Windows 11 is the next version of Windows, announced by Microsoft earlier this year. For testing purposes, Windows 11 has been made available to Windows Insiders and developers. But now, it has been confirmed by Microsoft that Windows 11 will be released to the general public on October 5. Windows 11 will be available as a free upgrade for Windows 10 users next month.
The upgrade will roll out in phases and new eligible devices will be offered Windows 11 updates first. After October 5, Windows 11 will be available for more in-market devices. According to Microsoft, all devices eligible for the free upgrade will receive the upgrade by mid-2022.
The next generation of Windows will be launched on October 5, but not every feature will be available. A key feature, allowing Windows 11 to run Android apps, will not be available on October 5.
However, it will bring other features to Windows PCs such as a new Start menu, Snap Layouts, Snap Groups, and Snap Desktops, Teams integration within the task bar, new Widgets, and a new personalised feed. Additionally, Windows 11 comes with a redesigned UI, as well as several minor improvements.
Last week, Microsoft clarified the system requirements for Windows 11. PCs running Windows 11 must meet three requirements according to Microsoft. You'll need a 64-bit 1GHz processor, at least 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. Additionally, the computer should have a DirectX 12 capable graphics card and support for TPM 2.0.
Microsoft announced last week a change to the CPU requirement.Microsoft initially announced that only processors introduced after 2017 would be able to run Windows 11, a decision that likely upset users with older, but still functional processors.
Windows 11 will still be released with the same recommendations, but it won't require a compatible CPU. Windows 11 can be installed on any computer with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of free space. However, there is no guarantee that it will work. However, Windows 10 is still supported until October 14, 2025, if your PC is unable to run Windows 11.
The Windows Update feature will notify people when the upgrade is available for PCs running Windows 10 that have the necessary components. To manually check if an upgrade is ready, people can also go to "Settings > System > Windows Update" in their computers.