Windows 11 began rolling out last week, and Microsoft rolled out the new operating system to eligible devices on Oct. 5. Anyone already using Windows 10 will get a free upgrade if they have a compatible computer. But not everyone has been praised. Microsoft is rolling out the operating system in phases, so your system may not prompt you to upgrade yet –, even if you ask your computer to check for updates, you might not find it. Microsoft said in a blog post in August that it expects "a free upgrade to Windows 11 for all eligible devices by mid-2022."
Don't you want to wait until next year? Read on to learn how the Windows 11 Setup Assistant became a shortcut to Windows 11.
If you're not in a hurry, the Windows 11 update will be pushed to your device sometime in the next few months, when Microsoft data shows the upgrade is ready. When the new operating system becomes available, the upgrade process will be similar to a normal Windows 10 update, as long as your device is compatible and meets minimum requirements. (Even if it doesn't, Microsoft will provide a solution, but in that case, your Windows 11 installation won't be supported by the company.)
Windows 11 has a streamlined new design, pastel colors, rounded corners, a new start sound, and a more Mac-like overall look. The Windows Start menu has moved from the bottom left corner of the screen to the center, and the app icon is positioned in the center beside it. You'll find many new desktop tools, such as widgets that let you know at a glance and easier virtual desktop creation. In addition, Android apps will be integrated into Windows and installed in the Microsoft Store, though that's not yet available. (Check out all the best Windows 11 features and how to use them.)
This is the first major change to Microsoft's operating system since Windows 10 was released in 2015. Rumors of a Windows redesign have been circulating for the past year. At Microsoft's Build developer conference on May 25, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said the company is planning "one of the most important Windows upgrades of the last decade" and confirmed that 2021 will bring major changes to 1.3 billion Windows users. In mid-June, Microsoft quietly announced that it would end support for Windows 10 in 2025 due to the spread of leaked Windows 11 images.
