Windows 11 Upgrade via WSUS: Complete Guide

Upgrading to Windows 11 via WSUS: A Comprehensive Guide

Upgrading to Windows 11 via WSUS is possible, but requires thorough infrastructure preparation and compliance with all hardware requirements. The update process through WSUS is a reality, but involves several technical challenges, including the need for TPM 2.0 support, Secure Boot, and updated BIOS, as well as potential issues with detecting updates on client systems.

Table of Contents

• Possibility of Upgrade via WSUS
• Hardware Requirements
• Typical Issues and Solutions
• Deployment Experience
• Update Process Recommendations

Possibility of Upgrade via WSUS

Upgrading to Windows 11 via WSUS is technically possible and supported by Microsoft. According to official documentation, Windows 11 can be deployed through WSUS just like Windows 10 [1]. However, there are important limitations and requirements that must be considered.

Important: Microsoft confirms that Windows 11 is available for deployment through WSUS, but the process may differ from standard Windows 10 updates due to hardware requirements.

Many administrators have successfully performed mass upgrades to Windows 11 via WSUS, but their experience shows that the process requires additional preparation and testing [2]. The key success factor is preliminary verification that all hardware meets Windows 11 requirements.

Hardware Requirements

For successful upgrades via WSUS, it’s necessary to ensure that all target devices meet the minimum Windows 11 requirements:

Mandatory Hardware Requirements:

• Processor: 1 GHz or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor [3]
• TPM 2.0: Trusted Platform Module version 2.0 must be enabled and active [4]
• Secure Boot: Must be enabled in UEFI/BIOS settings [5]
• Memory: Minimum 4 GB RAM
• Storage: Minimum 64 GB free space
• System: Windows 10 version 2004 or later
• UEFI: Compatible UEFI version instead of traditional BIOS [6]

User Experience:

Many administrators have encountered situations where hardware formally met the requirements, but WSUS did not detect the update as available [7]. This is often related to TPM 2.0 not being enabled in BIOS/UEFI or required security settings not being applied.

Key Issue: Even if hardware supports Windows 11, WSUS may not display the update as applicable if all prerequisites are not met.

Typical Issues and Solutions

1. Issue: Update Not Showing as Available in WSUS

Description: Systems that should support Windows 11 show “Not Applicable” status in the WSUS console.

Solutions:

• Update BIOS/UEFI to the latest version [8]
• Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot in BIOS settings [9]
• Install all available Windows 10 updates before upgrading
• Use the registry setting AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU to bypass restrictions (not recommended for production) [10]

2. Issue: Update Installation Errors

Description: The update starts installation but fails with compatibility errors.

Solutions:

• Update all device drivers to current versions [11]
• Remove or update incompatible applications (for example, AutoCAD 2022 may block the update) [12]
• Perform compatibility check using Microsoft’s “Hardware Readiness” script [13]
• Use Windows Compatibility Checker: schtasks.exe /Run /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser" [14]

3. Issue: Processor Incompatibility

Description: Systems with processors not listed in Microsoft’s supported list.

Solutions:

• Check the list of supported processors on Microsoft’s website
• Consider upgrading the processor or motherboard
• For test environments, workarounds can be used, but for production, only officially supported hardware is recommended [15]

Deployment Experience

Successful Deployment Stages:

1. Infrastructure Preparation:

   • Update WSUS server to the latest version
   • Configure update groups for testing and production
   • Create backups of important data

2. Hardware Verification:

   • Use scripts to verify compliance with requirements
   • Update BIOS/UEFI on all target systems
   • Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot

3. Testing:

   • Deploy to a limited group of test systems
   • Verify application and driver functionality
   • Monitor installation process and post-installation status

4. Mass Deployment:

   • Gradual deployment to user groups
   • Monitoring and quick response to issues

Real Administrator Experiences:

Many administrators report successful Windows 11 deployments via WSUS but emphasize the importance of careful planning [16]. One Reddit user described their experience where after updating BIOS and enabling TPM 2.0 on all test systems, WSUS finally began displaying the update as available [17].

Another administrator encountered systems showing “Not Applicable” even with compatible hardware. The solution was to use manual installation via Windows Update Assistant for these systems, followed by further management through WSUS [18].

Update Process Recommendations

Step-by-Step Plan:

1. Infrastructure Assessment:

   • Verify WSUS server meets requirements
   • Analyze network and bandwidth capacity
   • Assess storage volume for updates

2. System Preparation:

   • Update BIOS/UEFI to the latest version
   • Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot
   • Install all available Windows 10 updates
   • Update device drivers

3. Testing:

   • Create a test group with various hardware types
   • Verify critical application functionality
   • Test rollback process if necessary

4. Deployment:

   • Gradual update with monitoring
   • Prepare rollback plan
   • Train users on new features

Tips for Successful Updates:

• Use Group Policies: Configure policies to manage the update and rollback process
• Create Images: Prepare pre-installed Windows 11 images for quick deployment
• Real-time Monitoring: Use tools to track installation progress and quickly respond to issues
• Automation: Use PowerShell scripts to automate checks and update installations [19]
• Backup: Create full system backups before updating

Important: The update process via WSUS requires more time and resources than standard Windows 10 updates. Allocate sufficient time for planning and testing.

Conclusion

Upgrading to Windows 11 via WSUS is a reality, but requires thorough preparation and compliance with all technical requirements. Key success factors include hardware compliance with minimum requirements, updated BIOS/UEFI, proper TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot configuration, and thorough testing before mass deployment.

For successful updates, it’s recommended to:

1. Conduct complete hardware verification using official Microsoft tools
2. Update BIOS/UEFI to the latest versions on all target systems
3. Create a detailed deployment plan with testing phases
4. Prepare rollback procedures in case of issues
5. Monitor the installation process and quickly respond to any errors

Although upgrading to Windows 11 via WSUS may be more complex than Windows 10 updates, with the right approach and preparation, it’s fully achievable and allows centralized management of the update process in a corporate environment.

Sources

1. Prepare for Windows 11 | Microsoft Learn
2. r/sysadmin on Reddit: WSUS: Upgrade to Windows 11 updates are not applicable on capable hardware
3. Can upgrade windows 10 to 11 with WSUS? - Microsoft Q&A
4. Windows 11 System Requirements - Microsoft Support
5. Windows 11 requirements | Microsoft Learn
6. r/sysadmin on Reddit: WSUS only sees a handful of PCs for Windows 11 upgrade, rest “Not Eligible”
7. Unable to upgrade machines to Windows 11 using WSUS. - Microsoft Q&A
8. Windows 10 to Windows 11 upgrade using Wsus - Microsoft Q&A
9. List of All Windows 11 Hardware Requirements - UMA Technology
10. WSUS Win11 24H2 Upgrade is only installing on some devices, showing as Not Applicable on others. - Microsoft Q&A
11. Windows 11 Update Issues and What To Do About Them - 9meters
12. Which WSUS products to select for Windows 11? – 4sysops
13. Windows 11 24H2 Now Available Through WSUS | New Features And Enhancements HTMD Blog
14. Check if a device meets Windows 11 system requirements after changing device hardware - Microsoft Support
15. How to upgrade to Windows 11 via WSUS - Microsoft Q&A
16. WSUS: Upgrade to Windows 11 not applicable - Microsoft Q&A
17. Microsoft details Windows 11 upgrade process, app compatibility
18. Plan Your WSUS Deployment | Microsoft Learn
19. Upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11 with WSUS - Microsoft Q&A