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.

As of September 2024, Windows 11 is the second-most popular Windows version after Windows 10, Windows 11 has 32% of usage share.

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.

Android app support: This feature lets users install Android apps from the Amazon Appstore onto their Windows 11 device.

## Version history

2021: Windows 11 21H2 (Build 22000) released in October 4, 2021.

2022: Windows 11 22H2 (Build 22621) released in September 20, 2022.

2023: Windows 11 23H2 (Build 22631) released in October 31, 2023.

2024: Windows 11 24H2 (Build 26100) released in October 1, 2024.

2025: Windows 11 25H2 {Build 26200) released in 30 September, 2025.

## 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.

### 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.

However, critics also made negative comments on Windows 11 due to the high system requirements needed to run the operating system. The high system requirements meant that more than 60 percent of computers could not upgrade to Windows 11 which made concerns about how the operating system could cause millions of people to throw away their computers. 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.

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. 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.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.

## Related pages

- Microsoft
- Microsoft Windows
- Operating system

## Other websites

- Official website
- Introducing Windows 11

## Infobox (os)

- **name**: Windows 11
- **family**: Microsoft Windows
- **source model**: Source-available
- **ga date**: October 5, 2021
- **latest release version**: 25H2 (10.0.26200.2314)
- **screenshot**: Windows 11 Home.jpeg
- **screenshot size**: 200px
- **version of**: Windows NT-based
- **logo**: Windows 11 logo.svg
- **caption**: Windows 11 on a Microsoft Surface laptop
- **developer**: Microsoft
- **preceded by**: Windows 10 (2015)
- **website**: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows
- **support status**: GAC:
Mainstream support ended on October 8, 2024
Extended support to be announced.
Version 24H2 LTSC:
Mainstream support until on October 9, 2029
Extended support until October 10, 2034.