Windows 11 won’t come to many computers until 2022, here’s how to check if it’s available

Windows 11 arrived a little earlier than anticipated, but the update is immediately available to new devices for now. Many PC users may have to wait until next year to get the operating system upgrade.

Microsoft originally announced that the Windows 11 update would start rolling out on Oct. 5. However, the company published a blog post on Monday to mark a “new era for the PC.” It also meant that the update was made available a day earlier than anticipated. “We’re pumped to be launching Windows 11; the entire user experience brings you closer to what you love, empowers you to produce and inspires you to create,” Chief Product Officer Panos Panay said.

However, anyone who has been following the Windows 11 news should know not to expect the update to become available on day one on all devices worldwide. The company announced in late August that it is taking a “phased and measured approach” in releasing the new OS version.

“That means new eligible devices will be offered the upgrade first,” the company said at the time. “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.”

There are several ways to check if Windows 11 is already available on the device. One of the most straightforward methods is to check through the Windows Update on the Settings menu. Meanwhile, some devices entering this market this fall will be shipped with Windows 11 already installed.

Tech fans who do not want to wait to get the OS update may choose to buy a new device. Microsoft has put up a page where people can find laptops, gaming PCs, and 2-in-1 devices that will come with Windows 11.

Due to the phased and measured approach of releasing Windows 11, older devices running Windows 10 may have to wait until mid-2022 to get the update. Microsoft has also clarified that not all PCs with Windows 10 can get the new OS version. One way to see if a hardware upgrade is needed to get Windows 11 is by installing the PC Health Check app, which will determine if a computer has the system requirements for the update.

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