Windows 11: how the October 5, 2021 release went

On October 5, 2021, Microsoft released Windows 11. The system arrived more than six years after Windows 10 and was offered as a free upgrade for computers that met its system requirements.

The upgrade rolled out gradually: newer eligible devices received it first. Installation remained optional, through Windows Update or the Installation Assistant app, and Microsoft expected to reach all compatible computers by mid-2022.

What the system looked like

Windows 11 is recognizable by its centered Start menu and taskbar. The redesigned interface drew heavily on the canceled Windows 10X project: live tiles were replaced by a grid of pinned apps, a separate Widgets panel appeared, and window management gained Snap Layouts.

It required UEFI, Secure Boot and a TPM 2.0 module, plus a processor from the compatibility list: 8th generation Intel Core and newer, AMD Zen+ and newer, Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 and above. These restrictions exclude a substantial number of systems, which drew criticism from users and the press. Windows 11 became the first consumer version of Windows without a 32-bit build, offering only x86-64 and ARM64.

Requirements and disputes

The 2015 promise was recalled as well: at the Ignite conference, Microsoft employee Jerry Nixon called Windows 10 "the last version of Windows," though PC World later wrote that his words were taken out of context. The numbering returned anyway. The gap between Windows 10 and Windows 11 turned out to be the longest between consecutive Windows releases, longer than between Windows XP (2001) and Windows Vista (2007).

Reviews at release were mixed: the new look, window management and stronger security were praised, while restrictions on taskbar customization and the difficulty of changing default apps were criticized. Over time the system gained traction: in June 2025 it overtook Windows 10 in worldwide installations.

Image: Microsoft Public domain

Translation editors: Соловьев В., Пеков А.