The ISO containing the new OS image is easily available online, but to be able to install it correctly on board the Raspberry Pi you need to perform a process that creates a valid image usable with our device. At the moment the experimental build works fine, but still has many incompatibilities: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth e GPIO integrated do not work, forcing you to use USB Wi-Fi dongles to connect, albeit at the moment there is no list of supported devices. Also audio via HDMI is not available, while the jack from 3.5mm it works albeit with some disturbance.
What do you need to install Windows 11 on Raspberry Pi 4?
- Raspberry Pi 4 (4GB o 8GB);
- Un SSD da at least 32GB connected via USB 3 or a card MicroSD for at least 16GB;
- USB boot Enabled;
- A microSD card with on board the latest version of Raspberry Pi OS;
- Computer with Windows 10;
- A USB to Ethernet connector or a Wi-Fi dongle;
- Bluetooth dongle (if you need to use Bluetooth);
- Keyboard, mouse, HDMI cable and power supply for Raspberry Pi;
Configure boot from SSD on Raspberry Pi
For our setup we chose to use an SSD connected to the device via USB 3, enabling boot from USB on the Raspberry Pi. Initially we encountered some problems, which turned out to be related to the adapter used; we decided to switch to an Argon M.2 external case and we were able to continue the installation without difficulty.
Before using Windows 11 you need to make sure you have installed our Raspberry Pi on board the latest version of the bootloader firmware, which allows booting via USB 3 ports. We remind you that this update can be done only via Raspberry Pi OS and not through Windows 11. If you intend to install the system through microSD, you can skip this part dedicated to the SSD.
At this point:
- Boot the system via microSD with on-board the latest version of Raspberry Pi OS;
- Open the terminal e updated OS and firmware via terminal using the following commands:
sudo apt update sudo apt full-upgrade sudo rpi-update
- Restart the device;
- Always via the terminal, install the latest version of the bootloader using the commands:
sudo rpi-eeprom-update -d -a
- Restart the device again;
- Open a terminal and run "raspi-config"Using the command:
sudo raspi-config
- Once the configuration has started, select the item "Boot Options”And press Enter.
- Select the item "Boot ROM Version”And press Enter.
- Select the item "NEU " and then OKAY.
- In the following screen asking you to install the latest version of boot ROM, select DO NOT and then OKAY.
- At this point select the item "Boot Order”And press Enter.
- Select "Boot from USB”And press OK. If you leave the microSD inserted, the Pi will automatically start the SD boot procedure.
- Finally select Finish and when you are asked to restart the device you select NO.
At this point your device is ready for the boot procedure via USB.
Install Windows 11 on Raspberry Pi 4
To install the operating system you need it first create an installation image.
- On the UUP Dump platform, search for "Windows 11 arm".
- Select the latest build released for arm64.
- Select your language.
- Select the version of Windows you prefer and then click Next.
- In the Download method select the item "Download and Convert ISO"And then click on"Create Download Package".
- Once downloaded, extract the contents of the download into one new folder renamed "win11"To open it.
- Open the file .cmd called "uup_download_windows.cmd". Ignore the security warnings by clicking on "more information"And"Run anyway". You will see the prompt work and download the Windows 11 image for ARM. The procedure can take a variable amount of time based on the speed of your internet connection ed based on the speed of your PC.
- Once the operation is finished, press 0 to exit and close the prompt.
We now have at our disposal the ISO image that we are going to install on SSD or microSD.
Install Windows 11 on the microSD or SSD
- Connect the microSD card or SSD via USB adapter to the computer. Recall that this operation involves the deletion of existing data on the devices.
- Download the Windows on Raspberry Imager tool ed extract the .zip file in the folder "win11”Created earlier.
- Start the tool e allow the application to make changes on your computer. Set the language you prefer and then click Next.
- Select the device on which to install Windows 11 and select the raspberry model on which to install it. In our case we have selected Raspberry Pi 4/400. Once all is selected, go ahead by clicking Next.
- At this point, select the Windows 11 image you just created and click on Next.
- when selecting the driver packages, select the item "Use the latest package available on the server”And then click Next.
- then select the item "Use the latest firmware available on the server”When choosing the firmware UEFI and then click Next.
- on the setup screen leave everything unchanged and click on again Next.
- once you get to the final screen check all the set parameters again and then click on install to begin the installation procedure.
- When the procedure is completed close the software, unplug the device on which you have installed the system e connect it to your Raspberry Pi 4. Later, once all the other peripherals have been connected, turn on the device.
Configuring Windows 11 on Raspberry Pi 4
Once you have connected the disk with Windows 11 on board and after having carried out the boot procedure, you will need to configure Windows 11 using particular installation sequences to make the system ready for use.
To better optimize the system, it is also necessary to do this first some setup operations, especially if your device is a Raspberry Pi 4 with 4GB of RAM or less.
- Restart / turn on the device and press ESC to enter the Setup menu.
- Select the item "Device Manager”And press Enter.
- At this point select the item "Raspberry Pi Configuration”And press again Enter.
- Scroll until you reach the item "Advanced configuration”And press Enter.
- Set the item "Limit RAM to 3 GB"On the value"Disabled”And then press the button F10 to save. Later, once the parameter has been stored, press ESC to go back.
- Select the Voice "Select Display Configuration".
- Select the resolution best suited to you putting a check mark with the Enter key. Once you have chosen the desired resolution, press F10 to save and then ESC to exit the menu.
- At the moment this feature is disabled, but in the "CPU configuration”We can set the CPU speed, thus being able to possibly in the future overclock the Pi.
- However, make sure that the "CPU clock"Both on the item"Default“, Also because at the moment Windows would not start. Then press ESC until you return to the main menu.
- Once you arrive on the main screen, select the item "Continue"And then start Windows 11 with the new default settings.
How's Windows 11 doing on Raspberry Pi 4?
In the course of the tests carried out, the overall performance proved to be more than fair and in general the system on board the device it performed significantly better than the old Windows 10. Boot times are good, not at Raspberry Pi OS levels, but still more than acceptable. In use, the sensations returned are very similar to those obtained with the various low-end Intel platforms based on Celeron N4100.
Once you are on the main screen with the system started, there were no slowdowns or freezes of the system in the use of applications. Worthy of note is definitely the good optimization of the Edge browser, able to make pleasant and fluid navigation in all areas.
Some sites of course, such as Youtube, have given some problems given the current incompatibility with the GPU, which shifts the rendering load entirely to the CPU. The videos are played without any problem at 480p, while already at 720p you begin to notice some slowdown, accentuated in the transition to full screen mode, which causes significant delays and frame losses, almost like the 1080p resolution which is not usable at all.
We also tested installing applications. The first one we wanted to try is Arduino IDE, downloaded through the Microsoft Store, and installed without any problems, even if it took longer than usual.
The application works quite well, however we have encountered a problem with the COM port necessary for connection to the Arduino board, which is not detected in any way by the Raspberry Pi. Given the failure, we decided to remove the app, but to do so you cannot go to the Microsoft Store: you need to go to the settings and find the item "add / remove applications”, A somewhat counterintuitive choice in our opinion.
We decided to try again using the classic x86 .exe program for connect Arduino via IDE and we were surprised when we saw the software open without difficulty, however even in this case the COM port problem remains and it is impossible to control our Arduino Uno via IDE.
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How to install Windows 11 on Raspberry Pi 4
