Windows 11: How And When To Download The Microsoft Operating System

The official boot of updates from Windows 10 to Windows 11 has arrived and you probably have some doubts, for example, you want to know when you will receive the update or at least if you meet the requirements. In this article, we answer your questions about the new Microsoft operating system.

Windows 11, which arrives six years after its predecessor, Windows 10, has generated multiple expectations, especially because you will have the possibility to run Android applications natively or because of the integration with the Microsoft Teams messaging application.

How and when will you be able to get Windows 11?

If you have a computer with the latest version of Windows 10 and it meets the minimum hardware specifications, you will be able to receive Windows 11 at no cost. For this reason, it may be a good opportunity to upgrade your PC to Windows 10 for free.

However, not all eligible computers will receive the updates at the same time, it will be a tiered process. The update started on October 5, 2021, and most devices will have it by early 2022.

To check if you have the latest Windows 10 updates or if you need to verify that your computer is eligible to receive the new operating system, you should go to Settings> Windows Update.

Windows 11 preview

For those who did not want to wait, the possibility of accessing the preview of Windows 11 was opened, available since July 2021. Being the first compilation, the preview does not include all the features announced by Microsoft.

Here are the steps to get access to the preview:

• Step 1: Sign up for the Windows Insider program whose only requirement is to have a Microsoft or Azure account.
• Step 2 : Check if you meet the Windows 11 hardware requirements (see below).
• Step 3: Install the Windows Insider program in Settings> Update & Security> Windows Insider Program . You will need to join the Dev channel to receive the preview.

What are the minimum requirements?

Although Windows 10 computers will get Windows 11 for free, there are some minimum system requirements that your computer must meet.

If you are not sure that your computer meets the requirements, Microsoft released an application that will check if your PC is able to run Windows 11. You can download it from this link.

Will you be able to keep Windows 10 if you don’t meet the requirements?

If your computer does not meet the minimum requirements, it can continue to run smoothly with Windows 10. However, remember that Microsoft will only support this operating system until October 14, 2025 .

What features will you lose with Windows 11?

Although Windows 11 comes with many new features, when you install it you will lose many emblematic features of previous versions of the operating system, among which are:

• Cortana: It will not be included in the initial startup, nor will it be pinned to the taskbar.
• Desktop background: You won’t be able to move it between devices when you sign in with a Microsoft account.
• Internet Explorer: The Internet Explorer browser will be permanently replaced by Microsoft Edge. This will include an IE mode, useful for some scenarios.
• News and interests: it will be removed from the taskbar. Widgets will provide these functions.
• S mode: Windows 10 performance and security optimized mode will only be available for Windows 11 Home version.
• Skype: Skype’s “Meet Now” option will be replaced by the Chat app, which is powered by Teams.
• Snipping Tool: Although it will still be available, its design will be similar to the app known in the past as Crop and Annotate.
• Tablet Mode – Removed and new functionality and capabilities are included for the keyboard on and off positions.
• Start menu: you will lose pinned apps and sites when you update. It will not support groups and named folders, and it cannot be resized either.
• Taskbar: the only location allowed is the alignment at the bottom of the screen, and apps will no longer customize areas of the Taskbar.

This article was originally published on Naija News