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Services & Software


WINDOWS 11: HOW TO DOWNLOAD MICROSOFT'S LATEST OS ON YOUR DEVICE

Whether you just bought a new laptop or you want to update an older device, the
Windows 11 Installation Assistant can help you skip the line for Microsoft's new
operating system.

Alison DeNisco Rayome

Feb. 2, 2022 3:00 p.m. PT

Alison DeNisco Rayome

Managing Editor

Alison DeNisco Rayome is a managing editor at CNET, now covering smart home
topics after writing about services and software. Alison was previously an
editor at TechRepublic.

See full bio
4 min read
 * * 
   * 
   * 
   * 

CNET editors pick the products and services we write about. When you buy through
our links, we may get a commission.
Windows 11 is here and it's free to download for Windows 10 users.
Microsoft

You might be able to get Windows 11 even faster than Microsoft originally
projected. Last month, Microsoft reported that users are upgrading to Windows 11
at twice the rate that they did for Windows 10. The company's new operating
system has been rolling out to eligible devices earlier ever since Microsoft
launched its new operating system on Oct. 5. Everyone using Windows
10 can upgrade for free if they have a compatible computer, but a lot of people
are still waiting for the opportunity. 

Microsoft is rolling out the OS in phases, so your system might not prompt you
to upgrade just yet -- in fact, you might not find it even if you tell your
computer to check for updates. Last August, Microsoft estimated that "all
eligible devices [will] be offered the free upgrade to Windows 11 by mid-2022,"
but now Microsoft has said Windows 11 is "beginning to enter its final phase of
availability," which puts the company ahead of its initial mid-2022 plan.

Even with the changed timeline, it's OK if you still don't want to wait! Read on
to find out how the Windows 11 Installation Assistant is your shortcut to
Windows 11.



If you're not in a rush, the Windows 11 update will be pushed to your device at
some point in the coming months when Microsoft's data indicates the upgrade is
ready for that device. When the new OS is available to you, the upgrade process
will feel similar to a normal Windows 10 update, as long as your device is
compatible and meets the minimum requirements. (And even if it doesn't,
Microsoft will offer a workaround, but in that case your Windows 11 installation
won't be supported by the company.)

Read more: Windows 11 review: Familiar but fresh

In the meanwhile, you still have the option to manually download Windows 11 and
check out its new features, such as widgets, snap layouts, virtual desktops and
the new Microsoft Store. We'll tell you how below. Before your download,
here's everything you need to know about Microsoft's new software.



To see if your current Windows 10 PC is eligible for the free upgrade to Windows
11, you can check in a few different ways. And if you buy a new PC, that
computer will also be eligible for the free upgrade. 

If you haven't updated to Windows 10 yet, don't worry -- there's a trick for
downloading Windows 10 free that still works. Now would be a good time to make
the switch so you can prepare your machine for the Windows 11 upgrade. That
trick will be the same one you use if you want to manually upgrade an older
machine to Windows 11, though Microsoft doesn't encourage doing this as it may
not be eligible for the same updates. 

Read more: Everything we know about Android apps coming to Windows 11

Now playing: Watch this: How to install Windows 11 with an update or a
bootable...
9:47


WINDOWS 11 INSTALLATION ASSISTANT: HOW TO DOWNLOAD WINDOWS 11 WITHOUT WAITING

Some users can download Windows 11 the same way you'd get any new version of
Windows. Just go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and
click Check for Updates. If available, you'll see Feature update to Windows 11.
Click Download and install. 

Again, note that the Windows 11 rollout will be slow -- it could take months
before it's available on your device. New PCs will get the upgrade first, and
all compatible devices are expected to receive it by mid-2022, depending on
device age and hardware. 

If the upgrade isn't available to you yet, but you want to upgrade now, you have
a few options. The best and simplest option will be to download the Windows 11
Installation Assistant. Choose Run after the download to make sure your hardware
is compatible. Then Accept and Install to agree to the licensing terms and begin
the installation. When the program is finished installing, you'll be prompted to
restart your computer. Your PC might restart several times during the process of
finishing the installation, so don't be alarmed. Just keep your PC on until
everything's done.

If you're not able to use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant, you have a
couple of backup options, but be warned that these are more complicated. We
seriously advise that you consider waiting for the update to come to your
device. If you're certain you want to proceed, you can create Windows 11
installation media or an ISO file. Microsoft's download Windows 11 page has
those steps in greater detail.

Now playing: Watch this: Windows 11 review: New OS has us asking, update or
wait?
8:32


WHAT'S IN WINDOWS 11

Windows 11 features a streamlined new design, with pastel colors, rounded
corners, a new startup sound and overall a more Mac-like look. The Windows Start
menu has moved from the bottom left of the screen to the middle, with app icons
arranged in the center next to it. You'll find lots of new desktop tools, like
widgets that can give you at-a-glance information, and easier virtual desktop
creation. And Android apps will be integrated into Windows and installable from
the Microsoft Store -- though that feature won't be available right away. (Check
out all of the best Windows 11 features and how to use them.) 

The update marks the first major change to Microsoft's operating system since
Windows 10 launched in 2015. Rumors about a major Windows redesign have been
circulating for the past year. At the Microsoft Build developers conference on
May 25 last year, CEO Satya Nadella said Microsoft was planning "one of the most
significant updates of Windows of the past decade," confirming that a major
change was on the horizon for the 1.3 billion users of the OS in 2021. And in
mid-June, Microsoft quietly announced that it would end support for Windows
10 in 2025 as leaked images of Windows 11 spread.

For more, check out everything we wanted to see in Windows 11 but didn't, and
all of the big differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11. 

Now playing: Watch this: 7 ways to take screenshots in Windows 11
3:54



SEE ALSO

 * Windows 11 Review: Familiar But Fresh
 * Change Your Windows 11 Wallpaper in 5 Simple Steps (It's Super Easy to Do)
 * Windows 11: Everything You Need to Know About New Features and More
 * Windows 11 Compatibility: Check if Your \PC Meets Microsoft's Requirements
   With These Tools
 * Windows 11 vs. Windows 10: All the Upgrades You Should Know About
 * Surface Pro 8: A Familiar Companion for Windows 11
 * Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio Review: The Screen Is All









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