Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing

Windows 11 general availability and free update set to start on October 5

Arif Bacchus
By

Windows 11 is hitting general availability on October 5, 2021. After months of beta testing with Windows Insiders, this is the date that the free upgrade to Windows 11 will begin rolling out to eligible PCs, and the same day that Windows 11 will start coming preloaded to new PCs from Dell, Lenovo, and other laptop makers.

Come October 5, and just like with previous Windows 10 updates, Microsoft will be taking a phased and measured approach with rolling out Windows 11. This means you’ll see a focus on a quality experience, where you won’t experience bugs and other issues when it is your time to upgrade and download Windows 11. New devices should be seeing the free upgrade first, with a rollout over time to other devices based on Microsoft’s own metrics.

A tablet running Windows 11
Image used with permission by copyright holder

In those metrics and the free upgrade rollout, Microsoft is considering factors like hardware eligibility, reliability metrics, and age of the device. The timing of seeing the Windows 11 free upgrade will vary by device, but Microsoft mentioned that all devices should be seeing the free upgrade to Windows 11 by mid-2022.

Related

If you’re eligible for the upgrade, Windows update will notify you that it’s available. Just check for updates by going to Settings > Windows Update and then click Check for updates. In the future, you also can use the Windows 11 PC Health Check tool to see your PCs eligibility, as Microsoft says it is planning to relaunch this soon.

Recommended Videos

Many of the features shipping on October 5 in Windows 11 have been beta-tested by Microsoft’s Windows Insiders over the past few months with “unprecedented” levels of feedback and engagement. As we experienced in our initial hands-on, that includes a modern redesign with rounded corners, a new Start Menu, new multitasking features, and a Microsoft Teams integration via a new chat app. Other features include Widgets, new gaming features, and a redesigned Microsoft Store.

Teams Integration In Windows 11.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Microsoft hasn’t mentioned much if the much anticipated Android apps integration via the Amazon App Store will ship with the generally available version of Windows 11. We reached out to Microsoft for some more clarification, but the company mentioned in its blog post that it is continuing on the “journey of bringing Android apps to Windows 11 through collaboration with Amazon and Intel, with a preview for Windows Insiders over the coming months.”

If you find yourself unable to run or upgrade Windows 11 on your PC due to Microsoft’s minimum system requirements, then Microsoft believes that Windows 10 is “the right choice.” The operating system will be supported through October 14, 2025. Microsoft also suggests trying out new PCs that come with Windows 11 preinstalled. From the Acer Swift 5 to the Alienware x15 and Alienware x17, and even the XPS 13, there are a lot of excellent modern devices that can run Windows 11.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus
Computing Writer
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
Windows 11 will finally respect your default browser — in Europe
Microsoft Edge appears on a computer screen with plants and a window in the background.

Microsoft makes it easy to change the default browser in Windows 11. That's important if you require special features specific to one of the many web browsers that are available on a PC. Unfortunately, it's not as simple to be rid of Edge entirely.

Microsoft Edge will still load to open some other file types. When opening a link from Windows Settings or other system components, the webpage will load in Edge. That's now about to change, however, according to a recent Windows blog post.

Read more
Windows just gave us another reason not to download fresh updates
Windows 11 blue error crash screen.

As if we needed another reason to hold off on downloading the latest patches before they've been tested by a considerable number of people, Microsoft's most recent Windows Update comes with an unfortunate side effect -- it causes blue screens for some users. The blue screen shows up right at boot, citing the "UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR" error as the stop code. Here's what we know, and more importantly, how to make sure this doesn't affect your PC too.

The issue started popping up right after the latest Windows 11 update, KB5029351, which brought the operating system up to version 22621.2215. The build addresses some issues and brings minor improvements, such as adding a new hover behavior to the search box gleam and improving the reliability of the Search app.

Read more
This upcoming Windows 11 feature lets you switch to a cloud PC in seconds
Windows 365 Switch being used with Task view.

Microsoft is currently testing a feature that allows users to switch between the local Windows 11 installation and a cloud-based Windows 365 Cloud PC installation on a device using just basic computer commands.

The feature, called Windows 365 Switch, is available for Windows Insiders in the Beta and Dev Channels. The Windows 11 Build 23521 to Insiders in the Dev Channel recently became available for Dev Channels.

Read more