Windows 11 to release on October 5 as a free update
Microsoft today announced that it will be releasing Windows 11 on October 5. The update will be provided for free to eligible PCs.
The update will roll-out gradually from October 5. Microsoft says new eligible devices will get the update first. After that, the update will then roll-out over time to in-market devices based on intelligence models that consider hardware eligibility, reliability metrics, age of device, and other factors that impact the upgrade experience.
Microsoft says it expects all eligible devices will be offered the update by mid-2022.
Those running Windows 10 should see the update be available in Windows Update when it"s ready. However, it should likely be possible to download and update manually, as has been the case with other Windows updates.
Windows 11 brings a host of changes, including a redesigned Start menu, updated UI design and sounds, widgets, an updated Microsoft Store app, and gaming related features such as Auto HDR and Direct Storage.
Windows 11 will also support Android applications through a partnership with Amazon and Intel. However, this feature won"t be available at launch. A preview of this feature will be made available to Windows Insiders over the coming months.
