What you need to know about Windows 11: release, requirements and new features

Windows 11 was released on October 5, 2021, as a free upgrade for compatible Windows 10 computers. When we wrote the first version of this article, in July 2021, the exact date hadn’t been announced yet, and rumors pointed to the end of October. Below you’ll find what Windows 11 brings, what its requirements are and what has changed between its release and 2026.

What do you need to know about Windows 11?

Windows 11 is available for free (and legally) to Windows 10 users, as an upgrade, if the computer’s hardware meets the minimum requirements. Since support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025, Windows 11 is the version company computers should be running.

The first thing you notice is the graphical interface. Even though the basic functions haven’t changed much, the difference in design is significant: windows have rounded corners, and the Start button sits in the middle of the taskbar (you can move it back to the left in the taskbar settings).

At launch, Microsoft promised native support for some Android apps, without emulators, installed from the Microsoft Store through the Amazon Appstore. The feature only arrived after launch, and Microsoft ended support for it, and for the Amazon Appstore, on March 5, 2025.

Switching between apps works a little differently, with quick window arrangements on screen (Snap Layouts) and virtual desktops, which makes many multitaskers happy.

The Microsoft Store has been redesigned, and finding apps is simpler.

The Chat feature, announced in 2021 for better integration with messaging apps, became the free Microsoft Teams app in 2023, with version 23H2.

Windows 11 also includes optimizations for gaming, and since 2023 it has included the Copilot AI assistant.

For more information, read the Windows 11 launch announcement on the Microsoft blog.

Which versions of Windows 11 have been released since launch?

Windows 11 gets an annual feature update, usually in the fall:

• 21H2, the launch version: October 2021;
• 22H2: September 2022;
• 23H2: October 31, 2023;
• 24H2: October 1, 2024;
• 25H2: September 30, 2025;
• 26H1: February 10, 2026, only for certain new computers;
• 26H2: September 29, 2026, the newest version.

Each version receives security updates for a limited period: 24 months for the Home and Pro editions and 36 months for Enterprise and Education. So computers running Windows 11 also need to be moved to a new version from time to time.

Minimum technical specifications for running Windows 11

• 64-bit processor with at least 2 cores and a 1 GHz clock speed, from Microsoft’s list of compatible processors
• 4 GB of RAM (although we recommend 16 GB for office computers)
• 64 GB of storage
• Graphics card that supports DirectX 12, with a WDDM 2.0 driver
• TPM 2.0 module
• UEFI with Secure Boot
• Display larger than 9 inches, with at least 720p resolution

Although the minimum specifications are normal for a modern operating system, Windows 11 doesn’t officially run on old workstations without a TPM 2.0 module (the security chip that stores encryption keys, for example for BitLocker disk encryption) or with processors older than the ones on the list. You can check a computer with Microsoft’s PC Health Check app.

Installing it on incompatible hardware is technically possible, but Microsoft doesn’t guarantee updates on such computers, so we don’t recommend it in companies.

Is it worth switching to Windows 11 now?

Yes. In 2021, we advised you not to rush to upgrade production workstations until Windows 11 had matured enough. Since then, the system has matured, and Windows 10 has stopped receiving free security updates as of October 14, 2025. Companies can buy Extended Security Updates (ESU), paid per computer, until October 2028 at the latest, but the cost goes up every year.

For computers that can’t move to Windows 11 yet, see what you need to do to secure your IT infrastructure until the migration. We wrote about old Windows 7 and 8.1 licenses in the article on the free upgrade to Windows 10.

If you want to migrate to Windows 11, RezolvIT is here to help, with both technical expertise and a customized migration plan (backed by a solid backup made beforehand), so your business is disrupted as little as possible.

RezolvIT is an IT outsourcing company used to implementing cloud technologies and making it easier for employees to work from home. If you’d like to enjoy the benefits of cloud solutions too, contact us for a conversation.