Windows 11 release date is set for October, but many may have to wait until 2022 for the OS update

The biggest operating system upgrade from Microsoft is coming in early October. The company has finally given a specific date when the Windows 11 update will start to roll out, however, many PC users may have to wait until 2022 to receive it.

Windows 11 release date

In a blog post on Tuesday, Windows Marketing general manager Aaron Woodman announced that the Windows 11 update will start to roll out on Tuesday, Oct. 5. But like most software updates, it will not be available at the same time for all users worldwide and the tech giant said it will use a “phased and measured approach” in delivering the OS upgrade.

“That means new eligible devices will be offered the upgrade first,” Woodman wrote. “The upgrade will then roll out over time to in-market devices based on intelligence models that consider hardware eligibility, reliability metrics, age of device and other factors that impact the upgrade experience.”

It is unlikely for Microsoft to come up with a specific timeline for all PCs from a long list of OEMs. However, the company promised that all devices eligible for a Windows 11 upgrade should receive the update by mid-2020.

Meanwhile, Microsoft said consumers do not have to wait until Oct. 5 to purchase a new laptop or PC. Most computers available in the market right now likely have the requirements to get the OS upgrade, so buying before or after Oct. 5 should not affect their eligibility for an update. Most importantly, Microsoft confirmed that the Windows 11 update will be free.

Windows 11 requirements

As of this writing, the originally announced system requirements for Windows 11 are mostly unchanged. A device needs a 64-bit processor or SoC with at least two cores and 1 GHz frequency. The update will require a minimum of 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, HD (720p) display, DirectX 12 with WDDM 2.0 driver, TPM version 2.0, and UEFI Secure Boot enabled firmware.

Most of this information can be viewed on Windows 10 devices by opening Settings > System > About. Another way to check is by clicking the Start button, then type “system information,” and open the System Information app. Windows users can also install the PC Health Check app that can automatically detect if a device has the needed specs for Windows 11.

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