Possible to upgrade Windows 10 LTSB to Windows 11 (any version)?

[Elliot B.]

I have Windows 10 LTSB (1607; August 2016) installed on this laptop but wish to upgrade it to Windows 11 (doesn't have to be LTSB).

 

Is this possible without a full wipe and reinstall?

[+InsaneNutter MVC]

I'm not sure if you can do this to move away from an LTSB edition. However, try going to Go to Settings > Activation > Change product key and see if it lets you switch editions. You will obviously need a key for Windows 10 / 10 Pro, however that will let you upgrade to Windows 11 at no additional cost, presuming the hardware is supported.

 

Thinking about it though if you are running a version of Windows 10 from 2016, then chances are the laptop might not have a supported processor and / or TPM 2.0 module. What processor does it have?

[binaryzero]

Clean install.

[goretsky Supervisor]

Hello,

As @binaryzero noted, there is no way to upgrade LTSB (now LTSC) versions of Windows.  This is by design and is intentional, as LTSx versions are not intended to be deployed or utilized for general purpose installs.

The best thing to do here would be to make at least one backup copy of any important data, then wipe the machine and perform a clean installation of the same type of edition of Windows that the laptop came with (i.e., if it came with Windows 10 Home, clean install Window 11 home; if it came with Windows 10 Pro, clean install Windows 11 Pro).

 

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
 

[AndyMutz]

On 15/10/2022 at 12:52, Elliot B. said:

Is this possible without a full wipe and reinstall?

upgrading any LTSC version to a newer LTSC version, or to a standard enterprise edition, is an officially supported upgrade path.

just run the setup.exe on the corresponding ISO and you should have the option to install the newer OS and keep all files and programs.

 

since there is no LTSC version of Windows 11 yet, going with the standard enterprise edition is your only choice there for now.

 

 -andy-