How to Set Up a New Windows 11 Laptop

To set up a new Windows 11 laptop, plug in the charger, turn it on, and follow the setup screens: pick your language and keyboard, connect to Wi-Fi, and sign in with a Microsoft account. When the desktop appears, open Start > Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates, then turn on Windows Hello, confirm device encryption, and set up Windows Backup.

Applies to: Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro on a new laptop that came with Windows already installed. Checked against Microsoft Support on October 7, 2026.

The setup screens differ a little between laptop makers and Windows releases, so the order on your screen may not match this guide exactly. Follow the options your laptop actually shows. This guide uses only the choices Microsoft documents and does not use command-line or Registry workarounds to skip parts of setup.

What you need before you start

• The charger. Keep the laptop plugged in for the whole process. Setup downloads updates and restarts, and a battery that runs out partway through can force you to start again.
• Your Wi-Fi network name and password, or an Ethernet cable and a free port on your router. Microsoft states that Windows 11 Home, and Windows 11 Pro for personal use, require internet connectivity and a Microsoft account during initial device setup.
• Your Microsoft account email address and password. This is the account you use for Outlook.com, OneDrive, Xbox, or Microsoft 365. If you don’t have one, you can create one during setup.
• Your phone or other sign-in method, in case Microsoft asks you to confirm that it is really you.
• Your old computer, if you have one. Keep it until you have confirmed that your files are on the new laptop.
• Time. How long the downloads take depends mainly on your internet speed and the size of the updates, so don’t start right before you need the laptop.

Part 1: Complete the Windows 11 setup screens

The first time you turn on the laptop, Windows walks you through a series of setup screens. Microsoft’s own walkthrough lists them in roughly this order.

1. Plug in the charger and press the power button. The first start can take longer than a normal start. Wait for the first setup screen to appear.
2. Choose your language, time zone, and keyboard layout. Pick the ones that match where you live and the keyboard printed on your laptop. Microsoft notes that these can be changed at any time, so a wrong choice here is not permanent.
3. Connect to the internet. Select your Wi-Fi network and type the password, or plug in an Ethernet cable. If you choose Connect automatically, Windows rejoins this network later without asking for the password again.
4. Let Windows check for updates. Once it is online, setup scans for software updates and patches and installs them. Leave the laptop plugged in and let it finish, even if it restarts.
5. Name your device. The name identifies the laptop on your local network. Something short and recognizable, such as the room or owner, makes it easy to pick out later.
6. Sign in with your Microsoft account, or create one. Signing in lets your files and data sync across devices and signs you in to Microsoft Edge and other built-in apps automatically.
7. Set up a biometric sign-in if your laptop offers it. If the laptop has a fingerprint reader or a compatible camera, setup can register your fingerprint or face. This step is optional.
8. Create a PIN. The PIN is specific to this laptop and is not your Microsoft account password. It is also your fallback if the fingerprint reader or camera doesn’t recognize you.
9. Choose whether to restore from another PC. If you backed up an earlier Windows PC with the same Microsoft account, setup can bring back your apps and settings. To start clean instead, choose Set up as new device.
10. Review the privacy settings. You are asked about location, Find my device, and diagnostic data. Read each one and choose what you are comfortable with. Every one of them can be changed later in Settings.
11. Wait for the desktop. Windows finishes preparing your account and then shows the desktop. Don’t turn the laptop off while it is working.

You may also see optional offers during setup, such as OneDrive file syncing or a Microsoft 365 trial. You can accept or decline them; they are not required to finish.

How to decide on the privacy choices

Microsoft explains what each setting is for, which makes the choice easier:

• Location helps with maps, weather, and local news. It also has to be on for Find my device to work.
• Find my device is a security feature for a lost or stolen computer. It is worth turning on for a laptop that leaves the house.
• Diagnostic data includes information about how the device is used and its state, which Microsoft uses for troubleshooting. You can review this later on the Diagnostics & feedback page in Settings, which also contains the Tailored experiences switch.

Part 2: Finish setting up from the desktop

Reaching the desktop is only the halfway point. The steps below protect the laptop and your files, and they are listed in the order that makes the most sense: updates first, then security, then backup, then cleanup.

1. Install the remaining Windows updates. Select Start > Settings > Windows Update, then select Check for updates. If updates are listed, select Download & install. Restart when Windows asks, then check again. A laptop that has been in a box for months often needs more than one round before the page reports that nothing else is available.
2. Get the laptop maker’s updates. Windows Update delivers many drivers, but firmware and some model-specific drivers come from the manufacturer. Use the support app that came on the laptop, or the support page for your exact model on the manufacturer’s website. Keep the charger connected and don’t interrupt a firmware update.
3. Check Windows Security. Open Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security, or search the Start menu for Windows Security. Look through Virus & threat protection and Firewall & network protection and deal with anything the app flags.
4. Add or change Windows Hello sign-in. Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Under the list of ways to sign in, choose Facial recognition (Windows Hello), Fingerprint recognition (Windows Hello), or PIN (Windows Hello), select Set up, and follow the instructions. Face sign-in needs a Hello-compatible camera and fingerprint sign-in needs a fingerprint reader.
5. Confirm device encryption and save the recovery key. Open Settings > Privacy & security > Device encryption. If the page is there, check that the switch is on. Then follow the recovery key steps in the section below.
6. Turn on Find my device. Select Start > Settings > Privacy & security > Find my device. You must be signed in with a Microsoft account, be an administrator on the laptop, and have location turned on.
7. Set up backup. Select Start, type backup, and select Windows Backup from the results. Choose the folders and settings you want backed up. Details are in the backup section below.
8. Remove apps you don’t want. Select Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Find the app, select More, then Uninstall. If you are not sure what something is, look it up before removing it; some manufacturer tools handle firmware updates or special keys.
9. Trim the startup list. Select Start > Settings > Apps > Startup and switch off apps that don’t need to open every time you sign in.
10. Pick a power mode. Select Start > Settings > System > Power & battery. Under Power mode, choose Best power efficiency, Balanced, or Best performance.
11. Install your own apps and bring over your files. Download apps from the Microsoft Store or from the app maker’s official website, and sign in to your browser to sync bookmarks and passwords.

Check device encryption and back up the recovery key

Device Encryption is a Windows feature that automatically turns on BitLocker encryption for the Windows drive and other fixed drives. Encryption scrambles the contents of the drive so that someone who steals the laptop can’t read your files by removing the drive. Unlike full BitLocker Drive Encryption, which is limited to the Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions, Device Encryption is also available on many laptops running Windows 11 Home.

Microsoft says Device Encryption turns on automatically when you first sign in or set up the device with a Microsoft account or a work or school account, and that a recovery key is attached to that account. If you use a local account instead, it is not turned on automatically.

The recovery key is a 48-digit number. Windows asks for it when it can’t unlock the drive on its own. Without the key you cannot get into the drive, and Microsoft Support states that it cannot retrieve, provide, or recreate a lost key. That is why saving a second copy now, while everything works, is worth two minutes:

1. Select Start, type BitLocker, and select Manage BitLocker from the results.
2. Choose the option to back up your recovery key for the Windows drive.
3. Pick where to save it. Microsoft lists four choices: save it to your Microsoft account, save it to a USB flash drive, save it to a file, or print it.
4. Store the copy away from the laptop. A flash drive or printout kept in the laptop bag would let a thief unlock the drive.

Microsoft’s instructions are in Back up your BitLocker recovery key. If Device encryption does not appear in Settings, your laptop may not support the feature; in that case a good backup matters even more.

Set up backup and move your files

Windows 11 includes two Microsoft tools that work together, and it helps to know what each one does.

Windows Backup

Windows Backup saves selected folders, your list of installed apps, and your settings to your Microsoft account. It needs a personal Microsoft account; work and school accounts are not supported. Microsoft’s description says it comes with 5 GB of OneDrive cloud storage, with more available to buy.

1. Select Start, type backup, and select Windows Backup.
2. Under folders, switch on the ones you want protected. The choices are Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos, and Music.
3. Review the settings group, which covers installed apps, accessibility, accounts and Wi-Fi networks and passwords, personalization, and language preferences.
4. Start the backup. You can change these choices later at Settings > Accounts > Windows backup.

The payoff comes with your next computer. When you set up a new PC or reinstall Windows, signing in with the same Microsoft account offers to restore from the backup. If more than one PC is backed up, More options lets you pick which one. Microsoft Store apps are restored when you select them, and other apps point you to the web to download them again. Microsoft’s full description is in Back up and restore with Windows Backup.

OneDrive folder backup

The folder part of Windows Backup uses OneDrive. To change which folders are included from OneDrive itself, select the OneDrive cloud icon in the notification area, open its settings, go to the Sync and backup tab, and select Manage backup. Switch on any folder marked as not backed up and select Save changes.

Two things are worth knowing before you rely on it. First, 5 GB fills quickly if your Pictures or Videos folders are large, and Microsoft notes that personalization preferences are not backed up when OneDrive storage runs out. Second, a synced folder is a mirror: if you later stop backing up a folder, OneDrive asks whether to keep the files only in OneDrive or only on the PC, so read that prompt carefully. For photos and documents you could not replace, keep a second copy on an external drive as well.

Moving files from an old computer

If the old PC runs Windows and you sign in to both with the same Microsoft account, running Windows Backup on the old PC first and then restoring during setup of the new one is the route Microsoft documents. Files stored in OneDrive can be restored at any time by signing in to OneDrive. For anything else, copy the files to an external drive and then onto the new laptop. Reinstall apps from their official sources instead of copying program folders, and open a few of your files on the new laptop before you erase the old one.

Remove unwanted apps and startup items

New laptops usually arrive with trial software and manufacturer utilities. You don’t have to remove any of it, but clearing out what you won’t use keeps the Start menu tidy and can make sign-in faster.

Besides the Settings route in Part 2, you can uninstall straight from the Start menu: select Start > All apps, right-click the app (or press and hold it on a touchscreen), and select Uninstall. Microsoft notes that some apps are built into Windows and can’t be uninstalled. Our guide on how to uninstall a program in Windows 11 covers the other methods.

For apps you want to keep but don’t need running all the time, use the startup list. In addition to Settings > Apps > Startup, you can right-click Start, select Task Manager, and open the Startup apps tab, where each app shows a startup impact rating. Select an app and choose Disable. Disabling an app here does not uninstall it; it only stops it from opening by itself. See how to change startup programs in Windows 11 for more detail.

If you install a different web browser, Windows keeps opening links in Microsoft Edge until you change the default. The steps are in our guide on changing the default browser in Windows 11.

How to confirm the laptop is fully set up

Run through this short check before you start relying on the laptop:

• Windows Update shows no pending downloads or restarts after you select Check for updates.
• Windows Security shows no warnings that need action.
• You can sign in with your PIN, and with your fingerprint or face if you set one up. Lock the laptop and try each method once.
• Device encryption is on, and you know where a copy of the recovery key is.
• Windows Backup shows your chosen folders as backed up, and a test file you saved to Documents appears when you sign in to OneDrive in a browser.
• Find my device is on.
• The basics work: Wi-Fi, sound, webcam, microphone, touchpad, keyboard, and each USB port. If anything is faulty, it is far easier to return or exchange the laptop in the first days than later.

None of these choices is permanent. Sign-in methods, privacy settings, backup folders, startup apps, and power mode can all be changed again on the same Settings pages. If you decide to return the laptop or want to start over, a reset that removes everything clears your account and files; see how to reset Windows 11.

Troubleshooting setup problems

The laptop won’t connect to Wi-Fi during setup

Check that you picked the right network and typed the password exactly, including capital letters. Move closer to the router, or restart the router and try again. If the laptop has an Ethernet port, or you have a USB Ethernet adapter, a cable connection avoids the problem. Because Microsoft requires an internet connection for Windows 11 Home and for Pro set up for personal use, the reliable fix is to get a working connection instead of trying to skip the screen.

Setup asks for a Microsoft account and you don’t have one

Create one from the sign-in screen; it is free. Write the email address and password down somewhere safe. This account is also where your device encryption recovery key and Windows Backup are stored, so you will need it again.

Setup seems stuck on an update or “getting things ready” screen

Give it time, with the charger connected. Downloading and installing updates during first-time setup depends on your connection speed and the size of the updates. Avoid holding the power button to force the laptop off while it is installing.

Windows Update fails or keeps offering the same update

Restart the laptop and select Check for updates again; many updates need a restart to finish. Microsoft also suggests unplugging external drives, docks, and other hardware you don’t need. If it still fails, select Start > Settings > System, select Troubleshoot, choose Other troubleshooters, find Windows Update, and select Run. Microsoft lists more fixes in Troubleshoot problems updating Windows.

Fingerprint or face sign-in isn’t offered

Those options only work with the right hardware: a fingerprint reader for fingerprint sign-in and a Hello-compatible camera for face sign-in. A standard webcam is not enough. A PIN works on every laptop.

Device encryption is missing or switched off

If the page is missing from Privacy & security, the laptop may not support Device Encryption. If the page is there but the switch is off, the most common reason is signing in with a local account, because automatic encryption needs a Microsoft account or a work or school account. Use the switch to turn it on.

The power mode can’t be changed

Microsoft says a custom power plan may be selected. Open Control Panel > System and Security > Power Options and select Balanced, then try again.

The laptop belongs to your employer or school

Stop and follow your organization’s instructions. Work and school laptops are usually set up with a work or school account, and your IT department may control updates, encryption, sign-in, and which apps can be installed or removed. Settings that are managed by an organization may be greyed out, and Windows Backup does not support work or school accounts.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Microsoft account to set up Windows 11?

Microsoft’s published requirements say that Windows 11 Home, and Windows 11 Pro for personal use, need internet connectivity and a Microsoft account during initial setup. Follow the choices your setup screens offer. We don’t recommend the command-line tricks found in older tutorials; they are unsupported and Microsoft has changed setup more than once.

Do I need to buy antivirus software for a new laptop?

Windows 11 includes Windows Security, which contains Microsoft Defender Antivirus and the Windows firewall. If you install another antivirus product and keep it up to date, Microsoft Defender Antivirus turns itself off automatically, so you won’t have two running at once. Many new laptops include a trial of a third-party antivirus; decide whether you want to keep it, and uninstall it if you don’t.

Should I install updates before anything else?

Yes. Updating first means your apps install onto a current, patched system, and any restarts happen before you are in the middle of work.

Is the PIN less safe than a password?

The PIN only works on the laptop it was created on. Someone who learned it could not use it to sign in to your Microsoft account from another device, which is the point Microsoft makes when it describes the PIN as specific to your computer and not to your Microsoft account.

Will OneDrive’s free 5 GB hold all my files?

Often not. Documents rarely fill 5 GB, but photo and video folders do. Either leave the large folders switched off in Windows Backup and keep them on an external drive, or buy more OneDrive storage.

Can I change these choices later?

Yes. The language, time zone, keyboard layout, privacy choices, sign-in methods, and backup settings chosen during setup can all be changed afterward in Settings.

Should I keep the box?

Keep the box, charger packaging, and receipt until you have finished the hardware checks above and the retailer’s return period has passed.

Once the checks pass, the laptop is ready for daily use. Microsoft’s own overview of the first-run screens is in How to set up and customize your new computer; a good next step is to open Windows Update again in a week to pick up anything that was released after setup.