Starting August 5, UBCO IT will enable an automated update from Windows 10 to Windows 11 on targeted IT managed devices. Impacted users in the Okanagan will receive an email with further details prior to the upgrade.
The upgrade will happen automatically, and you can continue working on your device as normal while the initial software installation begins. You do not need to take any action to initiate the upgrade.
After the software is installed, a notification window will open, instructing you to restart your device to complete the upgrade. The restart process will take an additional 10 to 15 minutes, and you have up to two weeks to restart. If you have not restarted within two weeks, your computer will undergo an automatic reboot to finalize the installation.
This upgrade is required to enhance the security and overall user experience of your computer. Upgrades are being completed in a phased schedule to ensure all devices comply with UBC’s Information Security Standard U7, ensuring devices are running a supported version of an operating system which continues to receive security patches and updates.
If you wish to upgrade your device manually before this time, please follow the in-place upgrade instructions available here.
If your device has any technical restrictions preventing the upgrade to Windows 11 or if you encounter any issues during the upgrade, please enter a support ticket and our IT representatives will review your options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Microsoft has announced the end-of-life date for Windows 10 as of October 2025. After this date, no further feature updates or security patches will be available for Windows 10. Moving to Windows 11 will ensure that all devices comply with UBC’s Information Security Standard U7, ensuring devices are running a supported version of an operating system which continues to receive security updates.
The upgrade will happen automatically, and you can continue working on your device as normal while the initial software installation begins. You do not need to take any action to initiate the upgrade.
After the software is installed, a notification window will open, instructing you to restart your device to complete the upgrade. The restart process will take an additional 10 to 15 minutes, and you have up to two weeks to restart. If you have not restarted within two weeks, your computer will undergo an automatic reboot to finalize the installation.
You can manually upgrade to Windows 11 by using the self-service option in the Software Center application available in the Start menu of your UBC-managed PC. When opening your Software Center application, you will be able to select the Windows 11 upgrade under the Updates tab.
The upgrade process will take approximately 2-3 hours and can be downloaded and installed in the background while you work. For the upgrade to be applied to your PC, you will need to restart your computer. The restart process will take an additional 10-15 minutes.
For more details, please follow the in-place upgrade instructions available here: it.ok.ubc.ca/windows-11
Yes, a minimum of 25GB of free disk space is required for the upgrade to install.
To determine if you have enough disk space:
- Option 1: Open File Explorer. Click “This PC” in the left column. Under “Devices and Drives,” you’ll see your main system volume (C:) and any other drives in the computer. Windows shows the amount of free disk space on the drive directly below the drive’s name.
- Option 2: Open the Settings app and navigate to System > Storage. Alternatively, search for “Storage” in the Start menu or taskbar search and click “Storage Settings.” This will list your available drives and show you how much storage you have left.
If you require assistance freeing up space, please contact the IT Service Centre
Upgrading to Windows 11 will be mandatory for all UBC-managed PCs. If there is a reason that you cannot upgrade to Windows 11, please contact IT Service Centre or open a Self-Service ticket
Windows 11 has an improved interface, better security, updated built-in apps, improved collaboration features, improved accessibility features, and better performance than Windows 10.
In the search bar, type “winver” and run the command. A window will appear that will tell you if you are on Windows 10 or Windows 11.