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Windows 11 fanatics, grab yourself a seat. Microsoft has released some unsettling news regarding the release of Windows 11 and it could see users waiting a whole year before being able to get their hands on a free upgradable copy. The company has recently released some information – if you can call it that – regarding the release date of Windows 11, but it’s incredibly vague – as you can see from the Tweet below.
Windows 11 is due out later in 2021 and will be delivered over several months. The rollout of the upgrade to Windows 10 devices already in use today will begin in 2022 through the first half of that year.
If anyone remembers the Windows 10 release, they’ll likely remember having to wait a little while before being able to upgrade their existing Windows copy without actually buying a new PC or copy of Windows. Unfortunately, the same seems to be the case for Windows 11, with the latest reports suggesting you might have to wait till the middle of 2022 before you can upgrade.
Whilst we will start to see the deployment of Windows 11 in new PCs and laptops later this year, it won’t be till the backend of the year – with no official date been given as of yet. The company was incredibly vague about the release date of the new operating system, simply writing ‘later in 2021’ in a reply to one Windows user.
As far as we can tell, and based on what Microsoft has told us, Windows 11 will be offered as a free upgrade to existing Windows 10 users – as long as they have a compatible PC.
If you aren’t sure whether or not your PC will be compatible with Windows 11, you can check our comprehensive list of supported CPUs or head over to the Windows PC Health Check tool. Whilst the tool isn’t perfect, it will be able to give you a general idea of whether or not your PC can run Windows 11.
Does TPM Need To Be Enabled For Windows 11 Upgrade?
Again, as far as we can tell, you will be required to enable TPM if you want to install Windows 11 – along with enabling secure boot in the BIOS. However, whether this will stay the same come ‘later in 2021’ is yet to be known.
Chances are, Windows won’t release a copy of Windows that requires entering the BIOS to start altering boot settings. However, only time will tell on that one – and for now, it looks like you WILL have to enable it for installation.
Charlie has been with WePC for nearly 5 years now, becoming a senior tech writer in 2021. He started off writing monitor and TV reviews, but quickly moved into a more affiliate-based role. After finishing College, Charlie pursued his joy of PC gaming by building several PCs for his favourite game, Counter-Strike. To this day, Charlie continues to enjoy gaming and PC building inside and outside of the office.
Experience
Charlie started his career with BGFG after a long 5-year stint traveling Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. While he could have pursued a further career in the building trade, he decided to delve into the world of PC gaming and journalism. Being a keen gamer and PC builder, it was easy to transition between the two industries. After showcasing a real joy for both writing and PC building, he was moved into a more senior position, which he continues to hold to this day.
Education
Charlie completed his A levels at Culcheth College. After, he took a 5-year break to travel and work overseas.
Interests
Aside from building PCs and getting beat by Russian teens on CS:GO, Charlie's other interests include travelling, socializing with friends, and cooking. He also spends too much time buying and selling products - his latest project is Pokemon cards.
Gaming Setup
CPU - AMD 7800X3D
Motherboard - X670 Gaming Plus
RAM - Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB 5200MHz
GPU - ASUS ROG Strix RX 7700XT
PSU - Thermaltake 750W 80+ Gold
Case - Corsair Carbide (275R)
A decent upgrade over previous machines, and one that is, let's be honest, wasted on me as the majority of my time is spent editing content and playing CS2
