After years of Windows 10, here’s how to get Microsoft’s free Windows 11 upgrade. And here’s how to get the most out of Windows 11.
What is Windows 11?
Windows 11 is the most recent version of Microsoft’s best operating system. It was released following Windows 10, which was the previous version.
The Start menu and Taskbar have undergone significant changes in Windows 11. The Settings app has also undergone significant changes, with the addition of a Widgets pane that displays news as well as reminders.
Windows 11 is a major feature update featuring the much-touted Sun Valley refresh of the Windows user interface as well as a revamp of core Windows apps that fall under the Windows Inbox app category, such as the new Media Player that can play videos, Calculator, the Snipping Tool, and Mail & Calendar.
There are numerous changes under the hood, such as:
The return of the well-known “Blue Screen of Death” error message (for a brief period, Microsoft was playing with making it black, for some reason).
In October, Microsoft released Windows 11 available to the general public. Now, the company is installing it on more PCs that meet the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11. So what are the hardware requirements for Windows 11?
Microsoft’s contentious minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11 are another trouble source. So, while Windows 11 is a free upgrade for Windows 10 users, it will not be available to all Windows 10 users.
To Be able to upgrade, your device must be running Windows 10 version 2004 or later.
You’ll need a computer that runs at 1 GHz or faster and has two or more cores on a 64-bit processor. You’ll need at least 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM. It must support UEFI, Secure Boot, and Trusted Platform Module 2.0.
System requirements for Snap, Windows Hello, and other new features require 1920 effective pixels or more screens to work. There are also additional system requirements for various new features, such as Snap’s three-column layout and Windows Hello’s biometric authentication. In addition, more than half of Windows 11 users will be eligible to upgrade.
Most Windows 10 users will be unable to upgrade quickly unless they are willing to forego their warranty.
New hardware requirements include Intel and Arm CPUs, at least 4GB of memory, 64GB of storage, and TPM version 2.0. Microsoft has not stated when the free upgrade offer will expire.
Microsoft’s minimum hardware requirements apply to virtual machine platforms such as Microsoft HyperV, VMware, and Oracle VM VirtualBox. However, TPM 2.0 may be difficult to implement in the enterprise because it is enabled on less than 1% of virtual machines.
Microsoft advises users to look for PC markings indicating eligibility for the free Windows 11 upgrade.
“We’re also working alongside our retail partners to make that Windows 10 PCs you buy today are ready for the upgrade to Windows 11,” the company said.
How Do I get Windows 11?
Microsoft has not stated when Windows 11 will be available on all Windows 10 PCs capable of running it. It has, however, released the PC Health Check app available so that users can determine for themselves whether their hardware is up to par.
You can use the PC Health Check app to see if your current computer meets the requirements for Windows 11. If it does, you will receive a free upgrade when Windows 11 is released.
So, here is how to get windows 11 the Easiest step by step.
- On a Windows PC, you can also go to Settings > Updates & Security > Windows Updates, click the Start button, and then Settings > Check for Windows Updates.
- We only know that Microsoft is pleased with the rollout so far, at least for Windows 10 users with hardware that meets the minimum requirements.
“In the first phases of the Windows 11 rollout, we consistently see a high rate of positive update experiences and user feedback for eligible devices that our latest generation machine-learning model has identified,” Microsoft said earlier this month.
Windows has always been released gradually in the past.
However, this could take several months for Windows 11.
According to Microsoft, this process will “likely continue into 2022,” with newer PCs receiving the upgrade first. However, when it is on your PC depends on several factors.
Windows Insider Program members will soon be able to upgrade to Windows 11. Microsoft will use Windows Update to notify Windows 10 users when their devices are eligible. It will also include a preview version of Windows for administrators and users.
Its preview versions for the Dev channel are not tied to a specific version of Windows 11. They are there for testing, but Microsoft makes no promises about when features will be released.
How Do I Gain access to the Windows 11 Preview?
If you still want to try out the latest Windows 11 preview features on a test device, you can join the Windows Insider Program, which Microsoft describes as “a community of millions of Windows’ biggest fans who get to see what’s next.”
Testers can provide feedback to Microsoft’s project engineers. For example, to install Windows Insider Preview Builds, you must be running a licensed version of Windows on your device.
Sign in to Azure Active Directory using your Microsoft account or work account to register. Then you can “start flighting,” which is Microsoft’s term for running Windows Insider Preview Builds on a device.
According to Microsoft, if you install an Insider Preview build in one channel and then want to switch to another, you may need to reinstall Windows and reset your Windows Insider settings on that device. This is one sign that previews are only for test machines and technical people.
Would it be wise to install Windows 11 on your computer yet?
Every major update to an operating system contains bugs. Apple frequently encounters issues with iOS and macOS updates. As a result, companies have the opportunity to fix bugs discovered by users as more users use the most recent version.
Windows 11 is the same as the rest. Microsoft believes the update is going well for most users with eligible hardware.
Still, it has put a compatibility hold on releasing Windows 11 for devices with certain versions of hardware drivers for Intel Smart Sound Technology (Intel SST), causing a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error.
What’s The Big Deal About Taskbar Widgets?
Consumer features based on the Mac, widgets for the Taskbar, an easier way to switch between virtual desktops, pen haptics for sketching, and snapping gestures are among the most significant new Windows 11.
Now that Microsoft has decided to remove Windows 8’s Live Tiles, which were its response to Apple’s iPad design, the improved widgets are the main draw. The Windows 10 Timeline feature has also been removed. Also gone is the desktop wallpaper that could be used on any device.
Some apps, such as Windows 3D Viewer, OneNote for Windows 10, Paint 3D, and Skype, will not be pre-installed; however, in Windows 11, the Skype button has been replaced by a chat button for Microsoft Teams.
What are Snap Layouts and Snap Groups in Windows 11?
According to ZDNet’s sister site CNET, Snap Layouts should make switching between apps and windows easier.
For example, people can organize apps and websites into groups, which they can then open from the Taskbar instead of minimizing and maximizing windows. Browsers like Google Chrome, which group tabs together, follow this trend.
Snap Groups are for people who dock their computer to a monitor and have issues with how apps are laid out after disconnect. It prevents them from having to reposition apps after they undock.
Conclusion
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