If you’ve been running the same installation for quite a long time, it is an ideal time to start fresh with a clean install. If you want to get better performance and a clean Windows, Windows 11 clean install is a good choice. To be specific, if you want to keep your files, apps, and settings, perform an in-place upgrade. Two options are available and you can choose one based on your situation. Windows 11 Upgrade VS Clean Install: Which One to ChooseĪfter knowing so much information, here comes a question: is it better to upgrade to Windows 11 or clean install? There is no exact answer. After installing, you need to spend time personalizing your PC. You need to back up your personal files before you do. Moreover, you will rarely run into errors & other issues and a clean install can fix some issues.įor most users, the worst is some data will be deleted after a clean install. Besides, you will regain control over your apps since you only need to install programs that you want. You won’t need to manually uninstall these apps. And you can get a clean Windows registry.Ĭlean install helps you to get rid of all incompatible programs since it deletes all the apps. You need to troubleshoot the issues, which is annoying.Ĭlean install offers a chance to start from scratch and any bloatware & trial software that may come pre-installed with your system isn’t installed. Furthermore, you may run into some errors caused by pre-existing issues in the system and some peripherals cannot be used. This makes the new system cluttered at the beginning.īesides, some programs and drivers are not compatible with Windows 11 and cannot run properly. During the process, an amount of old & unnecessary files, registry entries of some uninstalled programs, and some other junk files are also kept in Windows 11. When performing an in-place upgrade of Windows 11, Windows attempts to bring all the contents of the old version to a new version. An upgrade can save some time – technically, you don’t need to back up your PC (although it is strongly recommended).Īnother advantage that is worth pointing out is you can choose to go back to the previous version if you don’t want to keep the new version of the Windows operating system or something goes wrong. With Windows 11 Installation Assistant, the upgrade process is almost automated.īesides, you won’t need to format your hard drive and you won’t need to reinstall apps, change Windows settings, and copy over your files after everything is done since all the contents can be kept on the PC.
Clean Install Windows 11 VS Upgrade: Pros and ConsĪn in-place upgrade is a common way to install Windows 11 on your PC since it is very easy. It requires you to have some technical skills. Almost any technical skills are not required.Ī clean install means formatting your hard drive, wiping the current operating system, and installing Windows 11 from scratch. That is, the new operating system only replaces the old system. Upgrade or in-place installation is a common way and it means moving from an older version of the Windows operating system to a newer version. Windows 11 Upgrade VS Clean Install What Are Upgrade and Clean Install Windows 11 So, what is the difference between a clean installation and an upgrade? Which one is better to choose? Go on reading to find answers. Well then, how can you install Windows 11 on your PC? Microsoft offers you multiple methods and they can be divided into two categories – in-place upgrade and clean install. You can use the PC Healthy Check app to perform a compatibility test and here is a related post – Compatibility Test: How to Check if Your PC Can Run Windows 11. Tip: Before Windows 11 installation, you should make sure your PC is compatible with this new system.