Upgrade to Windows 11: requirements, compatibility and details of the new update
Windows 11 officially launches today, October 5, 2021, for all computers that meet the minimum requirements imposed by Microsoft, requirements which, to be honest, are very low, meant to make the upgrade to Windows 11 possible for very many computers of different ages as well. Let's see the main hardware specifications for compatibility with the new update below.
Minimum requirements for upgrading to Windows 11
The technical specifications refer to PCs with the following minimum requirements:
· the video card must be compatible with DirectX 12 or later and the display must be at least HD (720p, 1280x720 pixels) with at least 9" diagonal.
In practice, the vast majority of computers in circulation today are able to undergo the upgrade correctly without any problems. If that’s not the case, however, computers can continue to use Windows 10, which will be supported until 2025.
The new Windows 11 interface stands out first of all for the new menu in the center, which makes the experience easier than in the past
Windows 11 - how to get it
The update will be offered through Windows Update starting today, in a progressive manner, to all users whose computers are not managed. This update will not be mandatory; it must be accepted by the administrator user, who otherwise will be able to continue running Windows 10 without problems, postponing the update to a more convenient time.
Obviously, it is necessary for the computer to be connected to the internet during the updating process; it’s better if the connection is of ADSL type or better, so as not to have problems tied to bandwidth consumption or instability.
Windows 11 Home editions will require an internet connection and a Microsoft account to activate (the same is recommended but not required for Windows 11 Pro). Windows 10’s S Mode will only be supported on Windows 11 Home: Windows 11 Pro users in S Mode will be prompted to upgrade to the regular version before setting up the account.
Widgets always under control, with Windows 11 with a click the latest news, as we want them, always at hand
Free Windows 11 upgrade for Windows 10 users
The upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 will be free for the owners of the former, and will provide for the same type of licensing during the upgrade: this means that those who upgrade from Windows 10 Pro will have Windows 11 Pro; the same goes for Enterprise, Home and so on.
The free upgrade offer only applies to those who have Windows 10, not for those who have previous operating systems: users of Windows 7 or 8 (or other versions, provided that their computers meet the minimum requirements) must first upgrade to Windows 10, and then upgrade to Windows 11.
Users who are not eligible to receive the free upgrade because they are using older versions of Windows can either purchase a copy of Windows 10 and proceed to upgrade their operating system, or purchase a copy of Windows 11 and perform a clean install.
Therefore, although upgrading to Windows 11 from Windows 7 is technically possible, it’s only fair that users should evaluate whether it’s worth it to do so: a computer that’s 5 years old typically lacks certain features of newer models which will make it very unproductive.
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We’re talking about higher resolution displays, more powerful processors, more low-consumption architectures, wider connectivity with 5G or WiFi, more interesting designs, but above all local connectivity options such as USB-C, USB4 and Thunderbolt 3 or 4, which can really become important in a smart working perspective.
It is thus recommended for users, and especially resellers, to evaluate the situation and suggest to their customers to switch to a new model: virtually all computers with Windows 10 on the market today are easily upgradeable to Windows 11; after the release, new PCs with the new OS already installed will gradually start to arrive on the market.
For details on each individual model, you should contact the vendors directly.
With Windows 11 many new devices will come
Windows 11 - compatibility with apps and other hardware
Being based on the same Windows Core as Windows 10 (as well as Windows Server), Windows 11 offers full compatibility with all Apps, even the not-so-new ones. It's very likely that in the first months after the official release we'll see a lot of updates to optimize the Apps for the new operating system; however, developers will only need to fix some aesthetic details, as for the rest the Apps will work in the same way as they do on Windows 10.
Features like Autopilot and collaboration with management systems (such as MDM software) will also work the same way, and managers can continue to manage their PC fleets as they do in Windows 10.
To check if a specific computer is eligible for the Windows 11 upgrade, you can download a special App and wait for the result of the compatibility check.
Either way, all computers that can’t upgrade to Windows 11 will be able to continue using Windows 10 without any problems until the end of its support, which is scheduled for 2025.
Using Windows 11 on different platforms, such as on a Mac, is not a scenario that Microsoft supports: the best way to experience Windows 11 is on the new hardware that was created for it.
Gamer will find new options for HDR with Windows 11, making the experience much more interesting
Windows 11 Downgrade - can you go back to Windows 10 after the update?
Once you upgrade to Windows 11, you will have ten days to activate the Rollback feature and get back to Windows 10 easily, without any hassle regarding files or Apps.
Once the ten days have passed, it will still be possible to switch back to Windows 10, but only with a clean install, typically with a prior backup.
From a technical point of view, we will recall that Windows 11 and Windows 10 are based on the same Core, so they can be installed in parallel on the same PC or as virtual machines for specific tasks, if needed.
Windows 11 offers several new features both from the aesthetic point of view and under the hood, new features which we will examine in detail in subsequent articles. What about you, will you switch to Windows 11?