Home windows 11 is Microsoft’s newest desktop working system. Few have been predicting its arrival simply a few years in the past, with Home windows 10 beforehand described as “the final model of Home windows”.
However Microsoft’s angle appeared to alter in the course of the pandemic, which left individuals all over the world counting on its software program for every little thing from distant working to maintaining in contact with family and friends. A few of these tendencies are extra everlasting, so the corporate determined it was time for one thing new.
Enter Home windows 11. The brand new OS represents a big design shift, aiming to simplify the consumer expertise and scale back muddle. Many parts are impressed by Home windows 10X, the cancelled Home windows 10 spin-off designed for touchscreen units.
Each suitable laptop computer could have been supplied a free improve, however you don’t must replace till Home windows 10 assist ends in 2025. However nearly each laptop computer that’s not a Mac or Chromebook runs Home windows 11 lately.
This full information goals to reply each query you might need concerning the OS, linking out to our intensive Home windows 11 protection.
What’s Home windows 11 like?
Clearly desirous to keep away from upsetting hundreds of thousands by making radical modifications (because it in the end did with Home windows 8), Microsoft has saved the identical fundamental structure, albeit with a big redesign. You’ll discover rounded corners in all places you look and a brand new centrally positioned Begin Menu, though you possibly can return the latter to the aspect when you’d want.
There’s a brand new widgets panel which might present the climate, shares, information and different issues – seemingly changing the previous Begin Menu’s dwell tiles – and improved grouping and snapping of open Home windows so you possibly can focus extra simply on what you’re attempting to do.
Home windows 11 on tablets is way improved because of the introduction of gestures and a brand new on-screen keyboard that rather more much like the one in your cellphone. You possibly can even set up and use Android apps through the Amazon Appstore, though a workaround enables you to use the Google Play Retailer as an alternative.
Nonetheless, whereas there are many visible modifications, Home windows 11 needs to be a simple transition from Home windows 10 for most individuals.
When did Home windows 11 come out?
- Preliminary launch date: 5 October 2021
- Largest replace to this point (22H2): 20 September 2022
Home windows 11 was formally launched on 5 October 2021. However actually, that was simply the date that OEMs (authentic tools producers) might start to launch Home windows 11 {hardware}.
The rollout was gradual, however all suitable units ought to have been supplied the choice to improve from Home windows 10. If that’s not the case for some cause, you possibly can obtain Home windows 11 manually or set up it utilizing a USB.
New options have been added regularly, however probably the most vital new options to this point arrived on 20 September 2022. That’s when the large 22H2 replace, earlier than much more new includes a month later.
How a lot does Home windows 11 value?
- Free improve for eligible PCs
- New {hardware} pricing depending on producer
- USB and obtain hyperlink variations obtainable
Pricing was all the time more likely to be one of many large questions, however the excellent news is that it’s free for eligible PCs. It will probably proceed for nevertheless lengthy Home windows 11 is supported.
Nonetheless, it’s not so simple as all Home windows 10 units getting Home windows 11. As is defined beneath, Microsoft has up to date the {hardware} necessities for its new OS.
Naturally, upgrading from Home windows 10 isn’t the one technique to get Home windows 11. Loads of new laptops and PCs are already working the working system out of the field, with loads extra on the best way. Up to now, it doesn’t seem to be having Home windows 11 pre-installed has affected the asking worth.
Nonetheless, you can too now purchase Home windows 11 as a standalone working system. The best technique is through a obtain hyperlink, which will probably be despatched to you when you full the acquisition:
You should buy it pre-loaded on a USB stick when you’d want – that is at the moment obtainable for Home windows 11 Residence ($139/£115.99), however not Professional. At Amazon UK, you possibly can even get a disc model for £99.
Wasn’t Home windows 10 the final ever model of Home windows?
That’s what Microsoft mentioned when it introduced Home windows 10, sure. However apparently it modified its thoughts about that. The corporate might have rolled out these modifications in a Home windows 10 replace, however it selected to not refer again to this assertion in the course of the launch occasion and is perhaps hoping its prospects have brief recollections.
Apparently, Microsoft did ultimately reference this at its April 2022 hybrid work occasion. Nonetheless, the corporate described the pandemic as the important thing driver of this transformation in technique, including that “how, when and the place we work essentially modified in a single day”.
However after spending just a few months with Home windows 11, it’s clear not a lot has actually modified beneath the floor.
Will my present PC or laptop computer run Home windows 11?
The minimal {hardware} necessities for Home windows 11 are as follows:
- 1GHz dual-core processor
- 4GB RAM
- 64GB of storage
- UEFI, Safe Boot succesful
- Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0
- Graphics card suitable with DirectX 12
- Show bigger than 9in with 720p or greater decision
- Microsoft account + web connection
Unsure in case your gadget is suitable? Microsoft has a free ‘PC Well being Test’ app, designed that can assist you do exactly that. It’s obtainable to obtain from the underside of the fundamental Home windows 11 web page.
That storage requirement is perhaps SSD-only from 2023, if information storage analysts Trendfocus (through Tom’s {Hardware}) are to be believed. Nonetheless, current Home windows 11 units utilizing HDDs or eMMC storage aren’t anticipated to be affected.
For extra data, try our separate information: Will my PC run Home windows 11?
Microsoft doesn’t encourage it, however there may be nonetheless a technique to set up Home windows 11 on unsupported PCs. Certainly, you’ll most likely see messages inside Settings and on the desktop warning you that your gadget isn’t suitable. It doesn’t appear to have an effect on efficiency and app compatibility, although.
For any subsequent Home windows 11 updates, no modifications to gadget compatibility are anticipated.
Home windows 11 trailer
If in case you have a spare couple of minutes, it’s price watching this official introduction video to get a way of what Home windows 11 is all about:
What new options does Home windows 11 have?
There are too many to enter a lot of element right here, however listed here are the primary ones it’s essential learn about.
First, there’s a big visible overhaul. Home windows 10 has maintained the same feel and appear all through its lifespan, however that’s all modified with Home windows 11.
A brand new taskbar strikes icons to the centre, though this could simply be reverted to a extra conventional structure. What can’t be modified is a number of the performance Microsoft eliminated in comparison with the Home windows 10 model, however Microsoft is slowly including again most of those options.
The brand-new Begin Menu isn’t notably missing, though its brand-new design definitely isn’t for everybody. In reality, this aesthetic is much like what Microsoft teased for the now-cancelled Home windows 10X. Right here’s what it seems to be like with darkish mode enabled:
It includes a grid of customisable ‘Pinned’ icons, with separate ‘All apps’ part for every little thing else you will have put in. The ‘Really useful’ heading beneath shows just lately used information, apps and folders – together with from cloud companies corresponding to OneDrive and Microsoft 365 – enabling you to rapidly choose up the place you left off, even when you final used a distinct gadget.
Nonetheless, many individuals have been disillusioned by this, particularly the shortage of customisation capability. Nonetheless, Microsoft has since added the flexibility to decide on the break up between Pinned and Really useful sections. The official screenshots beneath provide you with an concept the way it seems to be:
One new function that has gone down properly is the brand new Snap Layouts multitasking performance. Hovering over the maximise button permits you to select the association of apps on the display, as you possibly can see beneath.
Widgets haven’t been a serious function of current variations of Home windows, however that’s modified now. The panel slides in from the left, however will be customised to fill the entire display when you’d want. It’s designed for fast glances at vital data with out distracting you from what you have been doing earlier than you opened it.
Widgets for the climate and shares are additionally constructed into the taskbar, however these can now be used to set off notifications on the taskbar. As The Verge reviews, the static icons will now get replaced with dwell animations. Which means you’ll get a extra apparent alert that there’s a thunderstorm or your favorite shares are buying and selling downwards for instance. This may very well be distracting for some individuals, however there’s no apparent technique to flip it off because it stands. Microsoft explains extra about Widgets in a assist article.
Elsewhere, Microsoft Groups’ chat perform is now immediately built-in into Home windows 11, with future updates permitting you to share home windows and toggle mute immediately from the taskbar:
The Groups integration extends to the Edge browser, which means particular person tabs now present up inside Process Supervisor. Edge tabs on the taskbar will even embody the positioning, icon and matter title, though that is changed by a generic icon throughout personal searching classes.
Many inventory apps have been redesigned, together with File Explorer and the Microsoft Retailer. The latter consists of Android app assist through the Amazon Appstore, however you can too use the Epic Video games Retailer when you’d want. There’s no indication the Google Play Retailer will probably be added to Home windows 11, however
a workaround permits you to do exactly that.
If you happen to’d relatively follow official companies, Google can also be engaged on a devoted Play Retailer Video games app. That is anticipated to be suitable with Home windows 11 and Home windows 10 and launched someday earlier than the top of 2022.
Home windows 11 additionally has a brand new Motion Middle, splitting Fast Settings, Notifications and a music controller into separate sections. Its design is impressed by Home windows 10X, making it simple to navigate utilizing touchpad, mouse, pen or finger.
Loads of inventory apps have additionally been redesigned to be extra consistent with Home windows 11’s new design. They embody Calculator, Clock, Notepad, Media Participant and File Explorer, with the latter proven beneath:
Home windows 11 is only one a part of Microsoft’s prioritisation of accessibility. The Floor Adaptive Equipment makes any laptop computer simpler to make use of, whereas the brand new Adaptive Equipment assist people who find themselves unable to make use of a standard mouse and keyboard. Mixed, these instruments could make a giant distinction.
The Microsoft Groups integration has obtained combined evaluations, however it additionally applies to the Edge browser. It means particular person tabs now present up inside Process Supervisor, with GPU and crash reviews proven too. Tabs on the taskbar will even embody the positioning, icon and matter title, though that is changed by a generic icon throughout personal searching classes.
Within the Process Supervisor, variations obtainable since February 2022 assist an ‘Eco mode’. This can be utilized to allocate extra assets to particular apps by setting the precedence of others to ‘low’. This stops resource-intensive apps from consuming an excessive amount of of the CPU or GPU energy, which ought to assist enhance efficiency and battery life.
Elsewhere, Home windows 11’s Dynamic Refresh Charge function is now obtainable. On suitable units, this enables panels above 60Hz to mechanically modify their refresh charge relying on what you’re doing. It prevents energy from being wasted unnecessarily.
Microsoft made it a lot tougher to alter the default browser when it launched Home windows 11, however the firm principally reversed that call in March 2022. Beginning with model KB50011563, there’ll be an choice inside Settings to set a browser as your default for HTTP, HTTPS, .HTML and .HTM information. Nonetheless, you’ll nonetheless want to alter the place PDFs open individually.
The primary vital replace for Home windows 11 arrived in February 2022, including a number of new options. They embody redesigned Notepad and Media Participant apps, new taskbar performance and a public preview of native Android app assist. Nonetheless, the latter requires a minimum of 8GB of RAM and an SSD – that’s stricter than Home windows 11 itself.
Then, in September 2022, Microsoft formally launched Home windows 11’s greatest replace to this point. Recognized merely because the ‘2022 Replace’, it provides new performance to the Begin menu, Widgets panel and the taskbar. There’s additionally a brand new Dwell Captions accessibility function, higher multitasking through Snap Layouts and new touchscreen gestures. However there are loads extra options that it’s price being conscious of – be taught extra in our full information to the 2022 Replace.
In October 2022, much more new options have been added. The long-awaited introduction of tabs in File Explorer was the spotlight, however there are additionally enhancements to the taskbar and new ‘Prompt Actions’ whenever you spotlight related textual content.
On the whole, Home windows and Apple units don’t play properly collectively, however Microsoft is taking steps to enhance it. In November 2022, the corporate confirmed that Home windows 11’s Pictures app will supply direct integration with iCloud Pictures – which means all the pictures out of your iPhone are simply accessible.
Microsoft
It now seems to be like Home windows 11 will probably be getting a 23H2 function replace in late 2023 – it beforehand wasn’t clear. However Zac Bowden at Home windows Central says 23H2 “gained’t be a serious platform launch, with Microsoft shifting to ‘Second’ updates a number of occasions a yr.
Bowden believes we’ll see Second 2 in February/March, Second 3 in Might/June and Second 4 (23H2) in September/October.
When it comes to new options, the next are all anticipated in Second 2:
- Pill-mode Taskbar
- System Tray updates
- Extra search bar choices
- Power suggestions in Settings
- Search in Process Supervisor
- Full-screen widgets panel
- Studio Results in Fast Settings
- Voice Entry enhancements
Second 3 and past is much less clear as of December 2022, however Bowden expects modifications to the Home windows Search UI and additional updates to inventory apps and applications. We’ll additionally most likely see new designs for many dialog packing containers and pop-ups to carry them in keeping with the remainder of Home windows 11.
Wanting additional forward, Home windows 12 could also be launched as quickly as 2024.
We mentioned Home windows 11 at launch on episode 86 of Quick Cost, our weekly podcast:
Tech Advisor’s information to Home windows 11
We have now loads of Home windows 11 protection on the positioning, answering all the important thing questions on Microsoft’s new working system.
The fundamentals
Tutorials
Information
- Why you won’t be capable to set up Home windows 11’s 22H2 replace proper now
- Home windows 11 provides tabs to the File Explorer
- Don’t set up Home windows 11’s 22H2 replace if in case you have an Nvidia GPU
- No, your Home windows gadget most likely doesn’t have a virus
- Home windows 11’s newest replace fixes a critical efficiency bug
- Home windows 11’s July safety replace breaks the Begin menu
- Microsoft releases emergency safety updates for Home windows 10 and 11
- Home windows updates can break Wi-Fi, however you need to nonetheless set up them
- Microsoft’s newest Home windows patches repair a serious safety flaw
- A yr after it was introduced, Home windows 11 adoption stays sluggish
- Home windows 11 is on the market on unsupported PCs, however you shouldn’t obtain it
- Home windows 11’s newest replace is inflicting but extra points
- Home windows 11’s newest bug is stopping updates from putting in
- Microsoft reveals a bunch of latest options coming to Home windows 11
- Home windows 11’s subsequent replace reduces Blue Display screen of Loss of life crashes
- Home windows 11 set for brand new Search expertise and File Explorer tabs
- Home windows 11’s newest replace hides the Begin menu, however it’s not a bug
- Home windows 11 is now put in on nearly 20% of all Home windows units
- Home windows 11’s Android apps want a minimum of 8GB RAM and an SSD
- Microsoft is testing much more new Home windows 11 options
- Home windows 11’s first large replace brings Android apps to everybody
- Home windows 11’s February replace is already inflicting points
- Home windows 11 will increase market share by 3.5% in only a month
- Home windows 11 set for brand new pill performance and wallpaper stickers
- Microsoft is altering its strategy to new Home windows 11 options
- Microsoft releases replace to repair Home windows 11 and 10 VPN points
- A key Home windows 11 safety function is inflicting AMD efficiency points
- Home windows now has 1.4 billion customers, however what number of are on Home windows 11?
- Google Play Retailer video games are coming to Home windows in 2022
- Defective Intel audio drivers are inflicting Home windows 11 to crash
- Home windows 11’s native Android app assist is now obtainable to strive
- Microsoft releases patch for AMD-related Home windows 11 efficiency points
- Microsoft is shifting Home windows 11 to annual function updates
- Home windows 11 is right here, however not a lot has actually modified
- Why Home windows 11 feels an excessive amount of like a Home windows 10 function replace
- Why Home windows 11 is quicker than Home windows 10, in response to Microsoft
- Home windows 11 arrives on 5 October, however with out Android app assist
- Home windows 11’s new strategy to the Microsoft Retailer has one main drawback
- Home windows 11 options you might have missed
- Home windows 10 options lacking in Home windows 11
- Home windows 11 will ship working darkish mode by default
- Home windows 11 is on the market in seven totally different variations
- Home windows 11’s new Microsoft Retailer has made a promising begin
- Home windows 11 Residence doesn’t work and not using a Microsoft account
- One UI Watch, Snapdragon 888+ & Android on Home windows 11 | Quick Cost ep. 72
- Why Home windows 11 feels an excessive amount of like a Home windows 10 function replace
Look out for lots extra Home windows 11 protection like this over within the coming weeks and months.
