As with the current OS, Windows 11 will be available for free for qualifying users. One requirement is having Windows 10 already installed and running on your computer. If you are running an older OS, you can still upgrade to Windows 10, so you can get Windows 11 for free when it launches. Tap or click here for instructions on upgrading to Windows 10 for free. Microsoft has been vague about the release date, hinting towards the end of the year. That’s changed as the official release date has been revealed: October 5, 2021. This date comes with a caveat, which we’ll go into below. The tech giant also released more information about the OS itself.
Windows updates
Here are some highlights of what to expect with Windows 11:
System requirements
Your potential Windows 11 rig will have to have the following capabilities at the very least:
4 GB RAM64 GB or larger available storageDirectX 12 compatible graphics card1 GHz or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processorTrusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0UEFI, Secure Boot capable system firmwareTap or click here for more information on Windows 11 compatibility.
If you’re running an old PC and want to upgrade to Windows 11, you may still be able to. Tap or click here for a loophole that may help.
Coming soon – for some
“…New eligible devices will be offered the upgrade first.” This is what Microsoft said in a recent blog post regarding the Windows 11 release date. Some users will get the new OS on Oct. 5, while others will have to wait as the system rolls out to all eligible devices into mid-2022. If you’re using a Windows 10 PC, you’ll get a notification of when it’s eligible for an upgrade. Here are some eligible devices that can upgrade to Windows after the rollout on Oct.5:
Acer Swift 5 (SF514-55) Acer Swift X (SFX14-41G) Asus Zenbook Flip 13 OLED UX363 Asus Zenbook 14 UX425Alienware x15 and Alienware x17Dell XPS 13HP Spectre x360 14 HP ENVY x360 152-in-1 Lenovo Yoga 7 convertible seriesLenovo Yoga Slim 7i Pro seriesSamsung Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360Microsoft Surface Pro 7Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
Get inside Windows 11 now
The Windows Insider Program lets you try out Windows updates and features before being released to the general public. You can also give feedback and communicate with Windows engineers. Click here to register for the Windows Insider Program. You must have Windows 10 installed and have a Microsoft account or a work account in the Azure Active Directory (AAD). You can leave the Windows Insider program at any time by going to insider.windows.com/en-us/leave-program. Before using any beta software, back up your device and files. We recommend our sponsor, IDrive. Kim has negotiated a killer deal for you. Tap or click here to save 50% on 5 TB of cloud backup today with IDrive! That’s less than $40 for your first year.
Keep reading
Pro tip: How to speed up your Windows network connection Tech tip: How to connect an Android phone to a Windows 10 PC
