14 DAY TRIAL // With Windows 11 already available, many are hoping to be included in the first wave of production devices getting the new operating system, though Microsoft has repeatedly said on multiple occasions that the whole thing is taking place in waves and it expects the rollout to come to an end in mid-2022.
In other words, not everybody is getting Windows 11 today, but if you believe your computer should be able to receive the operating system today, there’s something else you need to check.
The Redmond-based software giant explains that only Windows 10 devices that are running version 2004 or later will be offered the update to Windows 11. And also importantly, they must have the September 14 updates installed, otherwise, Windows 11 wouldn’t show up on Windows Update.
To put it simply, only up-to-date Windows 10 devices will be offered the new operating system, otherwise, computers running an older version need to be updated before getting Windows 11.
The rollout is taking place in stages
Microsoft says this still isn’t any guarantee that you’ll be getting Windows 11 today, as it closely monitors the rollout to determine what hardware could be impacted by certain issues.
“Over time, we will make Windows 11 available to existing (in-market) devices based on hardware eligibility, reliability metrics and other factors that impact the upgrade experience. If you have a Windows 10 PC that’s eligible for the upgrade, Windows Update will let you know via the Windows Update Settings page when it’s available. We expect all eligible Windows 10 devices to be offered the upgrade to Windows 11 by mid-2022,” it says.
If you don’t want to wait, you can always use the Windows 11 ISO images to clean-install the operating system, though this isn’t recommended if any upgrade blocks are in place.