Windows 11 Upgrades FAQs

Restart your computer and then attempt the upgrade again. Occasionally, the initial phase of the upgrade, which involves downloading necessary files from Microsoft, may encounter issues. If it fails multiple times, please reach out to the IT Service Centre for assistance.

To initiate the upgrade, visit the Software Center available on your computer (your computer must be a UBC IT Desktop Services Supported PC). The Software Center can be found by clicking the icon pinned on your task bar or by searching ‘Software Center’ in the search bar. In the Software Center, click the ‘Updates’ tab and look for the ‘Windows 11, version 24H2 x64 2025***’ upgrade package.

You can check if your hardware meets compatibility requirements for Windows 11 by installing and running the “Windows 11 – Compatibility Check” app from the UBC Software Center’s Applications section.

Please note: Running the Windows 11 – Compatibility Check app is not a requirement or a prerequisite for receiving the offer to upgrade in Software Center. If your PC does not meet hardware requirements, the Windows 11 upgrade will simply not appear in your Software Center, and you will not be able to download or install the upgrade.

No. Keep your laptop connected to AC power during the entire process. This is most important when you restart your PC to apply the upgrade.

Yes. If you have a stable internet connection, you can run this installation from anywhere. A VPN connection is not required.

The upgrade will take approximately 2-3 hours for the download and installation phase. This can be completed while you work. For the upgrade to be applied to your PC, you will need to restart your computer. The restart process will take an additional 10-15 minutes.

Please note: The installation phase depends on the hardware specs on your computer. Older PCs or PCs with low hardware specs may require a longer installation phase.

Yes. 25GB of free disk space is required for the upgrade to install. If you have less than 25GB of free space available on your C: drive, the Windows 11 upgrade will not appear in the Updates tab in the Software Center.

You can run the Windows 11 – Compatibility Check tool from the Applications tab in Software Center to determine if you have enough disk space or see if your PC doesn’t meet hardware requirements.

UBC IT is aware of disk space issues on certain PCs. If you are unable to clear 25GB of disk space yourself, we will follow up with those who need further support. If you can clear 25GB of disk space, the ability to upgrade to Windows 11 will automatically appear under your Upgrades tab in the Software Center within about 48 hours.

You should contact the IT Service Centre as soon as possible.

In the search bar, type ‘winver’ and run the command. A window will appear that will tell you if you are on Windows 10 or Windows 11.