Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Microsoft wants people to upgrade to Windows 11, but the company certainly doesn’t make it easy. The latest version of Windows imposes strict hardware and security requirements, ruling out older PCs that don’t make the grade. Plus, Microsoft makes it almost impossible to use a local account with a new Windows 11 installation. So, what can you do if you want to jump to Windows 11 but keep bumping into Microsoft’s restrictions?
I regularly use Rufus, a handy and free Windows installation tool. Designed to run or install Windows from a USB drive, Rufus can help you sneak past some of Microsoft’s stringent and annoying requirements. You can tell Rufus to sidestep the hardware constraints, bypass the need for a Microsoft account, and choose a name for the local account you want to use.
Also: Microsoft is changing how it delivers Windows updates: 4 things you need to know
You can skirt past the hardware restrictions whether you’re upgrading your existing Windows 10 PC or installing Windows 11 on a clean computer. The account type you use depends on whether you’re upgrading or installing Windows 11 from scratch. An upgrade to Windows 11 will preserve whatever type of account you set up in Windows 10 — local or Microsoft. With a fresh install, however, Rufus will let you opt for a local account, which Microsoft doesn’t easily allow.
Here’s how this all works.
How to install Windows 11 the way you want with Rufus
What you’ll need: Before you can use Rufus, you’ll need an ISO file of the latest version of Windows 11, which you can get from Microsoft’s website. You’ll also need a USB drive with at least 8GB of space.
Download and set up Rufus
To snag the Windows 11 ISO file, browse to the Download Windows 11 webpage. Scroll down to the section that says “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO)” and select Windows 11 from the drop-down menu. Choose the product language, click Confirm, and then click the Download button to save the ISO file to your PC.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Next, browse to the Rufus website. Scroll down to the Download section and click the link for the latest version of Rufus for your version of Windows. Run the downloaded EXE file to launch the program — no installation required. Insert a USB stick into your PC. Note that Rufus will completely reformat your USB drive with the Windows 11 installation files.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
At the Rufus window, click the Select button near the top and select the Windows 11 ISO file that you downloaded. Under “Image option,” confirm that the field says Standard Windows installation. At the top of the screen, make sure the Device field is pointing to the USB drive you wish to use. If not, click the drop-down menu and manually select the drive. You can leave the other settings alone. When you’re ready, click the Start button at the bottom of the window.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Also: Windows 11: Do these six things right away after you finish setup
Bypass Windows 11’s hardware requirements
At the pop-up window, check the box for “Remove requirement for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot, and TPM 2.0.” This should ensure that the Windows 11 installation won’t be blocked if your PC doesn’t qualify. Keep in mind that Microsoft has cautioned against running Windows 11 on an unsupported computer, so this is an unofficial workaround.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Click OK to confirm. Click OK again to set up your USB drive. Wait until the drive is formatted and created with the necessary Windows 11 installation files. When you’re done, make sure the USB drive is connected to the Windows 10 computer you want to upgrade or the PC on which you want to install Windows 11 from scratch.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
For an upgrade, open the USB drive in File Explorer and double-click the EXE file for Windows 11. On a clean PC, boot off the USB drive to install a free copy of Windows 11. Run through the Windows setup screens. The setup should pass with flying colors, even though Windows 11 may not support your hardware.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Also: The best Windows laptops you can buy: Expert tested and reviewed
After the setup is complete, you’ll be taken to the Windows 11 desktop. If you upgraded from Windows 10, make sure that all your apps, files, and settings are intact so you can begin using the new version. If you’re starting fresh with Windows 11, you can now install the apps you need and tweak the settings as you see fit.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Use a local account on Windows 11
If you’re installing Windows 11 on a clean PC and want to choose a local account, you can use Rufus to beat Microsoft at its own game. For this to work, you have to specify the name of the local account. Again, set up Rufus and click the Start button. At the pop-up window, check the boxes for “Remove requirements for an online Microsoft account” and “Create a local account with username.” Then, type the local account name you wish to use.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Click OK and then OK again. After Rufus formats the drive and sets it up with the Windows 11 installation files, insert it into the computer on which you want to install the OS.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Restart your computer and press the appropriate key to go to the boot menu. Boot off the USB drive, and the Windows 11 installation should start. Go through the usual setup screens, and the local account you specified should be automatically applied.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Also: How to switch from a Microsoft account to a local account, and tricks to avoid a Microsoft account
After the setup is finished, you should be taken to the Windows 11 desktop. You now need to create a password for your local account. Sign out or restart your PC. Back at the sign-in screen, you’ll be told that your password must be changed before signing in. Click OK. At the next screen, leave the Password field blank. Enter the password you want to use in the “New password” and “Confirm password” fields, and then click the right arrow next to the Confirm password field. Click OK, and you should be returned to Windows 11.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Sign back in to Windows 11 with your local account. To view details on the account, go to Settings and select Accounts. Your local account should be shown by name.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
