If your existing Windows 10 PC is running Windows 10 20H1 or later and meets the minimum hardware specificationsit will be able to upgrade to Windows 11. The upgrade rollout plan is still being finalized, but for most devices already in use today, we expect it to be ready sometime in early 2022. Not all Windows 10 PCs that are eligible to upgrade will be offered to upgrade at the same time.
To see if your PC is eligible to upgrade, refer to our knowledge base for a list of tested systems. Once the upgrade rollout has started, you can check if it is ready for your device by going to Settings/Windows Updates. Similar to how end users are notified when updates are available in Windows 10, end users will see an indication in the notification areas of the taskbar in the bottom right, that the upgrade is available. More information on how that is presented will be available at a later date.
Additional desktop notification options may be also be added at a later date. If your existing Windows 10 PC is running Windows 10 20H1 or later and meets the minimum hardware specifications it will be able to upgrade to Windows 11. To see if your PC is eligible to upgrade, refer to the specifications here.
People that I know still install windows emulator in their Apple laptop to do serious work. This issue may cause some Windows users to consider switching to Apple but for big corporations with thousands of pc running windows, a realistic choice is still to upgrade to a newer windows laptops. If your existing Windows 10 PC is running the most current version of Windows 10 and meets the minimum hardware specifications it will be able to upgrade to Windows 11. Not all Windows 10 PCs that are eligible to upgrade to Windows 11 will be offered to upgrade at the same time. Aside from the potential for updated specs (which is worth considering whenever you're buying a new PC), the only advantage of waiting is that the new device will come with Windows 11 pre-installed.
That'll save a bit of time when compared to the free upgrade, but you'll still have to go through the full setup process. All eligible devices can be updated to Windows 11 without losing existing apps, files and settings, although a full backup is still highly recommended. The official, release version of Windows 11 is now available as a free upgrade to anyone who has Windows 10 and a PC that meets Microsoft's minimum hardware requirements. However, the Redmond software giant isn't pushing the upgrade to every eligible system at once. Some users will be offered the option to upgrade in their Settings menu on or around the October 5th official launch date while others may be waiting until 2022. For those who wish to install the system on a current computer, the Windows 11 upgrade is free—for now at least.
(Windows 10 was free, too, for the first year.) You just need to make sure your PC meets the minimum system requirements. Microsoft has released a small app called PC Help Check to assist with confirming you have what you need. If everything checks out, it's simply a matter of launching Windows Update, clicking "Check for updates," then following the installation prompts. KMak, every time Apple releases a new version of a device, they update the hardware requirements for its OS, and they make older versions obsolete after a few years .
As for whether someone running Windows 10 should upgrade to Windows 11, it depends on what they want from their OS. Microsoft will provide Windows 10 with updates, bug fixes and security patches through 2025, so there's no pressing need to spend a ton of money to buy a new PC to update to Windows 11. However, the refreshed look and the additional features make it an enticing proposition. In the end, people with a compatible PC should update to Windows 11 because of all the goodies it offers. However, those with older and unsupported devices need not despair because Windows 10 is still plenty good for years to come.
It's not imperative that you upgrade your system to Windows in the next couple of weeks, or even months. For many people, that's about the time to upgrade to a newer device, one that will come with Windows 11 already installed. Windows 11 is now available as a free upgrade for computers already running Windows 10 that meet the minimum system requirements, and it is also available pre-installed on many branded devices. However, the rollout will be phased and controlled to provide a good upgrade experience, which means that it'll take months before the new version reaches every device. If the Microsoft Surface family of products isn't your style though, other brands like Dell, Asus and HP have all released pages online that specify what devices are Windows 11 ready. Note that many won't come with the new operating system installed, but as they all meet the minimum system requirements, you can simply buy the laptop or 2-in-1 as normal and then update it yourself.
Windows 11 is here, though it remains an optional upgrade for anyone on existing desktops and laptops that are eligible for it. New PCs will increasingly begin shipping with Windows 11 pre-installed, so adoption rates will gradually rise in 2022 and beyond. Dell, on the other hand, has not revealed the list of devices that are compatible with Windows 11, but has said that most of its current range of laptops will get updated to Windows 11.
"Customers can continue buying PC's from Dell today with confidence. All Windows-based Dell PCs on Dell.com meet the Windows 11 system requirements and will be eligible for a free upgrade after it is available," Dell said. The answer is just keep using Win10, until the hardware doesn't do what you need it to. The lack security updates won't matter to the average home user, as they can already jack up an install still being updated.
There are people still trying to hang on to Macs that don't have or soon won't get valid root certificates for SSL sites. On the Microsoft side it's a bigger issue in the corporate space, but on Mac those computers become useless on the internet without completely switching the OS. MS has at least demonstrated a willingness to issue a post eol patch when something particularly egregious is discovered. The main issue with the approach is that Microsoft does not support this officially.
Most Windows 10 devices that do not meet the minimum system requirements will stay on that version of Windows, but what happens when Windows 10 runs out of support in 2025? Microsoft lists October 14, 2025 as the retirement date for Windows 10 Home and Pro . Some users will certainly replace their devices with new ones, which will likely include Windows 11 or are at least compatible with the new operating system.
The Acer Swift 5 (SF514-55) ultrathin-and-light notebook marries an uber-stylish design with the latest performance technology. Click the link above for more details on the Acer website. You can refer to our knowledge base for a list of tested systems to determine if your device eligible to upgrade to Windows -11. Many PCs that are less than four years old will be able to upgrade to Windows 11. They must be running 20H1 or later version of Windows 10 and meet the minimum hardware requirements to receive the Windows 11 upgrade. Microsoft says that PCs that don't meet the minimum system requirements have 52 percent more crashes than those that do (though with only relative figures to go off, it's not clear just how serious that is).
While not wanting to undermine that message, Microsoft also knows that it has users who will still want to try Windows 11 on older hardware—not least IT administrators with an office full of aging machines. With that in mind, the company told The Verge that users can install Windows 11 on unsupported devices if they want to, although this won't be mentioned in any official way. What's more, Microsoft is being non-committal about how many updates they will provide for Windows 11 on older PCs. While some users have been trying out Windows 11 via the Windows Insider Program Microsoft has been using that data to expand the list of compatible processors. That list was updated recently to include Intel Core X-series, Xeon W-series and Intel Core 7820HQ CPUs. So it's clear that Microsoft is still testing to ensure as many machines as possible work with the new operating system and it's worth keeping an eye on the long list of supported devices.
The most significant visual changes in Windows 11 are the new Start Menu and the centralized Taskbar, much like Chrome OS and macOS. Windows 11 also comes with improvements in multitasking, and there's also better support for external monitors, something that a lot of Windows 10 users clamored for. Microsoft also claims that Windows 11 is better in terms of memory management than any of its prior operating systems. It is also said to be 25-percent faster when waking up from sleep. Windows 11 also includes multiple new features for gamers, such as Auto HDR, which makes games look more vibrant, and Direct Storage that helps graphics cards and SSDs communicate faster.
Most of all, Windows 11 comes with Android app support, which can allow users to run their favorite mobile apps and games right on their PC. The second feature here is DirectStorage that promises to greatly enhance the gaming experience by cutting downloading times of games. This appears to be an extension of the attempts being made by Microsoft with the Xbox Series X/S consoles where it has used clever tricks to greatly improve load times of games.
However, do note that this feature will only be available on select games that support DirectStorage API on a PC with an NVMe SSD and a GPU that supports DirectX12 Ultimate. While it's technically true that Microsoft "requirements" didn't stop me from installing Windows 11 on an unsupported 2019 iMac, their system detection software did slow me down quite a bit. This PC doesn't meet the minimum system requirements for running Windows 11 - these requirements help ensure a more reliable and higher quality experience. Installing Windows 11 on this PC is not recommended and may result in compatibility issues. If you proceed with installing Windows 11, your PC will no longer be supported and won't be entitled to receive updates. Damages to your PC due to lack of compatibility aren't covered under the manufacturer warranty.
Microsoft has said the new OS will include performance improvements, including faster logins with Windows Hello, faster web browsing and faster wake from sleep mode. Windows Hello is a biometrics-based technology that lets Windows 10 users authenticate secure access to their devices, apps and networks with iris scans, facial recognition or fingerprints. The upgrade is free for Windows 10 PCs that are compatible with Windows 11.
Microsoft will release an updated version of its PC Health Check app before the launch so users can see if their PC meets the system requirements to run Windows 11. Unveiled in June, Windows 11 is designed as Microsoft's most advanced operating system for PCs. The new version brings a fresh user interface that includes a centrally aligned Start menu and upgraded fonts as well as notification sounds.
It also integrates Microsoft Teams to let users connect with others over chat, voice, or video calls. Windows 11 also improves multitasking with Snap Layouts and Groups. It also supports multiple desktops and carries a range of accessibility features such as Narrator, Magnifier, Closed Captions, and Windows Speech Recognition. To see if your PC is eligible to upgrade, refer to our supported computer lists.
Microsoft has yet released an official statement regarding the pricing of Windows, or whether it will be a free upgrade like the previous versions were free updates for license holders. However, as per an article by Android Authority, Windows 11 will most likely be a free upgrade for individuals using Windows 10 or Windows 8 with valid licenses. The Windows 11 free upgrade will be installed onto your computer/laptop just like any other Windows update, without any hassle or manual updation required.
The article by Android Authority also states that all of your personal user data and settings will be preserved in the update and will be applied to the Windows 11 update. Windows 11 download will be available once Microsoft released the update publicly. For new users, Windows 11 will seem like a good option with the new design. You get rounded corners, a departure from the sharp edges we've seen in Windows for a long time. The Start Menu is now cleaner, featuring pinned apps and a recommended tab that shows you files based on your recent usage. The desktop more or less stays the same, but the right-click menu gets a simplified look, with the most common options like cut, copy, paste, and rename, at the top in a grid.
Live Tiles in the Start Menu and Microsoft's Cortana voice assistant are also not part of the Windows 11 experience by default, although most people would consider that a positive rather than a negative. Other missing features in Windows 11 include the Math Input Panel, Multi-App Kiosk Mode and the newly launched News & Interests section. However, none of them are so critical that they would prevent users from updating. What can, however, create a massive headache is an upcoming change that would require users to sign-up for a Microsoft account to install Windows 11. While it was already a requirement for Windows 11 Home, users will also need it for Windows 11 Pro.
Windows 11 is a free update for Windows 10 users, although there are stringent system requirements to upgrade to the new OS. While there are ways to circumvent those requirements, Microsoft doesn't take such workarounds lightly and has started warning users who have installed the software on unsupported hardware. The main issue that Windows 10 users will run into in October 2025 is that Microsoft won't create security updates for the operating system anymore. Windows 10 devices will continue to work like before, but there will be security issues that Microsoft won't fix after the last Patch Day on October 14, 2025. Other companies, including 0Patch, may step in and produce some security updates for Windows 10, but the company won't release patches for all issues and some may not be released for free.
If you haven't seen it through Windows Update yet, you can still get the final build through the Beta and Release Preview channels of the Windows Insider Program, as long as you have a compatible PC. The Dev channel is already running rs_prerelease builds to test out new features, so be careful with that. If you enroll in the Dev channel, you'll have to do a clean installation of Windows 11 to roll back.
And of course, you can also get it on a bunch of new laptops and desktops like the Surface Laptop Studio and Surface Pro 8. If you have a computer with unsupported hardware, you should not try to upgrade to Windows 11. Although there are workarounds to bypass the TPM 2.0 and other checks, if you manage to install version 21H2, the device will state in an unsupported state.
According to Microsoft, devices are likely to experience more crashes, you won't get the support of any kind, and updates are not guaranteed. Most Windows 10 PCs currently being sold will be able to upgrade to New Windows. For the PC to be able to upgrade to New Windows, it must meet the minimum hardware specifications and specific hardware is required for some features found here. The upgrade rollout plan is still being finalised but is scheduled to begin late in 2021 and continue into 2022. All Dell PCs with Windows 10 currently being sold on dell.com will be able to upgrade to Windows 11.
For the PC to be able to upgrade to Windows 11, it must meet the minimum hardware specifications and specific hardware is required for some features. The upgrade rollout plan is still being finalized but is scheduled to begin late in 2021 and continue into 2022. There is a way to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, but we wouldn't recommend it.
Although Microsoft hasn't confirmed it, the company has heavily implied that unsupported users won't receive critical security updates. If you still want to install, you can do so using the Media Creation Tool, which bypasses hardware checks. Microsoft has also said that Windows updates -- which will run in the background -- will be 40% smaller, so they'll take less time to download and install. The new operating system will help users extend battery life on their laptops. All HUAWEI PCs with Windows 10 currently being sold on HUAWEI Consumer BG website will be able to upgrade to Windows 11. Wonder why some laptops with 1TB storage cost less while others with only 256GB storage cost more?
Modern-day laptops are making the transition to SSD storage to aid faster loading of apps and quicker boot speeds. Since the tech is costly, you end up getting much lesser capacity though. HDD storage is slower in comparison by is cheaper and hence, offers more capacity. If you seek more storage, check for models having an SSHD storage, wherein you get the larger storage space without compromising much on bootup speeds. Tech enthusiasts have been waiting for a long time for the Windows 11 update.
