Windows 11 is finally here, but not everyone will be getting Microsoft’s new operating system today. What there is to know

Windows 11 begins its worldwide release today. This is the first major update to Microsoft’s operating system in six years, available as a free download for existing Windows users. But it is not available to everyone compatible Windows device. And every major novelty promised is not available at the moment. (Microsoft announced this in an August blog post).

We have already tested and published a Windows 11 review (it’s familiar but fresh, with a Mac-like design). You can expect some new things multitasking features, and the The Start menu is in a new place. However, it won’t include one of the most anticipated updates: support for Android mobile applications in its new app store. Microsoft has also not proposed a date for when Android apps would be available or, other than saying they would be deployed in a “preview” test “over the next few months,” according to the post.

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There is much to look forward to. But even if your device isn’t part of today’s rollout, you can still check if you’re meeting the compatibility requirements. Attention, (you will have to run Windows 10 first to do this – here is how to download Windows 10 for free if you haven’t already). And just because you have a compatible Windows device doesn’t mean you’ll be able to run Windows 11 from today.

The launch will be “phased and measured”, with new eligible devices get the upgrade first and the rest will be offered the free upgrade between October and mid-2022, depending on your hardware, device age, and other factors. You will receive a notification from Windows Update letting you know when Windows 11 is available to you, or you can manually check (learn more about how to download windows 11 when and how to try the preview version).

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While you wait for the new operating system from Microsoft to arrive, you can check to see whether your computer will be able to update automatically to Windows 11 (you will need to run Windows 10 first to do this – here is how to download Windows 10 for free if you haven’t already). But even if it is not found compatible, there will be a way to manually download a version which is not supported by Microsoft. And this is how set the default search engine, if you prefer not to use Bing.

You also don’t need to immediately upgrade to Windows 11 if you don’t want to – Microsoft will still support Windows 10 until October 2025.

For more information, consult the all the big differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11 and what you will need to do before upgrading to Windows 11.