Microsoft to kick off Windows 11 launch on October 5!
On October 5, Microsoft will begin rolling out Windows 11 to the general public. On that date, Windows 11 will begin rolling out to eligible Windows 10 PCs and will be available for purchase on a limited number of PCs that will come preloaded with the operating system, according to officials today, August 31.
One feature that Microsoft advertised as part of the Windows 11 experience will not be accessible at launch: the ability to download Android apps through the Microsoft Store. Microsoft executives said today that a preview of this capability will be available to Windows Insiders “over the coming months.” Microsoft has been creating an Android subsystem for Windows in collaboration with Amazon and Intel to make this possible.
Between October 5 and mid-2022, Microsoft officials aim to push out Windows 11 in stages. Microsoft will first release the operating system for new devices. To expand the programme to more in-market PCs, the business wants to deploy “intelligence models that consider hardware eligibility, reliability, metrics, age of device and other factors” .
Microsoft intends to notify Windows 10 customers via Windows Update when their devices are ready to upgrade to Windows 11. Users can also go to Settings > Windows Update > Check for Updates to manually “seek” the upgrade for eligible devices.
According to Microsoft employees, the company is testing a redesigned PC Health Check tool, which will be available to all customers soon, so they can determine if their PCs match Microsoft’s upgrade requirements. Users with ineligible PCs will have the option to upgrade them themselves, with the understanding that they will be in an officially “unsupported state”. According to Microsoft, this implies they may or may not receive security and driver upgrades.
Individuals and organisations who aren’t ready or interested in upgrading to Windows 11 can stick with Windows 10, which Microsoft will support until October 14, 2025. (There will also be a new Windows 10 release this fall, called as Windows 10 21H2, which will be a modest update.) Microsoft hasn’t announced whether a Windows 10 22H1, H2, or other version will be released.)
I’ve inquired as to whether a blocking tool will be available, as is customary, for those who do not want Windows 11 “offered” to them and their user base. Perhaps one will not be required. The following is what the corporation told me:
Why is Microsoft releasing Windows 11 on October 5? My hypothesis is that it’s expecting to offer PC makers, who are looking for new Windows 11 PC purchases, a Columbus Holiday sale bump and a long runway into the holiday season of 2021. In a blog post, Microsoft listed a number of PCs that are Windows 11-ready. None of these devices are new; they’ve all been on the market for a while.
