Windows 11
Windows 11 is the latest major release release of Windows NT, the succesor to MS-DOS based Windows operating systems. It is available by ISO disk image, installation assistant or as a free upgrade from Windows 10 on Windows Update for any desktops, laptops or all-in-ones that meet the system requirements. It is the successor to Windows 10. It is the first version of Windows to drop support for 32-bit processors. As of 2025, Windows 11 is the latest Windows operating system.
| Version of the Windows NT-based operating system | |
 | |
 Windows 11 on a Microsoft Surface laptop | |
| Developer | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| OS family | Microsoft Windows |
| Source model | Source-available |
| General availability | October 5, 2021 |
| Latest release | 25H2 (10.0.26200.2314) / November 12, 2024[1][2] |
| Repository |
|
| Preceded by | Windows 10 (2015) |
| Official website | https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows11 |
| Support status | |
| GAC: Mainstream support ended on October 8, 2024 Extended support to be announced. Version 24H2 LTSC: Mainstream support until October 9, 2029 Extended support until October 10, 2034. | |
As of September 2024, Windows 11 is the second-most popular Windows version after Windows 10, Windows 11 has 32% of usage share.[3]
Windows 11 has the following system requirements.
| Components | Required (according to Microsoft) |
|---|---|
| RAM | 4 GB |
| CPU | x86-64 processor with two or more cores |
| Storage | 64 GB |
| BIOS/UEFI | GPT, UEFI, Secure Boot capable |
| TPM | TPM 2.0 |
Features added
Widgets: Compact, customizable information panels that offer quick access to many types of content and services, improving user productivity and convenience.[4]
Android app support: This feature lets users install Android apps from the Amazon Appstore onto their Windows 11 device.[5]
Version history
2021: Windows 11 21H2 (Build 22000) released in October 4, 2021.[6]
2022: Windows 11 22H2 (Build 22621) released in September 20, 2022.[6]
2023: Windows 11 23H2 (Build 22631) released in October 31, 2023.[6]
2024: Windows 11 24H2 (Build 26100) released in October 1, 2024.[6]
2025: Windows 11 25H2 (Build 26200) released in 30 September, 2025.[7]
Versions
There are eight versions/editions of Windows 11, these are:
- Windows 11 Professional
Windows 11 Pro is for professional home users and has more features than the Home edition, like: more networking and security features such as being able to join a domain and BitLocker for drive encryption.
- Windows 11 Home
Windows 11 Home is for home users and has less features than the Pro edition. It is good for basic, everyday use.
- Windows 11 Education
Windows 11 Education is equivalent of enterprise but for schools.
- Windows 11 Enterprise
Windows 11 Enterprise is for enterprises or enterprise users.
- Windows 11 Pro Education
Windows 11 Pro Education is for student users, It has more features than Windows 11 Education. It is used by many college, and high-school students.
- Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
This is just Windows 11 Pro, but its made for Workstation PCs or Workstation servers. It has the same features as Pro Edition but may have options for workstations.
- Windows 11 Mixed Reality
Windows 11, with VR capabilities and VR programs. This version is excellent in gaming.
Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Windows 11, but without Microsoft Store and other pre-installed Windows applications. End-Of-Life in LTSC builds start later than in normal versions. Mostly used by businesses/enterprises.[8]
Reception
Before release
The reception of the operating system before release was seen as positive with critics praising the new design of the operating system seeing it as a productivity boost.[9]
However, critics also made negative comments on Windows 11 due to the high system requirements needed to run the operating system.[10] The high system requirements meant that more than 60 percent of computers could not upgrade to Windows 11[11] which made concerns about how the operating system could cause millions of people to throw away their computers.[12] However, this made some people switch to the latest Linux releases for their computer.
Launch
The operating system's reception after launch was seen as negative as many critics criticized how it sacrificed productivity for looks and the system requirements of the operating systems.[13][14]
However critics praised the design of the operating system and the adding of Android app support to the Microsoft Store using the Amazon app store.[15] The operating system was also praised for increasing game performance in demanding titles and adding features from the operating system ran on the latest Xbox consoles. Many logos were changed, including the Windows Start Button.[16]This operating system's UI looks more modern than it's successor, Windows 10.
Windows 11 was also criticized for the insane amount of what people say is bloatware and spyware packed into a fresh install.
Windows 11 Media
The flyout for the volume and brightness control in Windows 11 version 22H2 onwards
Related pages
References
- ↑ Releasing Windows 11 Build 26100.2152 to the Release Preview Channel. Windows Insider Blog (October 10, 2024).
- ↑ November 13, 2026—KB5046617 (OS Build 26100.2314). Microsoft SupportMicrosoft.
- ↑ Desktop Windows Version Market Share Worldwide. StatCounter Global Stats. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
- ↑ Windows 11: Biggest Changes and New Features (in en). PC Magazine. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
- ↑ Gartenberg, Chaim. Windows 11's Intel-powered Android apps will run on AMD and Arm processors, too (in en-US). The Verge (June 24, 2021). Retrieved October 2, 2023.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 GitHub-Name. Windows 11 Home and Pro - Microsoft Lifecycle (in en-us). learn.microsoft.com. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
- ↑ WindowsCommunications. Windows 11 - release information (in en-us). learn.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2026-01-18.
- ↑ TerryWarwick. What's new in Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 - Windows IoT Enterprise (in en-us). learn.microsoft.com (2024-10-01). Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ↑ Windows 11 hands-on: A cleaner OS to keep you productive (in en-US). Engadget (June 29, 2021). Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ↑ Will your PC run Windows 11? Even Microsoft can't say for sure (in en)ZDNet. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ↑ Windows 11 chaos, and how copying Apple could have helped Microsoft avoid it (in en)ZDNet. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ↑ Warren, Tom. Windows 11 will leave millions of PCs behind, and Microsoft is struggling to explain why (in en). The Verge (June 29, 2021). Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ↑ Why Windows 11 Sucks? See Everything Wrong with Windows 11! (in en-US). MiniTool (October 13, 2021). Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ↑ updated, Kimberly Gedeon last. Why I hate Windows 11 — here's what Microsoft needs to fix (in en). LaptopMag (October 9, 2021). Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ↑ Windows 11: Biggest Changes and New Features (in en). PC Magazine. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ↑ "The Biggest Changes in Microsoft Windows 11" (in en). Time. October 15, 2021. https://time.com/6107013/microsoft-windows-11-features/. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
