Starting 5 October, Windows 11 will become available as a free upgrade from Windows 10. The upgrade will be rolling out in phases and the announced Android app-integration will not be available for some time. Furthermore, Microsoft has adjusted the system requirements for Windows 11 a few times. but Windows 11 will not be available for everyone.
Windows 11 will be rolled out in phases, with the newest PCs being the first to qualify for an upgrade. Microsoft expects that by mid-2022, all systems will be able to make use of the free upgrade, unless they opt for a manual reinstallation of their system sooner.
Microsoft also wants to more or less force companies and consumers to upgrade their systems. Windows 11 will only become available for PCs on the market since 2017. A so-called TPM 1.2 chip is required to be eligible for Windows 11. Although Microsoft has indicated that they prefer to see a TPM 2.0 chip. Also, a system must have at least a 64bit dual core processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage capacity.
If a system does not meet the requirements, there are two alternatives. Staying on Windows 10, this operating system is fully supported by Microsoft until 14 October 2025. Another option is to manually install Windows 11, which works in many cases, but the system will no longer receive security updates, which is highly inadvisable.
New computers will also be offered with Windows 11 by the various manufacturers from October onwards.
The idea behind Windows 11 is that the operating system is better suited for hybrid work. Microsoft Teams, the tool for faster collaboration via chat, video and file sharing, plays a central role in this. Microsoft also tries to breathe new life into the Windows Store by making it more attractive for developers and publishers to develop apps for Windows. Only time will tell to what extent Microsoft’s plan will succeed.
If you want to know more about Windows 11, read our preview.