Upgrading to Windows 11: You can download it right away

Windows 11 began the rollout last week, as Microsoft launched its new operating system on eligible devices 5th of October. Everyone already with Windows 10 can free upgrade if they have a compatible computer. But not everyone has gotten the fanfare yet. Microsoft is rolling out the operating system in phases, so your system may not prompt you to upgrade yet. In fact, you may not find it even if you instruct your computer to check for updates. the first of August blog post of Microsoft said the company expects “all eligible devices to receive the free upgrade to Windows 11 by mid-2022.”

Don’t want to wait until next year? Read on to find out how the Windows 11 Installation Assistant is your shortcut to Windows 11.

If you’re not in a rush, the Windows 11 update will be pushed to your device sometime in the coming months when Microsoft’s data indicates that the upgrade is ready for that device. When the new operating system is available to you, the upgrade process will be similar to a normal Windows 10 update, as long as your device is compatible and meets the minimum requirements needed. (And even if it isn’t, Microsoft offers a workaround, but in that case your Windows 11 installation is not supported by the company.)

to agree to the license terms and start the installation. When the program installation is complete, you will be prompted to restart your computer. Your PC may reboot several times while the installation is complete, so don’t worry. Just keep your PC on until everything is ready.

If you can’t use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant, you have a number of backup options, but be warned that they are more complicated. We strongly recommend that you consider waiting for the update to come to your device. If you are sure you want to continue, you can create Windows 11 installation media or an ISO file. Microsoft’s Download Windows 11 page has those steps in more detail.

What’s in Windows 11

Windows 11 has a sleek new design, with pastel colors, rounded corners, a new startup sound, and generally a more Mac-like look. The Windows Start menu has been moved from the bottom-left corner of the screen to the center, with app icons in the center next to it. You will find many new desktop tools, such as widgets that can give you information at a glance, and create virtual desktops more easily. And Android apps are integrated into Windows and installable from the Microsoft Store — although that feature won’t be available right away. (View all) the best Windows 11 features and how to use them.)

The update marks the first major change to Microsoft’s operating system since Windows 10 launched in 2015. Rumors of a major Windows redesign circulated over the past year. At the Microsoft Build developer conference on May 25, CEO Satya Nadella said: Microsoft planned to be “one of the most significant updates to Windows of the past decade,” confirming that 2021 is a major change for the operating system’s 1.3 billion users. And in mid-June, Microsoft quietly announced that it would end of support for Windows 10 in 2025 if leaked images of Windows 11 scatter.

For more, check out everything we wanted to see in Windows 11 but didn’t, and all the major differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11.