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How to Update Devices to Windows 11 with Right Click Tools

Topics: Right Click Tools, Systems Management

When updating your environment from Windows 10 to Windows 11, Microsoft makes a strong case to use the Feature Update through Configuration Manager for deployment. Feature Updates were first introduced in Windows 10 in 1903. Applying the update this way, it appears as a software update. This means that you can schedule it just like you would schedule other Windows updates in your environment. What this also means is that Right Click Tools users can manage and monitor Windows 11 updates through the Remote Software Center.

What’s great about using Remote Software Center is that you can control exactly when the installation happens. You can use the Remote Software Center to force updates to occur for people who had their computers off when the scheduled time took place, or you can force updates when you want the installation to occur sooner than your scheduled time.

Below I’ll cover the steps needed to start Windows 11 updates, and then show you what it looks like in the Remote Software Center.

Before You Update Devices to Windows 11

First, on your WSUS server, you will need to make sure that you have enabled updates for Windows 11.

The location of those updates is below:

Options -> Products and Classifications -> Windows -> Windows 11.

WSUS Server - Products - Update Devices to Windows 11

You will also need to make sure that you have enabled Windows 11 updates in Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr).

Sites -> select your site -> Configure Site Components -> Software Update Point.

Configure Site Components

When that opens, select:

Software Update Component Properties -> Products -> Windows -> Windows 11.

Software Update Point Component Properties - Update Devices to Windows 11

At this point, if you haven’t been downloading Windows 11 updates, you will need to synchronize your software updates from Software Library -> Synchronize Software Updates.

Software Library

When the synchronization is complete, you will need to head to the following location in the Configuration Manager console.

Software Library -> Windows Servicing -> All Windows Feature Updates

Find the upgrade versions that you need.

Note: If your computers have checked in since the last software synchronization, the update will show as “Required” for the computers that can run the update.

All Windows Feature Updates - Update Devices to Windows 11

Now, I’m going to show you how to download Windows 11 into a deployment package.

Downloading Windows 11

Right-click on the update you want to download and select the Download menu item. The Download Software Updates Wizard will start.

Download Software Updates Wizard

In the Deployment Package window, specify the deployment package you would like to download the update to or create a new deployment package, then select Next.

Download Location

In the Download Location window, you will need to specify where you would like to download the update from. Once you’ve specified the location, press Next.

Language Setting

At this window, you will be asked to specify the update language (if any). Then, select Next.

Confirm Settings

In the Summary window, you are asked to confirm the settings, before selecting the Next button.

Progress

In the Progress window, you can see the status of the download.

Completion

When the download is complete, you can click on the Close button.

Deploying Windows 11

In this section, I’ll show you how to use the Deploy Software Updates Wizard. Make sure you know when you want to schedule the deployment.

Deploy - Update Devices to Windows 11

Right-click on the update you want to deploy and select Deploy.

Deployment Name

The Deploy Software Updates Wizard will start. Enter a name for your deployment and select a collection to update.

Note: When you click the Next button, the license terms will pop up.

License Terms

You will need to accept the license terms on the new version of Windows.

Deployment Settings

Next, update this window to your desired deployment settings and then select the Next button.

Scheduling

Now, schedule the time for deployment before selecting, Next.

User Experience

Specify the user experience, then select, Next.

Alerts

As desired, set up your alerts for this deployment, then select the Next button.

Download Settings

Specify the download settings for your deployment, then select the Next button.

Confirm the Settings

At this point, you see the summary of your deployment. Make sure the details are what you desire for this deployment before clicking Next.

Completion

Congratulations! You have started the deployment of Windows 11 in your environment.

Right Click Tools banner

Remote Software Center – Start Installation

Once the update is deployed and the computers have checked into Configuration Manager, you can start the installation by using the Remote Software Center from Right Click Tools. For more information about the Remote Software Center, please see this video.

In the ConfigMgr console, go to Assets and Compliance -> Devices. In the Devices node, right-click on one of the devices (or more than one device, or the whole collection, if you are an Enterprise user).

Navigate to Right Click Tools -> Client Tools -> Remote Software Center.

Right Click Tools - Client Tools - Remote Software Center

This opens the Remote Software Center for the device(s) you selected.

Remote Software Center

When you click on Software Updates, on the left side of the Remote Software Center, all the updates that are awaiting installation are displayed. Start the Windows 11 upgrade by selecting, “Upgrade to Windows 11.”

Remote Software Center - Upgrade to Windows 11

After you click on the Install button, the evaluation state will change as the update progresses.

Software Center - Updates

If you were to look at Software Center on the target computer, you would see the upgrade download progressing.

When the Windows 11 upgrade is finished, your computer will be ready for a reboot. Remember that Remote Software Center adheres to the reboot policies that are applied in your environment. For example, in our environment, it told us that it was waiting for a maintenance window to reboot.

Update Details

Here’s what it looks like on the Software Center of the computer being updated (see above).

Following your environment’s reboot policies, your computer will begin the installation of Windows 11.

Working on Updates

In real-time, the installation of the operating system, where the computer was not usable, took 5-minutes. After getting to the login prompt, the first login took an additional 2-minutes. Congratulations, you just upgraded a computer from Windows 10 to 11 in under 10 minutes!

Windows 11

Thanks for following along on how to update devices to Windows 11 and see how you can manage and monitor updates with Right Click Tools’ Remote Software Center.


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