Windows 11: Everything you need to know

[soybean]

Microsoft officially released Windows 11 in October 2021, and anyone with a compatible laptop or PC can upgrade now. Here's all you need to know about the new OS​

At the beginning of 2021, the likelihood of Microsoft releasing a successor to Windows 10 anytime soon seemed extremely low. That remained the case until late May, when CEO Satya Nadella began openly discussing "the next generation of Windows".

Speculation surrounding a potential 'Windows 11' soon went into overdrive, especially once Microsoft announced an event for 24 June. An preview version leaked ahead of the official reveal, but Microsoft still had a few surprises up its sleeve.

Early builds became available to members of the Windows Insider Program soon after, before Microsoft finally confirmed an official release date - 5 October 2021.

As the company explains in an official blog post, the update hasn't been delivered to all eligible devices straight away. As is usually the case with feature updates, Microsoft has throttled up availability in order to manage demand, but there is an easy way to get Windows 11 right now.

The release of Windows 11 coincides with new Surface hardware becoming available. Microsoft's Surface Pro 8, Surface Laptop Studio, Surface Go 3 and Surface Pro X (2021) are among the first devices to run Windows 11 out of the box.

 

[soybean]

What's Windows 11 like?​

Clearly wanting to avoid upsetting millions by making radical changes (as it ultimately did with Windows 8), Microsoft has kept the same basic layout, albeit with a significant redesign. You'll also find rounded corners everywhere you look and a new centrally positioned Start Menu, although you can return the latter to the side if you'd prefer.

There's a new widgets panel which can show the weather, stocks, news and other things - seemingly replacing the old Start Menu's live tiles - and improved grouping and snapping of open Windows so you can focus more easily on what you're trying to do.

Windows 11 on tablets is much improved thanks to the introduction of gestures and a new on-screen keyboard that much more similar to the one on your phone. You can even install and use Android apps via the Amazon Appstore, but that's only beginning to be rolled out.

But while there are lots of visual changes, Windows 11 should be an easy transition from Windows 10 for most people.

 

[soybean]

When did Windows 11 come out?​

• Initial release date: 5 October 2021
• Free upgrade set for all eligible Windows 10 PCs soon
• Insider Preview Builds and ISO files can be downloaded now

As Microsoft confirmed a month earlier, Windows 11 was officially released on 5 October 2021.

However, really the date that OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) can begin to release Windows 11 hardware. The blog post stated that 'in-market devices' which are eligible for the upgrade will be offered it later as part of a phased and measured approach.

In an official post, the Windows Twitter account appeared to confirm that Windows 10 users be waiting until 2022 for the free upgrade:





In an official blog post from January 2022, Chief Product Officer Panos Panay confirmed that rollout was ahead of schedule. It's not clear exactly when this will be complete, though.

You don't have to wait until it's delivered to your device, though. If you're happy to install it manually, a final version is available to download from the Microsoft website. Learn more in our separate guide - how to download Windows 11 now. This ISO file is also the way to go if you want to install it using a USB.

 

[soybean]

How much will Windows 11 cost?​

• Free for eligible PCs
• New hardware pricing dependent on manufacturer

This is of course one of the biggest questions, but the good news is that it will be free for eligible PCs. However, Microsoft has updated the hardware requirements, so it's not as simple as all Windows 10 devices getting Windows 11.

Naturally, upgrading from Windows 10 won’t be the only way to get Windows 11. Once it launches, new laptops and PCs will be running the operating system out of the box, negating the need to buy a license separately. It's impossible to say how each company will price their hardware, but expect it to be similar to the equivalent Windows 10 devices.

It's worth noting that the free upgrade will be to the same version of Windows as you used on Windows 10. If you're looking to upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Windows 11 Pro, for example, it's best o get Windows 10 Pro first. It's available from the Microsoft website for £219.99/$199.99.

 

[soybean]

Wasn't Windows 10 the 'last ever' version of Windows?​

That's what Microsoft said when it announced Windows 10, yes. But apparently it changed its mind about that. The company could have rolled out these changes in a Windows 10 update, but it chose not to refer back to this statement during the launch event and might be hoping its customers have short memories.

Indeed, after spending a few weeks with Windows 11, it's clear not much has really changed.

 

[soybean]

Will my current PC / laptop run Windows 11?​

Microsoft has published a list of minimum hardware requirements:

• 1GHz dual-core processor
• 4GB RAM
• 64GB of storage
• UEFI, Secure Boot capable
• Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0
• Graphics card compatible with DirectX 12
• Display larger than 9in with 720p or higher resolution
• Microsoft account + internet connection

Not sure if your device is compatible? Microsoft has released an updated version of its 'PC Health Check' app, designed to help you do just that. It's available to download from the bottom of the main Windows 11 page.

For more information, check out our separate guide: Will my PC run Windows 11?

Microsoft doesn't encourage it, but there is still a way to install Windows 11 on unsupported PCs.

 

[soybean]

Windows 11 trailers​

There are two key trailers for Windows 11 that are worth watching. First up, the official introduction video from 24 June:






Then, from 9 September, a shorter advert-style trailer. You may have seen a shortened version broadcast on TV:

 

[soybean]

What new features does Windows 11 have?​

There are too many to go into lots of detail here, but here are the main ones you need to know about.

First, there's a significant visual overhaul. Windows 10 has maintained a similar look and feel throughout its lifespan, but that's about to change with Windows 11.

A new taskbar moves icons to the centre, although this can easily be reverted to a more traditional layout. What can't be changed is some of the functionality Microsoft removed compared to the Windows 10 version, but Microsoft is taking steps to rectify this. When using two or more displays, the time and date will now show across all screens. It's a small change (that's being tested by Insiders currently), but a significant one.

However, there are no signs of other removed features making a reappearance. The Windows 11 taskbar is still lacking in customisation features, and still doesn't support the popular drag-and-drop functionality.

It's where you'll find a brand new Start Menu, sporting a very similar design to the now-cancelled Windows 10X. Here's the dark-mode version:

 

[soybean]

It features a grid of customisable 'Pinned' icons, with separate 'All apps' section for everything else you have installed. The 'Recommended' heading below displays recently used files, apps and folders - including from cloud services such as OneDrive and Microsoft 365 - enabling you to quickly pick up where you left off, even if you last used a different device.

However, many people have been disappointed by this, especially the lack of customisation ability. As an official blog post confirms, Microsoft is testing functionality that allows to choose the split between Pinned and Recommended sections in the Start Menu. However, it's exclusive to the Windows Insider Program for now.

 

[soybean]

One feature that's already available is the new Snap Layouts multitasking functionality. Hovering over the maximise button allows you to choose the arrangement of apps on the screen, as you can see below.