Windows 11 has been officially released, the new operating system has started its implementation on compatible devices today, 5 October, even if the rollout will be gradual and will affect all supported PCs by the first months of 2022. In this guide we will explain how to install windows 11 and start taking advantage of all the new features of the operating system.
Microsoft has officially started the release of Windows 11 for all compatible devices, but as anticipated the update will not immediately affect all PCs. The implementation of the new operating system will be slow and gradual, to allow the company to fix any new bugs and ensure a perfect user experience with Windows 11.
The minimum hardware requirements of Windows 11
To install Windows 11, your PC must meet these minimum requirements:
- Processor: 64-bit, at least 1GHz, with at least two cores and belonging to the list of compatible processors;
- RAM: at least 4GB;
- Archiving: at least 64GB of available space;
- Graphic card: compatible with DirectX 12 or later, with a WDDM 2.0 driver;
- firmware: UEFI compatible with Secure Boot;
- TPM 2.0 (here you can find compatible motherboards and some tips on how to activate the functionality from the BIOS);
- Display: at least 720p, 9 ”or higher, with 8 bits per color channel;
You can check if your PC meets the Windows 11 requirements using the tool PC Health Check following these steps. This, recently revamped by Microsoft, allows you to find out if the device is fully compatible or which components or settings are not right for the new operating system. If you have a recent PC and receive an error message, the issue is most likely related to the requirement TPM 2.0 activated by the BIOS of your motherboard.
How to install Windows 11
Once you have ensured that your PC meets the hardware requirements, you can install Windows 11 following two ways:
- You can wait for the official update for your device to arrive via Settings> Update and security> Windows Update. The rollout has officially begun, but will affect gradually selected devices, and then cover all compatible ones by the first half of 2022.
The Microsoft website reads "The update implementation plan is being finalized but, for most of the devices already in use, it should be ready at the beginning of 2022. Not all Windows 10 PCs eligible for Windows 11 may be updated at the same time. "
- With a little effort you can proceed to install Windows 11 manually now. This option is also available for PCs that do not fully meet the requirements of the new operating system, but it must be borne in mind that in this case Microsoft does not guarantee the receipt of automatic updates and especially the security ones. Basically you may have to install a new ISO every time.
Install Windows 11 from Microsoft's official site
Microsoft has created a new page dedicated to Windows 11 on its site where you can proceed to download the new operating system. There are three options available to the user:
- Use theWindows 11 Installation Assistant. Just click on “Download now” and follow the instructions displayed on the screen to update a PC currently in use;
- You can use the option “Creating Windows 11 installation media”. By clicking on "Download Now" you can get the MediaCreationTool tool that allows you to perform a reinstall or clean installation of Windows 11 on a PC. This option allows you to create a USB or DVD media for installing the new operating system;
- The last option, on the other hand, allows you to download a Windows 11 ISO, which you can use to create a USB or DVD installation media, or to boot a virtual machine running Windows 11.
Windows 11 Installation Assistant
This option is for those who want to upgrade a Windows 10 PC to Windows 11. You must have a Windows 10 version 2004 or later license and the PC must meet the requirements of Windows 11.
Once the Assistant has been downloaded, you need to:
- Select Run as administrator;
- Wait for the requirements to be checked and press "Accept and Install";
- Restart the device when the appropriate option is offered via "Restart now" to complete the installation;
- Wait for the end of installation.
Install Windows 11 using the media creation tool
Once you have downloaded the tool, you need to run it as an administrator, then:
- Accept the license terms;
- Choose the operation to carry out by selecting "Create installation media for another PC";
- Select the language, edition and architecture for Windows 11 and then the media you will use: you can select a flash drive, that is USB, if you have a USB with at least 8GB of free space, Or the file ISO if you want to download the image to your PC and then create a DVD with Windows 11;
- Go to Windows Update and choose "Check for updates";
- Connect the USB flash drive or DVD to the PC where you want to install the new operating system and reboot it via the newly created media. You may need to go into the BIOS and select the right device to boot your PC;
- Proceed toclean installation of Windows 11 - then deleting the files that already exist on the disk where the operating system is installed - following the instructions displayed on the screen.
If you choose the option instead "Downloading the Windows 11 Disc Image (ISO)" from Microsoft's site, you will get an ISO image of the new operating system. You can mount the image on a virtual machine, burn it to a disc, or mount it directly on the PC where you intend to perform the actual installation of Windows 11.
Once the update is complete, you can finally explore Windows 11, Microsoft's next operating system completely redesigned and packed with new features. You can venture into the new Start menu and taskbar placed in the center - after years of left alignment - the new browse files and the new windows much more modern, with rounded corners and a design more consistent with the rest of the operating system. In addition to widgets, the new window positioning system and the redesigned notification center separate from the quick settings. The news is certainly not lacking!
