complete, a prompt will appear asking you to Restart now or Pick a time to schedule the restart. Choose whichever option suits you.
Once the restart begins, your computer will go through several restarts automatically and display progress screens. This is expected — do not turn off your computer during this process. The upgrade will complete after approximately 30–45 minutes.
Check your computer compatibility
Most computers from the last six years can upgrade to Windows 11.
If the Windows 11 upgrade is not available after installing all available updates, use the PC Health Check App to check whether your computer meets the requirements. After running the app:
- If your PC is compatible: The app will display a message confirming that your PC meets the Windows 11 requirements. Return to Windows Update and try checking for updates again.
- If your PC is not compatible: The app will display a message listing the specific requirements your PC does not meet. In this case, contact the ETO at [email protected] or 434-924-7086 for assistance.
Common questions about Windows 11
How do I move the Start menu to the left?
By default, Windows 11 centers the Start menu and taskbar icons. To move them to the left:
- Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar (the bar along the bottom of the screen).
- Select Taskbar settings from the menu that appears.
- Scroll down and select Taskbar behaviors to expand that section.
- Change the Taskbar alignment dropdown from Center to Left. The change takes effect immediately.
Why is my right-click menu different?
Windows 11 uses a simplified right-click context menu that shows only the most common options. If you do not see an option you are looking for, click Show more options at the bottom of the menu. This opens the fuller context menu that includes the additional options you may be familiar with from Windows 10.
Is there a dark mode?
Yes. To enable dark mode:
- Open the Start menu and search for dark mode.
- Select Turn on dark mode for apps from the results.
- Under Choose your mode, select Dark from the dropdown. The change applies immediately.
To change the overall Windows theme, open the Start menu, search for Themes and related settings, and select a theme from the list shown.