This article explains how to upgrade Windows 10 devices to Windows 11, and how to update Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices to their latest build, with an automation profile or a script. It covers checking Windows 11 eligibility, the minimum requirements, the upgrade steps, restarts during an upgrade, and where the upgrade log is saved.
Windows 11 Eligibility
Check Windows 11 Eligibility in the Agent Console
You can view a device's Windows 11 eligibility via the Agent Console, within the OS and security tab.
The minimum requirements to upgrade to Windows 11 are:
- OS version: Windows 10
- Architecture: 64-bit system
- Display: High definition (720p)
- Processor: 1 GHz or faster with 2 or more cores
- TPM 2.0: Must be supported and enabled
- Secure Boot: Must be enabled
- RAM: 4 GB
- Storage: 64 GB of free space
See Windows 11 Eligible Devices in the OS Overview Report
The OS Overview dashboard, one of Atera's preset analytical reports, provides a view of OS distribution across your devices. It displays a full list of devices eligible for a Windows 11 upgrade, giving you a snapshot beyond the agent-by-agent view. For more information, see Analytical reports: OS overview.
Identify Windows 11 Compatibility Issues
Wondering why a device isn't eligible for Windows 11? You can run a script to identify specific compatibility issues, such as TPM being unsupported or disabled, or Secure Boot not being enabled. For more information, see Windows 11 Readiness and Compatibility Assessment.
Upgrade to Windows 11
Windows upgrades involve time, use up network and disk resources, and may require multiple device restarts. A valid license for the selected version is required.
Ensure the profile has been assigned and scheduled. For more information, see Automate patch management via IT automation profiles.
To upgrade eligible devices to Windows 11:
1. Go to Admin > Monitoring and automation > Patch management and IT automation.
The Patch Management and IT Automation page appears.
2. Select the profile.
The Profile page appears.
3. Under OS patch management, go to Upgrades and select Upgrade to latest Windows 11 build.
A confirmation window appears.
4. Click Close to acknowledge.
5. Click Save to update the profile.
Eligible devices will be upgraded to the latest compatible Windows 11 version following the next scheduled profile run.
Note: Existing Windows 11 devices will be updated to the latest compatible version.
Update Windows 10
Update Windows 10 via an Automation Profile
This will update Windows 10 devices to the latest available version of Windows 10.
Note: It won't upgrade older versions of Windows (e.g., Windows 8).
Ensure the profile has been assigned and scheduled. For more information, see Automate patch management via IT automation profiles.
To update the Windows 10 version:
1. Go to Admin > Monitoring and automation > Patch management and IT automation.
The Patch Management and IT Automation page appears.
2. Select the profile.
The Profile page appears.
3. Under OS patch management, go to Upgrades and select Upgrade to latest Windows 10 build.
A confirmation window appears.
4. Click Close to acknowledge.
5. Click Save to update the profile.
Eligible devices will be updated to the latest compatible Windows 10 version following the next scheduled profile run.
Update Windows 10 via Script
You'll find several scripts in the Shared Script Library to help you patch Windows 10 versions 1909, 2004, 2009, and 20H2.
To update the Windows 10 version via script:
1. Go to Admin > Monitoring and automation > Scripts.
The Scripts page is displayed.
2. From the Shared Script Library tab, search for the desired update script:
- Update Windows 10 to version 1909
- Update Windows 10 to version 2004
- Update Windows 10 to 20H2 October 2020
- Update Windows 10 to 2009 20H2
3. Click Clone to add the script to your My Scripts tab.
Now that the script is in your private collection, you can:
- Manually execute the script on your device. See Run a script.
- Add the script to an automation profile. See Add scripts to an automation profile.
Windows Upgrade FAQ
Q: What are the minimum system requirements for Windows 11?
A: Devices must have TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, a compatible 64-bit CPU, 4GB RAM, and 64GB free storage. Use the "Windows 11 Readiness and Compatibility Assessment" script for precise checks.
Q: Does the upgrade cause automatic reboots?
A: Yes, upgrades may involve multiple automatic reboots, so avoid running other commands during this time. Windows 10 and Windows 11 version upgrade tasks enforce a mandatory restart that overrides Configuration Policies and user notifications. This restart cannot be postponed by "Reboot if needed" or by any Configuration Policy setting. Schedule upgrade tasks outside business hours, and run them in a separate IT Automation profile from regular patching.
Q: Where are upgrade files and logs stored during the process?
A: Files and logs are stored in C:\Program Files\ATERA Networks\AteraAgent\Agent\packages\AgentPackageOsUpdates. Errors are recorded in the log.txt file in that folder.
