Why You Should Clean Install Windows 11 When Upgrading From Windows 10
1 min read
Summary
A clean installation of Windows 11 is recommended for users wanting to access the operating system’s security feature Smart App Control.
Smart App Control is a security feature exclusive to Windows 11 that protects devices from malicious apps and programmes by predicting behaviour patterns and using telemetry data to spot potential threats.
To enable Smart App Control, users must perform a clean installation of Windows 11, meaning that all previous data and applications will be deleted, and backups should be created to preserve important information.
In addition to this, enabling optional diagnostic data, TPM support and Secure Boot in UEFI are also recommended steps to ensure the successful activation of Smart App Control.
After installation, opening ‘smart app control’ in a Windows search bar should show the feature and its current activation status.
It will probably begin in evaluation mode, and if unsigned apps are frequently used, this could deactivate Smart App Control, meaning a Windows reset would be needed.
