Home windows 11: The whole lot you must know

In 2021, Microsoft shocked lots of people by asserting Home windows 11. A brand new main model of its desktop working system wasn’t regarded as on the playing cards, however it appears Microsoft’s angle modified throughout the pandemic.

With Home windows relied on for every part from distant working and conferences to content material consumption and gaming, the corporate created a simplified model that centered on the core expertise.

Home windows 11 is an enormous design shift in comparison with Home windows 10, though there are a number of similarities below the floor. All appropriate units have been supplied the free improve, though you don’t must make the transfer till Home windows 10 help ends in 2025.

Right here’s every part you must learn about Home windows 11, together with hyperlinks to our complete protection on the backside of the web page.

What’s Home windows 11 like?

Clearly desirous to keep away from upsetting hundreds of thousands by making radical modifications (because it in the end did with Home windows 8), Microsoft has stored the identical fundamental structure, albeit with a major redesign. You’ll discover rounded corners all over the place you look and a brand new centrally positioned Begin Menu, though you possibly can return the latter to the aspect should you’d favor.

There’s a brand new widgets panel which may present the climate, shares, information and extra, changing the outdated Begin Menu’s Stay Tiles. You additionally get improved grouping and snapping of open home windows, permitting you to multitask extra successfully.

Home windows 11 on tablets is far improved because of the introduction of gestures and a brand new on-screen keyboard that rather more much like the one in your telephone. You possibly can even set up and use Android apps by way of the Amazon Appstore, though a workaround that allows you to use the Google Play Retailer as an alternative is now not purposeful.

Nevertheless, whereas there are many visible modifications, Home windows 11 needs to be a simple transition from Home windows 10 for most individuals.

When was Home windows 11 launched?

Preliminary launch date: 5 October 2021
Largest replace to this point (22H2): 20 September 2022

Home windows 11 was formally launched on 5 October 2021. However actually, that was simply the date that OEMs (authentic tools producers) might start to launch {hardware} working Home windows 11.

The rollout was gradual, however all appropriate units can have been supplied choice to improve from Home windows 10. If that’s not the case for some motive, you possibly can obtain Home windows 11 manually or set up it utilizing a USB.

New options have been added regularly, however probably the most vital new options to this point arrived on 20 September 2022. That’s when the large 22H2 replace arrived earlier than much more new incorporates a month later.

It’s set to be an analogous story all through 2023, with a major February replace anticipated to be joined by model 23H2 later within the yr.

How a lot does Home windows 11 price?

Free improve for eligible PCs
New {hardware} pricing depending on producer
USB and obtain hyperlink variations obtainable

Pricing was all the time more likely to be one of many massive questions, however the excellent news is that it’s free for eligible PCs. This can seemingly proceed for nevertheless lengthy Home windows 11 is supported.

Nevertheless, it’s not so simple as all Home windows 10 units getting Home windows 11. As is defined under, Microsoft has up to date the {hardware} necessities for its new OS.

Naturally, upgrading from Home windows 10 isn’t the one technique to get Home windows 11. Loads of new laptops and PCs are already working the working system out of the field, with extra anticipated for some time. It doesn’t seem to be having Home windows 11 pre-installed has had any impact on the pricing of those units.

Nevertheless, you may as well now purchase Home windows 11 as a standalone working system. The simplest technique is by way of a obtain hyperlink, which will likely be despatched to you when you full the acquisition:

Home windows 11 Dwelling – $139/£119.99
Home windows 11 Professional – $199.99/£219.99

You should buy it pre-loaded on a USB stick should you’d favor – that is at the moment obtainable for Home windows 11 Dwelling ($139/£115.99), however not Professional. At Amazon UK, you possibly can even get a disc model for £99.

Wasn’t Home windows 10 the final ever model of Home windows?

That’s what Microsoft stated when it introduced Home windows 10, sure. However apparently it modified its thoughts about that. The corporate might have rolled out these modifications in a Home windows 10 replace, however it selected to not refer again to this assertion throughout the launch occasion.

Curiously, Microsoft did ultimately reference this at its April 2022 hybrid work occasion. Nevertheless, the corporate described the pandemic as the important thing driver of this transformation in technique, including that “how, when and the place we work basically modified in a single day”.

The model at launch hadn’t modified a lot in comparison with Home windows 10, however there have been a lot of updates since. It additionally seems like Home windows 12 may be arriving in 2024.

Will my Home windows 10 PC or laptop computer run Home windows 11?

The minimal {hardware} necessities for Home windows 11 are as follows:

1GHz dual-core processor
4GB RAM
64GB of storage (HDD or SSD)
UEFI, Safe Boot succesful
Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0
Graphics card appropriate with DirectX 12
Show bigger than 9in with 720p or increased decision
Microsoft account + web connection

Undecided in case your system is appropriate? Microsoft has a free ‘PC Well being Test’ app, designed that can assist you discover out. It’s obtainable to obtain by way of the related help web page.

For extra data, take a look at our separate information: Will my PC run Home windows 11?

Microsoft doesn’t encourage it, however there’s nonetheless a technique to set up Home windows 11 on unsupported PCs. Certainly, you’ll most likely see messages inside Settings and on the desktop warning you that your system isn’t appropriate. It doesn’t appear to have an effect on efficiency and app compatibility, although.

For any subsequent Home windows 11 updates, no modifications to system compatibility are anticipated.

Home windows 11 movies

You probably have a spare three minutes, it’s value watching this official introduction video to get a way of what Home windows 11 is all about:

We additionally lined Home windows 11 at launch in our podcast, Quick Cost:

What options does Home windows 11 have?

There are too many to enter a lot of element right here, however listed below are the principle ones you must learn about.

First, there’s a major visible overhaul. Home windows 10 has maintained an analogous feel and look all through its lifespan, however that’s all modified with Home windows 11.

A brand new taskbar strikes icons to the centre, though this could simply be reverted to a extra conventional structure. What can’t be modified is a few of the Home windows 10 options that Microsoft eliminated in Home windows 11, however the firm is slowly including again many of those.

The brand-new Begin Menu isn’t notably missing, though its brand-new design actually isn’t for everybody. The truth is, this aesthetic is much like what Microsoft teased for the cancelled Home windows 10X. Right here’s what it seems like with darkish mode enabled:

It incorporates a grid of customisable ‘Pinned’ icons, with separate ‘All apps’ part for every part else you have got put in. The ‘Advisable’ heading under shows lately used information, apps and folders – together with from cloud providers resembling OneDrive and Microsoft 365 – enabling you to shortly decide up the place you left off, even should you final used a distinct system.

Nevertheless, many individuals have been disillusioned by this, particularly the dearth of customisation skill. You possibly can create folders or select the cut up between Pinned and Advisable sections, however that’s about it:

One new characteristic that has gone down properly is the brand new Snap Layouts multitasking performance. Hovering over the maximise button means that you can select the association of apps on the display screen, as you possibly can see under.

Widgets haven’t been a significant characteristic of latest variations of Home windows, however that’s modified now. The panel slides in from the left, however might be customised to fill the entire display screen should you’d favor. It’s designed for fast glances at necessary data with out distracting you from what you have been doing earlier than you opened it.

Widgets for the climate and shares are additionally constructed into the taskbar, however these can now be used to set off notifications on the taskbar. The static icon might be changed with a dwell model that makes it clear when the native climate modifications or how shares you observe have been buying and selling. However there’s no technique to flip these off except you don’t need the shortcut to Widgets in any respect.

The Groups integration extends to the Edge browser, that means particular person tabs now present up inside Process Supervisor. Edge tabs on the taskbar can even embrace the positioning, icon and subject identify, though that is changed by a generic icon throughout non-public shopping periods.

Many inventory apps have been redesigned, together with File Explorer and the Microsoft Retailer. The latter contains Android app help by way of the Amazon Appstore, however you may as well use the Epic Video games Retailer should you’d favor.

Home windows 11 additionally has a brand new Motion Middle, splitting Fast Settings, Notifications and a music controller into separate sections. Its design is impressed by Home windows 10X, making it straightforward to navigate utilizing touchpad, mouse, pen or finger.

Loads of inventory apps have additionally been redesigned to be extra in line with Home windows 11’s new design. They embrace Calculator, Clock, Notepad, Media Participant and File Explorer.

Home windows 11 is only one a part of Microsoft’s prioritisation of accessibility. The Floor Adaptive Equipment makes any laptop computer simpler to make use of, whereas Adaptive Equipment assist people who find themselves unable to make use of a conventional mouse and keyboard. Mixed, these instruments could make an enormous distinction.

The Microsoft Groups integration has obtained combined critiques, however it additionally applies to the Edge browser. It means particular person tabs now present up inside Process Supervisor, with GPU and crash studies proven too. Tabs on the taskbar can even embrace the positioning, icon and subject identify, though that is changed by a generic icon throughout non-public shopping periods.

Within the Process Supervisor, variations obtainable since February 2022 help an ‘Eco mode’. This can be utilized to allocate extra sources to particular apps by setting the precedence of others to ‘low’. This stops resource-intensive apps from consuming an excessive amount of of the CPU or GPU energy, which ought to assist enhance efficiency and battery life.

Microsoft made it a lot tougher to alter the default browser when it launched Home windows 11, however the firm largely reversed that call in March 2022. Beginning with model KB50011563, there’ll be an possibility inside Settings to set a browser as your default for HTTP, HTTPS, .HTML and .HTM information. Nevertheless, you’ll nonetheless want to alter the place PDFs open individually.

The primary vital replace for Home windows 11 arrived in February 2022, including a number of new options. They embrace redesigned Notepad and Media Participant apps, new taskbar performance and a public preview of native Android app help. Nevertheless, the latter requires at the very least 8GB of RAM and an SSD – that’s stricter than Home windows 11 itself.

Then, in September 2022, Microsoft formally launched Home windows 11’s largest replace to this point. Identified merely because the ‘2022 Replace’, it provides new performance to the Begin menu, Widgets panel and the taskbar. There’s additionally a brand new Stay Captions accessibility characteristic, higher multitasking by way of Snap Layouts and new touchscreen gestures. However there are lots extra options that it’s value being conscious of – be taught extra in our full information to the 2022 Replace.

In October 2022, much more new options have been added. The long-awaited introduction of tabs in File Explorer was the spotlight, however there are additionally enhancements to the taskbar and new ‘Instructed Actions’ while you spotlight related textual content.

Typically, Home windows and Apple units don’t play properly collectively, however Microsoft is taking steps to enhance it. In November 2022, the corporate confirmed that Home windows 11’s Photographs app now gives direct integration with iCloud Photographs – that means all the photographs out of your iPhone are simply accessible.

Microsoft launched one other vital replace in February 2023 – this has seemingly been often known as ‘Second 2’ internally, with the corporate regarded as transferring away from releasing new options solely a few times per yr.

As an official weblog submit explains, some new options are associated to Microsoft’s heavy funding in AI.

They embrace including a Bing AI button to the search bar on the taskbar, though in actuality this solely acts as a shortcut to the web site. Home windows Studio Results (which helps you to preserve eye contact, add background blur, maintain you centred within the body and isolate your voice) will now be accessible instantly from fast settings menu, however solely a handful of units help them.

Third-party Widgets are lastly supported (albeit simply from Meta and Spotify initially), whereas an official display screen recording device keep away from the necessity to go by way of the Xbox Sport Bar.

Then there’s enhancements to the Home windows 11 pill expertise, which was already adequate to exchange your iPad. Detaching the keyboard from a 2-in-1 system will see an automated shift to a simplified taskbar that’s designed for contact enter.

Elsewhere, Microsoft has created a model of its Telephone Hyperlink companion app that works with iOS, plus straightforward hotspot and up to date web site entry when you’ve got a Samsung telephone. The Microsoft Groups shortcut within the taskbar has additionally been revamped.

Microsoft Groups’ chat perform was built-in into the Home windows 11 taskbar, permitting for fast entry to conferences and messages. Nevertheless, a June 2023 check construct confirms it’ll quickly be eliminated and changed with a standalone free Microsoft Groups app that’s pinned to the taskbar.

What new options are coming to Home windows 11?

It now seems like Home windows 11 will likely be getting a 23H2 characteristic replace in late 2023 – it beforehand wasn’t clear. However Zac Bowden at Home windows Central says 23H2 “gained’t be a significant platform launch, with Microsoft shifting to ‘Second’ updates a number of instances a yr.

The newest of those, often known as “Second 3” arrived in June 2023, and it contains a number of new options.

A redesigned model of File Explorer hasn’t but been launched, however it was teased at Microsoft’s Construct developer convention in Could 2023:

The highest banner had already been up to date with the introduction of Home windows 11, earlier than tabs that have been added in 2022. However just about every part else seems set to get a refresh, together with the handle bar, left panel of folders and shortcuts and key motion buttons.

Home windows Newest believes we’ll additionally see app folders on the desktop – much like what you’ll discover within the Begin menu – relatively than simply ones from File Explorer in some unspecified time in the future.

Different key options, resembling new taskbar performance, RGB lighting controls and the power to revive downloaded apps are all more likely to arrive within the 23H2 replace later in 2023.

AI will likely be a significant focus too, with new options coming to the Microsoft Retailer initially. However Home windows Copilot is arguably probably the most thrilling, as an extension of the present ChatGPT-powered Bing AI assistant.

Copilot will be capable of analyse textual content and pictures on display screen throughout a wide range of apps, earlier than providing ideas and one-click shortcuts to key actions. It’ll act as a floating window that may be accessed at any time.

Consider Copilot as a supercharged model of Cortana that may really generate new data that can assist you develop into extra productive. A preview model of Copilot will likely be obtainable in June 2023, with a full launch anticipated in model 23H2 (in accordance with Home windows Central).

Elsewhere, two Home windows 10 taskbar options look set for a return at some point. The power to ungroup app icons (generally often known as ‘by no means mix’) and add app labels to the taskbar have each been noticed by way of Twitter. In response to Home windows Central in April 2023, you possibly can count on them to reach “later within the yr”.

In a February 2023 Home windows Central article, Zac Bowden says the Snap Layouts multitasking characteristic will likely be up to date with new AI powered sensible layouts. It’d imply Home windows 11 might predict which apps you wish to snap collectively every time you hover over the maximise or minimise button, saving a number of time.

The identical Home windows Central article that reported Snap Layouts additionally suggests OCR (Optical Character Recognition) know-how will likely be added to Home windows 11, permitting you to seek out phrases, phrases or photographs (from the online or a selected app) with out it being talked about within the title. Nevertheless, as is commonly the case, it’s not clear when these options will arrive and there’s no assure they ever will.

Wanting additional forward, Home windows 12 could also be launched as quickly as 2024. AI is about to be a significant focus, and there are 4 key ways in which AI might severely improve the following main model.

Tech Advisor’s information to Home windows 11

The fundamentals

The way to get Home windows 11
Will my PC run Home windows 11?
When will my PC get Home windows 11?
The way to set up Home windows 11 on an unsupported system
Will Home windows 10 apps nonetheless work on Home windows 11?
Ought to I nonetheless purchase a Home windows 10 laptop computer or PC?
Does Home windows 11 include Microsoft Workplace?
What’s the distinction between Home windows 11 Dwelling and Professional?
How nervous ought to we be about Home windows 11 ransomware?
Home windows 11 2022 Replace (22H2): The whole lot you must know
Home windows 11 2023 (23H2) replace: The whole lot we all know to this point
Why Home windows 11 nonetheless can’t run all Android apps
4 causes you (most likely) haven’t up to date to Home windows 11 but
12 hidden Home windows 11 options which can be really value utilizing
20 nice Home windows 11 keyboard shortcuts you need to be utilizing
When will Home windows 11 help finish?
Home windows 11 tablets are actually adequate to exchange your iPad

Tutorials

The way to begin Home windows in Protected Mode
The way to run applications as administrator in Home windows
The way to flip off automated updates in Home windows 11
The way to take away a consumer account in Home windows 11
The way to arrange a number of screens on Home windows 11
The way to cease Home windows 11 from freezing on a regular basis
The way to use Telephone Hyperlink with Android or iPhone
The way to use darkish mode on Home windows 11
The way to ship information between Android and Home windows
The way to customise the touchpad in Home windows
The way to document your display screen in Home windows 11
The way to cease Microsoft Groups annoying you in Home windows 11
The way to set default apps in Home windows 11
The way to take away bloatware on Home windows 11
The way to repair Home windows 11 Bluetooth that’s not working
The way to repair Home windows 11 audio that’s not working
The way to take a screenshot on Home windows
The way to cease Home windows 11 monitoring your knowledge
The way to set up Android apps on Home windows 11
The way to examine in case your Home windows 11 PC has Bluetooth
The way to repair Home windows 11 app crashes
The way to handle notifications in Home windows 11
The way to liberate space for storing on Home windows 11
The way to make Home windows 11 extra vitality environment friendly
The way to use emoji in Home windows
The way to use Home windows 11’s greatest multitasking options
The way to repair sluggish Home windows 11 SSD efficiency
The way to discover and delete duplicate information in Home windows
The way to repair web connection issues in Home windows 11
The way to enhance Home windows 11 gaming efficiency
What’s Home windows 11 God Mode and the way do I take advantage of it?
The way to pressure stop a Home windows 11 app
The way to automate duties in Home windows
The way to make Home windows 11 simpler to make use of on tablets
The way to take away login password in Home windows
The way to use Home windows 11’s display screen reader
The way to arrange Home windows 11 with out a Microsoft account
The way to disable advertisements on Home windows 11
The way to reinstall Home windows 11 updates
The way to ship massive information in Home windows 10 and 11
The way to use Home windows 11 22H2’s greatest new options
The way to set up a digital machine in Home windows 11
The way to set up the Home windows 11 22H2 replace now
The way to make the mouse or trackpad left-handed in Home windows
The way to make Home windows 11 extra accessible
The way to repair Home windows 11 KB5013943 app crashes
The way to use Image in Image on Home windows 11
The way to create a visitor account on Home windows 11 (and Home windows 10)
The way to get the Home windows 11 February replace
The way to archive apps on Home windows 11
The way to cease Home windows 11 apps from opening at startup
The way to customise the Home windows 11 Begin menu
The way to flip off automated updates in Home windows 11
The way to get the Google Play Retailer on Home windows 11
The way to make Home windows 11 extra like Home windows 10
The way to repair lacking taskbar and Begin menu in Home windows 11
The way to set up Home windows 11 from a USB
The way to strive Home windows 11 with out downloading it
The way to downgrade from Home windows 11 to Home windows 10
The way to change the default browser in Home windows 11
The way to use your Home windows 11 system as a hotspot
The way to get Home windows 11 free of charge

Information

Home windows 11 will get a number of new options in key June 2023 replace
Why you may not be capable of set up Home windows 11’s 22H2 replace
Home windows 11 provides tabs to the File Explorer
Don’t set up Home windows 11’s 22H2 replace when you’ve got an Nvidia GPU
No, your Home windows system most likely doesn’t have a virus
Home windows 11’s August 2022 replace fixes a critical efficiency bug
Home windows 11’s July 2022 safety replace breaks the Begin menu
Microsoft releases emergency June 2022 safety updates for Home windows 10 and 11
Home windows June 2022 updates can break Wi-Fi, however you need to nonetheless set up them
Microsoft’s June 2022 Home windows patches repair a significant safety flaw
A yr after it was introduced, Home windows 11 adoption remained sluggish
Home windows 11 is on the market on unsupported PCs, however you shouldn’t obtain it
Home windows 11’s Could 2022 replace induced but extra points
Home windows 11 bug prevents April 2022 updates from putting in
Microsoft reveals upcoming Home windows 11 options in April 2022
Home windows 11’s April 2022 replace reduces Blue Display screen of Loss of life crashes
Home windows 11 new Search expertise and File Explorer tabs confirmed
Home windows 11’s February 2022 replace hides the Begin menu, however it’s not a bug
Home windows 11 was put in on virtually 20% of all Home windows units in February 2022
Home windows 11’s Android apps want at the very least 8GB RAM and an SSD
Microsoft was testing much more new Home windows 11 options in February 2022
Home windows 11’s first massive replace introduced Android apps to everybody
Home windows 11’s February replace was quickly inflicting points
Home windows 11 elevated market share by 3.5% in only a month
Home windows 11 new pill performance and wallpaper stickers confirmed
Microsoft modified its method to new Home windows 11 options
Microsoft launched replace to repair Home windows 11 and 10 VPN points
A key Home windows 11 safety characteristic was inflicting AMD efficiency points
Home windows had 1.4 billion customers in January 2022, however what number of are on Home windows 11?
Defective Intel audio drivers have been inflicting Home windows 11 to crash
Watch out for malware posing as Home windows 11 obtain hyperlinks
Microsoft releases patch for AMD-related Home windows 11 efficiency points
Microsoft shifts Home windows 11 to annual characteristic updates
Home windows 11 is right here, however not a lot has actually modified
Why Home windows 11 is quicker than Home windows 10, in accordance with Microsoft
Home windows 11 arrived on 5 October 2021, however with out Android app help
Home windows 11’s new method to the Microsoft Retailer has one main drawback
Home windows 11 options you might have missed
Home windows 10 options lacking in Home windows 11 at launch
Home windows 11 shipped working darkish mode by default
Home windows 11 is on the market in seven totally different variations
Home windows 11’s new Microsoft Retailer made a promising begin
Home windows 11 Dwelling doesn’t formally work with out a Microsoft account
Why Home windows 11 feels an excessive amount of like a Home windows 10 characteristic replace