Windows 11 is Releasing on October 5 as a Free Upgrade

Microsoft has announced that it will release the highly anticipated Windows 11 on October 5 as a free upgrade to eligible Windows 10 PCs and PCs that come pre-loaded with Windows 11 will start to become available for purchase as well.

Windows 11 introduces several changes over its predecessor, Windows 10. The new version of Windows comes with an entirely redesigned Start Menu, an updated UI and a brand new Microsoft Store app. Windows 11 also brings several gaming related features to the new OS, including Auto HDR and Direct Storage.

Windows 11 is Releasing on October 5 as a Free Upgrade

Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 11 will be available starting October 5 as a free update to eligible Windows 10 PCs. However, the free upgrade to Windows 11 will be rolled out in a phased and measured approach with a focus on quality to provide the best experience possible.

Microsoft says Windows 11 will be rolled out as a free upgrade to new eligible devices during the first phase while other devices will get the update over time based on intelligence models that consider hardware eligibility, reliability metrics, age of device and other factors that impact the upgrade experience.

According to the company, the free upgrade to Windows 11 will be completed by mid-2022. If you already have a Windows 10 PC that’s eligible for a free upgrade, Windows Update will let you know when it’s available. However, you can also install the update manually by going to Settings > Windows Update and select Check for Updates.

Windows 11 Highlights

The new design and sounds are modern, fresh, clean and beautiful, bringing you a sense of calm and ease.
With Start, we’ve put you and your content at the center. Start utilizes the power of the cloud and Microsoft 365 to show you your recent files no matter what device you were viewing them on.
Snap Layouts, Snap Groups and Desktops provide an even more powerful way to multitask and optimize your screen real estate.
Chat from Microsoft Teams integrated into the taskbar provides a faster way to connect to the people you care about.
Widgets, a new personalized feed powered by AI, provides a faster way to access the information you care about, and with Microsoft Edge’s world class performance, speed and productivity features you can get more done on the web.
Windows 11 delivers the best Windows ever for gaming and unlocks the full potential of your system’s hardware with technology like DirectX12 Ultimate, DirectStorage and Auto HDR. With Xbox Game Pass for PC or Ultimate you get access to over 100 high-quality PC games to play on Windows 11 for one low monthly price. (Xbox Game Pass sold separately.)
Windows 11 comes with a new Microsoft Store rebuilt with an all-new design making it easier to search and discover your favorite apps, games, shows, and movies in one trusted location. We look forward to continuing our journey to bring Android apps to Windows 11 and the Microsoft Store through our collaboration with Amazon and Intel; this will start with a preview for Windows Insiders over the coming months.
Windows 11 is the most inclusively designed version of Windows with new accessibility improvements that were built for and by people with disabilities.
Windows 11 unlocks new opportunities for developers and creators. We are opening the Store to allow more developers and independent software vendors (ISVs) to bring their apps to the Store, improving native and web app development with new developer tools, and making it easier for you to refresh the look and feel across all our app designs and experiences.
Windows 11 is optimized for speed, efficiency and improved experiences with touch, digital pen and voice input.
Windows 11 is the operating system for hybrid work, delivering new experiences that work how you work, are secure by design, and easy and familiar for IT to deploy and manage. Businesses can also test Windows 11 in preview today in Azure Virtual Desktop, or at general availability by experiencing Windows 11 in the new Windows 365.

Windows 11 Requirements

Processor:	1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC)
RAM:	4 gigabyte (GB)
Storage:	64 GB or larger storage deviceNote: See below under “More information on storage space to keep Windows 11 up-to-date” for more details.
System firmware:	UEFI, Secure Boot capable
TPM:	Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0
Graphics card:	Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver
Display:	High definition (720p) display that is greater than 9” diagonally, 8 bits per color channel
Internet connection and Microsoft accounts:	Windows 11 Home edition requires internet connectivity and a Microsoft account to complete device setup on first use.

Like every Windows upgrade, the new Windows 11 will probably have a bunch of bugs and issues upon release so it is suggested that you wait a couple of weeks and let Microsoft fix these issues before updating to the new version of Windows.

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