Windows 11: Everything you need to know

At the beginning of 2021, the likelihood of Microsoft releasing a successor to Windows 10 anytime soon seemed extremely low. That remained the case until late May, when CEO Satya Nadella began openly discussing "the next generation of Windows".

As soon as Microsoft announced that it would hold an event on 24 June, speculation surrounding 'Windows 11' went into overdrive. There was a leak of an early build ahead of the official reveal, but Microsoft still had some surprises in store. 

A few days later, early builds became available to members of the Windows Insider Program, before Microsoft finally confirmed an official release date - 5 October 2021.

An official blog post from the company explains that not all eligible devices will receive the update immediately. Microsoft encourages people to get Windows 11 on compatible hardware right now, but there is an easier way. 

New Surface hardware will be available at the same time as Windows 11. Surface Pro 8, Surface Laptop Studio, Surface Go 3 and Surface Pro X (2021) are the first Microsoft devices to come with Windows 11 out of the box, although you'll have to wait a little longer outside the US.

What's Windows 11 like?

Microsoft has kept the same basic layout (although with a significant redesign) to avoid upsetting millions (as it eventually did with Windows 8). Additionally, you'll see rounded corners everywhere you look and a new, centrally located Start Menu, although you can move it back to the side if you'd prefer.

There's a new widgets panel which can show the weather, stocks, news and other things - seemingly replacing the old Start Menu's live tiles - and improved grouping and snapping of open Windows so you can focus more easily on what you're trying to do.

Windows 11 on tablets is much improved thanks to the introduction of gestures and a new on-screen keyboard that much more similar to the one on your phone. You can even install and use Android apps, via the Amazon Appstore, but that isn't available at launch.

But while there are lots of visual changes, Windows 11 should be an easy transition from Windows 10 for most people.

When is Windows 11 coming out?

• Free upgrade for Windows 10 PCs between now and mid-2022
  
• Insider Preview Builds and ISO files can be downloaded now
• As Microsoft confirmed a month earlier, Windows 11 was officially released on 5 October 2021.

However, really the date that OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) can begin to release Windows 11 hardware. The blog post states that 'in-market devices' which are eligible for the upgrade will be offered it later as part of a phased and measured approach. 

In an official post, the Windows Twitter account appeared to confirm that Windows 10 users be waiting until 2022 for the free upgrade:

Windows 11 is due out later in 2021 and will be delivered over several months. The rollout of the upgrade to Windows 10 devices already in use today will begin in 2022 through the first half of that year.

— Windows (@Windows) June 25, 2021

You don't need to wait that long, though. If you're happy to install it manually, a final version is available to download from the Microsoft website. Learn more in our separate guide - how to download Windows 11 now. This ISO file is also how you can install it using a USB.

How much will Windows 11 cost?

• Free for eligible PCs
• New hardware pricing dependent on manufacturer

This is of course one of the biggest questions, but the good news is that it will be free for eligible PCs. However, Microsoft has updated the hardware requirements, so it's not as simple as all Windows 10 devices getting Windows 11.

Naturally, upgrading from Windows 10 won’t be the only way to get Windows 11. Once it launches, new laptops and PCs will be running the operating system out of the box, negating the need to buy a license separately. It's impossible to say how each company will price their hardware, but expect it to be similar to the equivalent Windows 10 devices:

• Windows 10 Home - £119.99/$139
  
• Windows 10 Pro - £219.99/$199.99

Wasn't Windows 10 the 'last ever' version of Windows?

That's what Microsoft said when it announced Windows 10, yes. But apparently it changed its mind about that. The company could have rolled out these changes in a Windows 10 update, but it chose not to refer back to this statement during the launch event and might be hoping its customers have short memories.

Indeed, after spending a few weeks with Windows 11, it's clear not much has really changed.

Will my current PC / laptop run Windows 11?

Microsoft has published a list of minimum hardware requirements:

• 1GHz dual-core processor
• 4GB RAM
• 64GB of storage
• UEFI, Secure Boot capable
• Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0
• Graphics card compatible with DirectX 12
• Display larger than 9in with 720p or higher resolution
• Microsoft account + internet connection

Not sure if your device is compatible? Microsoft has released an updated version of its 'PC Health Check' app, designed to help you do just that. It's available to download from the bottom of the main Windows 11 page.

For more information, check out our separate guide: Will my PC run Windows 11?

Microsoft doesn't encourage it, but there is still a way to install Windows 11 on unsupported PCs.

Windows 11 trailers

Here are two Windows 11 trailers worth watching. Here is the 24 June official video:

On 9 September, a shorter advert-style trailer will be available. A shortened version has already been broadcast on television:

What's new in Windows 11?

Here are the main ones you need to know about, as there are too many to mention them all.

The visual overhaul is the first one. Throughout its lifespan, Windows 10 has maintained a similar look and feel, but Windows 11 is about to change that.

New taskbars move icons to the center, although they can be easily reverted to a more traditional layout. Although some of the functionality Microsoft removed from Windows 10 can't be changed, the company is taking steps to rectify this. The time and date will display across all displays when using two or more displays. It's a small but significant change (currently being tested by Insiders).

As for other features that have been removed, they haven't reappeared. There are still no customisation features available for the Windows 11 taskbar, and it doesn't support drag-and-drop. 

It's where you'll find the new Start Menu, with a similar design to the now-cancelled Windows 10X. Here's the dark-mode version:

There is a grid of customisable 'Pinned' icons, and a separate 'All apps' section for everything else you have installed. In the 'Recommended' heading below, you'll see files, apps, and folders that you have recently used - including from cloud services such as OneDrive and Microsoft 365. This allows you to quickly resume work even if you last used a different device.

Nevertheless, many people have been disappointed by the lack of customisation. A Microsoft blog confirms that the company is testing functionality that will split the Start Menu into Pinned and Recommended sections. For now, the feature is exclusive to Windows Insiders.

The new Snap Layouts multitasking feature is already available. As you can see below, you can arrange apps on the screen by hovering over the maximise button. 

Windows hasn't offered many widgets in recent versions, but that's about to change. The panel slides in from the left, but it can be customized to fill the entire screen if desired. You can quickly glance at important information without being distracted from what you were doing before you opened it.

Teams and chat are integrated into Windows 11:

Team integration is now available in the Edge browser. Individual tabs now appear within Task Manager, as well as GPU and crashpad data. During private browsing sessions, the site, icon, and topic name will also appear on the taskbar.

File Explorer and the Microsoft Store are among the redesigned stock apps. This is due to support for Android apps via the Amazon Appstore, but other third-party app stores will also work. Initially, Epic Games Store will be the other, but there will be plenty more coming soon. Additionally, Google is developing a dedicated Play Store Games app, which will also be compatible with Windows 10.

Likewise, Microsoft's Photos app has been redesigned, as shown in the video below by Panos Panay:

Additionally, Windows 11 comes with a brand-new Action Center, which separates Quick Settings, Notifications, and a music controller. With its design inspired by Windows 10X, it is easy to use with a touchpad, a mouse, a pen or your finger.

The Snipping Tool is also new in Windows 11. Windows 10's Snip & Sketch has been replaced by Snip & Sketch, but it offers a lot more features than the legacy Snipping Tool.

The Calculator app and the Clock app also received a Windows 11 refresh. Focus Sessions are another new feature in this app:

By focusing better and blocking out distractions, this tool aims to help users. Using the Pomodoro technique, you work hard for a fixed amount of time (usually 25 minutes) and then take a five-minute break. The Focus Sessions app integrates with Microsoft's To-Do app as well as Spotify.

Windows 11 also features a new startup sound. Here's a clip:

In addition, you can choose from a range of stunning new wallpapers, and apply your own themes if you wish.

Windows updates are now 40% smaller and are applied in the background, so you won't be interrupted by them. Also, Windows 11 is more efficient, so your laptop will last longer since it uses less power.

In terms of buying a Windows 10 laptop or PC, provided it's compatible with Windows 11, you shouldn't have any concerns. According to GSMArena, Microsoft now offers users the option of installing Windows 11 when they set up their first Windows 10 device.

Upcoming Windows 11 features

Microsoft is moving towards annual feature updates for Windows 11, but several new features are expected long before October 2022. Android app support and third-party app stores are the most well documented. These won't be available to Windows Insider Program members until next year, but they are available now to Windows Insiders. 

A new taskbar feature can be said to accomplish the same thing, according to Windows Latest. Microsoft Teams integration has received mixed reviews, but it will be available soon for Edge as well. Individual tabs now appear in Task Manager, along with GPU and crashpad data. On the taskbar, you will also find the site, icon, and topic name, but during private browsing sessions, this is replaced by a generic icon.

There will also be an Eco mode in the Task Manager soon. As the same article suggests, this will allow specific apps to get more resources by setting the priority of other apps to 'low'. It's expected to be around the start of 2022, so resource-intensive apps won't consume so much CPU or GPU power.

Meanwhile, the eagerly awaited Dynamic Refresh Rate feature appears to be on its way. Intel's latest generic drivers now include the option that allows the display to automatically switch between 60Hz and 120Hz depending on what you're doing, reports Windows Central. The battery can be saved when a high refresh rate isn't needed. Both the Surface Pro 8 and Surface Laptop Studio feature 120Hz displays, so they will benefit from this update.