On June 24, Microsoft will hold a special event to announce the next version of Windows. We've seen a number of possible improvements Microsoft is expected to bring with the next version of Windows, codenamed Sun Valley, during the last several months. With the event approaching, you must be eager to learn all there is to know about Windows 11. Will Windows 11 be the name of the next operating system? Are you going to have to pay for Windows again? Everything will be discussed, including the name of Windows 11, the release date, new features, and much more.
Windows 11: What's the New Name?
In an unexpected change of events, it seems that Microsoft may rename the forthcoming Windows 10 Sun Valley (21H2) upgrade "Windows 11," abandoning its prior position that Windows 10 would be the last version of the operating system. There are many indications that Microsoft may use this moniker for its next major release. Microsoft is the source of the first hint. The Redmond giant decided not to add horizontal lines for shadows in the logo, as you can see in the event announcement tweet below. The horizontal lines appeared in a previous picture uploaded on the company's Instagram account.
Evan Blass, a renowned tipper, offers another another solid indication. Blass went to Twitter to post a message that hinted to the next update's name: Windows 11. Take a look at the tweet below. Based on this, it's reasonable to infer that Microsoft's next upgrade will be dubbed Windows 11.
A newly leaked Windows version also clearly displays the Windows 11 logo, which is a strong indication. You may be confident that Microsoft will unveil Windows 11 next week based on this.
Release Date for Windows 11
Microsoft is expected to reveal the Windows 11 release date at its presentation next week. The event will take place on June 24 at 11:00 a.m. ET, which is 8:00 a.m. PT or 8:30 p.m. IST. Soon after the event, Microsoft may release an Insider preview build to offer early adopters a taste of its next-generation desktop OS. It's possible that a stable release may arrive in October 2021.
Complete Timeline for Windows 11
If you're wondering when Windows 11 will be available, here's a full timetable for the forthcoming update:
Windows 11 Release Date - On June 24, Microsoft will reveal the latest Windows version, Windows 11.
Windows 11 Insider Preview Release Date — Following the June event, Microsoft may release Windows 11 for Insiders. The Dev Channel's insiders will be the first to see the new design makeover.
Release Date for Windows 11 Stable Upgrade - Microsoft typically releases the second Windows 10 update in October of each year. We can anticipate the firm using this strategy and releasing Windows 11 to all consumers in October.
Will Windows 10 users be eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 11?
The most pressing issue if Microsoft goes ahead and releases Windows 11 is what will happen to current Windows 10 customers. Given Microsoft's track record, we may anticipate free upgrades for existing Windows 10 customers. Furthermore, XDA Developers discovered evidence indicating that users of Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 would be able to upgrade to Windows 11 for free. We'll have to wait until the Windows event later this month to learn more about the details of this shift.
Back in 2015, the Redmond behemoth chose the Windows-as-a-service distribution technique in order to reach more people and make it easier to provide the newest upgrades to everyone. It provided free Windows 10 upgrades to Windows 7 and Windows 8 customers. As a result, Microsoft now has over 1 billion active Windows 10 users worldwide.
Top New Features in Windows 11
We recently published an article outlining all of the improvements that will be included in the Windows 10 Sun Valley (21H2) upgrade, which will be released as Windows 11. You may read that comprehensive post to learn about all of the new features that will be included in the update. The main features of Microsoft's next major Windows update will be highlighted in this article.
Redesigned App Settings
With Windows 11, Microsoft is redesigning the Settings app. It should have a lot cleaner appearance, similar to what you see in the picture below. The screenshot was reshared on the Windows 10 subreddit and comes from an Italian tech site (which has since been taken down). Take a look at the following:
Microsoft is updating the Settings app to add colorful symbols for important settings, as you can see. Notably, Microsoft has positioned all of the major choices to the left of the interface, thus creating a sidebar. This allows you to easily switch between all of the different Settings settings without having to return to the main page. Because the Settings makeover isn't live in the leaked version, you'll have to wait until June 24 to see it in action.
Rounded Corners in the User Interface
Microsoft will introduce rounded edges to UI components throughout the operating system as part of its aesthetic refresh of Windows. Microsoft has even included a floating start menu, similar to that of Windows 10X, which is no longer available. Take a peek at the redesigned Start Menu in Windows 11:
The taskbar in Windows 11 is by default centered, as seen in the pictures above. You may, however, place the Start Menu in the left corner if that is your preference. If you're accustomed to it, go to Settings -> Personalization -> Taskbar -> Taskbar alignment and choose "Left."
Improved Widgets, Task View, and Windows Search are also included in the Windows 11 upgrade. The news and interests widget, which is previously accessible on Windows 10, is now available in Windows 11's widgets area. However, now that you have a section devoted to widgets, it will be fascinating to watch whether additional developers create widgets for Windows in the future.
The new snap assist feature in Windows 11 is a small but helpful improvement worth mentioning. In the future, when maximizing a window, Windows will allow you to select the precise location of the window. To view the new snap assist window, just hover your mouse above the maximize button. This should significantly enhance Windows 11's multitasking experience.
New Wallpapers & Startup Sound.
On the subject of additional enhancements, Microsoft has updated Windows 11 with new wallpapers and a new startup sound (among other things). From our linked pages, you may download Windows 11 wallpapers and hear the new starting sound. The starting sound is reminiscent of the now-defunct Windows 10X build.
New action center
Microsoft enhanced the appearance and functionality of the Action Center in Windows 10X. On Windows 10X, for example, you don't need to go to the Settings page to change Wi-Fi networks or Bluetooth devices. Instead of leaving the Action Center, you may expand these options. That's a significant increase in usability, and now that Microsoft has officially discontinued Windows 10X, we may see something similar in Windows 11. Meanwhile, read our articles on the greatest Windows 10X features and our guide to running Windows 10X on your PC to learn more about the operating system.
