Content:

 

• Information.
• Windows 11 Minimum system requirements.
• Upgrading Windows 10 to Windows 11.
• Download Windows 11 ISO
• Windows 11 overview

Information

Everyone wants to know how to download Windows 11 now that it's official, and while many people should wait until Microsoft's new operating system is actually released in "Holiday 2021," you can now download a (very) early build of it to test it out yourself.

There was a leaked build of the new operating system floating around a couple of weeks ago, but we would really, really stress that you don't go looking for it. Most of the sites claiming to have it are likely going to load up your system with malware instead, possibly even locking you out entirely with some good old fashioned ransomware. Save yourself the stress and Bitcoin payment and only download Windows 11 from Microsoft when it becomes available. After all, Holiday 2021 isn't that far away.

What's more, the Windows 11 download is going to be a free upgrade if you have Windows 10, so there's no reason to try and find a pirated version of an incomplete operating system. 

Microsoft has now also officially released an early version for Windows Insiders, which is a much safer way of trying out Windows 11 before the official release. However, as this is an early version, it's likely there will be bugs and incomplete features, so we only recommend installing Windows 11 on a secondary PC.

If you only have a PC that you rely on every day, we recommend holding off until the official launch of Windows 11, which is rumored to be around October time.

We know, waiting sucks, but when it is released you'll know how to download Windows 11 by following this handy little guide.

 

Windows 11 Minimum system requirements

 

• Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with at least two cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or SoC
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64GB
• System Firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable
• TPM: Trusted Platform Module 2.0
• Graphics Card: DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver
• Display: 720p, 8-bit per color channel, at least 9-inch diagonal
• Internet Connection and Microsoft Account: Windows 11 Home requires an active internet connection and a Microsoft Account to complete initial, first-use setup of the operating system, or when switching a device out of Windows 11 Home in S-mode.

For a complete list of additional, non-essential requirements, check out Microsoft's Windows 11 specification page.

 

How to download Windows 11

Before you begin, make sure your PC meets the Windows 11 minimum specifications listed above. If it does, you should then back up your PC before continuing.

This ensures that if anything goes wrong – and updating to an early version of a new operating system is full or risks – your important files and settings can at least be restored.

Once done, you'll need to sign up to the Windows Insider Program.

 

Registration with Microsoft, as well as on other large sites, will require confirmation of the phone number, if you do not want to indicate your personal phone number when registering on the site, use the virtual numbers phone https://simonline.su/en - these are Ukrainian phone numbers available for receive SMS online.

 

 

1. Join the Windows Insider Program

To do this, open up the Setting app and click on 'Update & Security', then 'Windows Insider Program'.

 

 

 

 

You may need to turn on optional diagnostic data to see this option. To do that go to  Settings -> Privacy -> Diagnostics & feedback and choose 'Optional diagnostic data'.

 

 

In the 'Windows Insider Program' window, click 'Get started' to join. From the window that appears, click 'Link an account' and pick your Microsoft Account and click 'Continue'.

 

2. Join the Dev Channel

At the moment, the Windows 11 Insider build is only available to people using the Dev Channel. This is meant for app developers, and gives people access to very early versions of Windows 11. Again, make sure you are happy to install what is likely to be quite an early build with various issues included.

If you just want a PC that works as normal, we'd avoid Windows 11 for now. However, if you really want to try out Windows 11, in the 'Pick your Insider settings' page that appears, select 'Dev Channel', then 'Confirm'.

 

 

Another window will appear with an explanation of what you can expect from this early build. As long as you are happy to proceed, click 'Confirm'.

 

 

You'll then need to restart your PC. Make sure everything is saved, and click 'Restart Now' on the window that appears.

 

 

3. Install the Windows 11 Insider Preview build

Once you've restarted, open up the Windows Update app. You can do this by searching for 'Windows Update' in the search bar in the taskbar of Windows 10.

 

 

You can also open it by going to Settings -> Update & Security -> Windows Update.

 

In the window that appears, click 'Check for updates'. The Windows 11 Insider Preview build should appear, and you can download and install it as if it was a regular Windows 10 update.

 

4. Perform a clean install of Windows 11

The above steps upgrade your Windows 10 PC to Windows 11. However, if you want to install Windows 11 from scratch, you can download the Windows 11 Insider Preview ISO.

 

>> Download Windows 11 ISO from the official website <<

 

Make sure you are signed up to the Windows Insider Program and are in the Dev Channel (shown in steps 1 and 2 of this guide), then scroll to the bottom of the page.

Under 'Select edition' pick Windows 11. Once the ISO is downloaded, you'll need to make a bootable USB or DVD with it.

 

 

Windows 11 overview

 

Windows 11 is official, with a new look and more after being unveiled at Microsoft's big event on June 24.

While an early build had leaked before this, spoiling the new look and the new name, we finally got to see all this in an official capacity, with the Insider Build being released soon after.

There has also been a big focus on the new Microsoft Store, with relaxed allowances alongside the Amazon App Store coming to it as well, so you can download TikTok if you wish.

There's still some confusion as to the system requirements of what Windows 11 needs for your PC, mainly due to a component called TPM, but it looks as though Microsoft are looking into this.

With this in mind, here's everything we know about the release date, the new features, and more for Windows 11.

 

Cut to the chase

• What is it? Windows 11 is the successor to Windows 10
• When is it out? Likely late October
• How much does it cost? Free

Windows 11 release date 

Microsoft says Windows 11 will be out "this holiday season" – so likely sometime between late November and Christmas. 

There is also going to be a yearly update of the new operating system, similar to Apple's efforts with macOS.

While Microsoft released a tool that allowed you to see if your desktop PC or laptop will be able to run Windows 11, it was confirmed to be buggy, giving erroneous results for machines that would have no problem in running the update.

However, another tool has been released which gives you much clearer detail for how eligible for PC is.

It looks as though Microsoft are hinting at a release for Windows 11 in October. Countless screenshots have the date of October 20, alongside messages that state how many are looking forward to "turning it up to 11 in October!"

 

 

How much is Windows 11?

Windows 11 will be a free update for existing Windows users – you'll need to be online to download, install and activate Home versions, and you'll need to have a Microsoft account when installing it on or upgrading your PC or tablet.

So far Microsoft have released the hardware requirements for Windows 11, but there's confusion over TPM (Trusted Platform Module) and whether the company are pushing hard over the minimum threshold for which devices are eligible to be updated to the new version.

While we've got a handy explainer for you that goes into TPM, hardware vendors can still offer new machines with Windows 11 that won't need this requirement, albeit with good reason to.

 

 

Windows 11 features

There are improvements across the board in Windows 11, with Microsoft promising that updates will be 40% smaller, and touting Windows 11 as "the most secure release yet".

 

 

The taskbar is optimized for touch as well as mouse peripherals, and is now renamed the dock.

New multitasking features are also on offer thanks to a feature called Snap Layouts, which enables you to arrange multiple windows across the screen, not just side by side, but in columns, sections and more.

Another feature is Snap Groups, where you can go back to previously snapped windows from the dock, so for example you can go to your email app, Edge browser windows or anything else without having to snap them back to the previous view again.

There's also improved multi-monitor support, so when you reconnect an external monitor, Windows 11 remembers the previous positions of the windows that were on that monitor.

There's even an estimated installation time for Windows Update, so you can see whether you need to hold off from updating your PC until later in the day.

 

Teams is also integrated to the dock, so you can easily join in with meetings and family calls. This looks like the first inkling of Skype disappearing from Windows, especially with the Skype sounds being heard in the demo when a call was incoming.

The Microsoft Store is finally seeing a redesign, with better-curated content, and a better options for managing your purchased shows, such as mirroring them to your television. Apps such as Disney+, Adobe Creative Cloud, Pinterest and more are already in this redesigned store for Windows 11, ready to go.

 

 

WPA, EWP and Win32 apps are now all in the Microsoft Store, ready to go. If a developer has a commerce engine, they can keep 100% of the revenue brought from the Microsoft Store.

Android apps are also ready for Windows 11, discoverable from the Microsoft Store, via the Amazon App Store, so you can download TikTok and more, ready to use on your PC or tablet.

The new store opens up possibilities for other applications to arrive in Windows 11, even Apple's iMessage, which could follow iTunes and Safari.

 

 

 

A new look for 11

One of the biggest changes users will notice is that the Start menu has been moved to the center of the screen – and it's now "cloud powered", so it dynamically changes depending on the time of day, and the content you're working with.

Light Mode and Dark Mode are official, with rounded corners and a unified design across the operating system, with colorful wallpapers to choose from as well.

There are also some windows that look Aero-esque from Windows Vista, showing you bite-sized information.

 

 

Windows Widgets are back in Windows 11, accessible via the dock, with Microsoft touting AI-powered dynamic features that enable widgets, as with the Start menu, to change depending on the apps you're using and the time of day. On the touchscreen, you can slide from the left on the desktop to have widgets appear.

There are plenty to choose from, such as the weather, Bing maps, news, and more.

These will be available for third-parties as well, so you may see as many widgets available to pick as there are on Apple's iOS and iPadOS operating systems.

 

 

Gaming on Windows 11

Gaming will be a much bigger focus in Windows 11, with the sluggish and frustrating-to-use Windows 10 Xbox app replaced by a new Game Pass app that enables you to buy, manage and remove games, making it easier for you to access and download games, from Doom Eternal to – soon – Halo Infinite.

HDR will also be supported on compatible machines, offering improved lighting and contrast for gaming and viewing media. Direct Storage is also here, with the main game assets able to be downloaded and installed, enabling you to play your games even faster than before.

 

 

Touch improvements

Tablet mode has been one of Windows' weaker points ever since Windows 8, and the new tablet features that Microsoft showed off for Windows 11 could be key to the operating system's fortunes, especially with future Surface products in the pipeline from Microsoft – to have a new, numbered operating system for its upcoming tablets could be a big selling point for new users.

At the event, Microsoft touted bigger touch targets and easier ways to move windows around, and better rotate optimizations, for example in how windows are rearranged, so you don't lose track of the applications you were using.

Gestures used with the trackpad of the Surface models are also coming to the touchscreen, bringing in some familiarity here. Haptics is also coming to Windows 11 when you use a stylus for better feedback when drawing or sketching.

The touch keyboard has also been redesigned, with a smaller keyboard just for your thumb, and emojis ready to be used. Microsoft says dictation will also be improved, alongside voice commands, with 'delete that' options and more.