Windows 11 Install Time | All Things to Know

How long does it take to install Windows 11?

In general, the time it takes to install Windows 11 varies between 10 to 20 minutes.

However, the installation duration differs depending on the device. For instance, on a modern computer with a fast SSD, the update process can be completed in as little as 10 minutes. Conversely, on older machines, the update may extend beyond 20 minutes and, in some cases, even hours.

Why is Windows 11 taking so long to install?

There are several common reasons why Windows 11 taking forever to install. Understanding these causes can help in resolving the issue more effectively. Here are some of the most frequent causes:

1. Unstable Internet Connection.

2. Unstable Power Supply.

3. Insufficient Storage Space.

4. Corrupt ISO File.

Solved: What if Windows 11 takes too long to install?

#1. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

Microsoft provides a range of built-in troubleshooters designed to automatically identify and resolve system issues. It's advisable to utilize the appropriate troubleshooter whenever you come across a problem.

Step 1. Press Windows + I to launch the Settings app.

Step 2. Click on Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.

Step 3. Next, click on the Windows Update entry.

Step 4. Finally, click on the Run the troubleshooter button to identify and fix issues with Windows Update.

Step 5. Select the suitable response and then follow the on-screen instructions to successfully complete the troubleshooting procedure.

#2. Pause the Update and Try Again Later

Step 1. Press Windows + I to launch the Settings app, and then click on Update & Security from the options listed here.

Step 2. Now, proceed by clicking on Pause updates for 7 days located on the right-hand side.

Step 3. After restarting your computer, go to the Update & Security settings, and then click on Resume updates to continue.

Step 4. Once you've completed the previous steps, click on Check for updates to see if the Windows 11 installation now proceeds without getting stuck.

# 3. Uninstall Conflicting Drivers

Numerous devices are known to potentially conflict with the upgrade process, which could affect time to install Windows 11. In such cases, it's crucial to uninstall any conflicting drivers.

Step 1. Press Windows + R to open the Run window, enter devmgmt.msc in the text field, and click on OK to launch the Device Manager.

Step 2. Now, find the troublesome category and double-click on it to view the devices listed within it.

Step 3. Right-click on the device causing the Windows 11 upgrade to get stuck and choose Uninstall device from the context menu.

Step 4. Tick the checkbox before Delete the driver software for this device and click Uninstall.

Suggestion: backup your system regularly in case of data loss

Sometimes, if you want to get Windows 11 first time setup but find out it doesn’t run as smoothly as imagined, some errors happen like it takes too long or stuck at 99% to install, and data loss may happen to you.

Additionally, if you are unsatisfied with the new system and wondering if you can switch back to the original system. Then you need to backup your original system properly to prevent data loss. AOMEI Backupper Standard is professional and free backup and restore software that enables you to recover everything from backups.

✎Various backup options: You can backup C drive on Windows 11. What’s more, you can select files and folders to backup, as well as partitions and disks.
✎Different OS: This freeware supports many different Windows operating systems, such as Windows 7/8/8.1/10/11/XP/Vista, etc. If you are a Windows Server user, AOMEI Backupper Server will be more suitable for you.
✎Schedule backup: You can set different frequencies (Daily, Weekly, Monthly) to backup your system regularly. And the software will automatically backup the system according to the frequency you set.

Here is the full guide to backup your system in case of data loss. Please download this free software via the below link.

Step 1. Please launch this software on your PC. Then you can click Backup > System Backup.

Step 2. You can modify the Task Name to distinguish it from other backup tasks. The software will select the system and boot partitions by default as the source. Please select a destination path for your system.

▶Tip:
You can create a full backup, and then only backup the changes via incremental and differential backup to eliminate the duplicates. (The differential backup mode is available in the advanced version)

Step 3. Confirm all your operations and click Start Backup to perform the system backup.

To sum up

Windows 11 install time can vary, depending on the devices and the amount of data on your PC. If you find it is too long for you to install, you can troubleshoot via the above 3 methods. We suggest to backup your system via reliable backup and restore software. What’s more, this software is also wonderful disk cloning software that can migrate the previous smaller OS system to a larger one. Now download it and then have a try!