Microsoft announced the official release date for Windows 11 on October 5, 2021. According to the
Today we are thrilled to announce that Windows 11 will begin shipping on October 5, 2021. On this day, the free upgrade to Windows 11 will begin rolling out on eligible Windows 10 PCs, and on PCs preloaded with Windows 11 starting to be available for 'purchase.
The announcement clarifies a few things for users looking to upgrade to Windows 11.
Windows 10 users will be able to upgrade to Windows 11 for free.
Laptops and desktops that come with Windows 11 pre-installed will be available by the release date.
Users with brand new PCs and no operating systems installed on them will be able to purchase a new license for Windows 11
Slow implementation
As with feature updates for Windows 10, Windows 11 will roll out slowly to Windows 10 users who want to upgrade to the operating system. What this means is;
Windows 11 will be available to a subsection of all Windows 10 users starting October 5, 2021.
Within a month or two, the rollout will expand and Windows 11 will be offered as a free upgrade to multiple Windows 10 users via the Windows Update.
Windows 11 will be completed by June / July 2022.
How to upgrade to Windows 11 from Windows 10
Once Windows 11 is generally available to all users, Windows 10 users will be able to upgrade to Windows 11 via Windows Update.
- Open the Settings app with the Win + I keyboard shortcut.
- Go to Update and Security.
- Select Windows Update.
- Click Check for Updates.
- Download the Windows 11 update and install it.
Windows 11 Media Creation Tool
Microsoft has not disclosed whether or not a media creation tool will be available for Windows 11. It will likely release a tool similar to the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool shortly after Windows 11 is made available so that users can install the fresh OS if they want it.
Check the suitability of your PC
Windows 11 will be available for eligible devices. In general, if you have TPM 2.0 or later and UEFI / Secure Boot, your laptop is likely to be eligible for the upgrade. To determine other hardware requirements, you can check the requirements released by Microsoft. You can also try using the app to see why your device might not be eligible.
Make sure you have at least 20GB of free space on your Windows drive before you download and install the update.
