Windows 11 (original release)

Windows 11 is an upcoming major version of Microsoft Windows that has been announced on 24 June 2021 and that succeeds the Windows 10 series. Its initial Cobalt-based release is expected to be generally available in October 2021 as a free upgrade over Windows Update. It includes a refreshed user interface based on the Sun Valley effort, as well as other minor improvements over the Windows 10 May 2021 Update.

The new version drops support for 32-bit x86 systems, leaving only the AMD64 (x64) and ARM64 target platforms, although 32-bit user applications are still supported via WoW64. The AMD64 version now also requires a system with UEFI firmware that supports the Secure Boot specification and includes a Trusted Platform Module, which has been subject to controversy as it leaves many older systems that fully support Windows 10 ineligible for the free upgrade.

History
Rumors of a new major version of Windows were initially sparked by comments made by Panos Panay, Microsoft's chief product officer, and Satya Nadella, chairman of Microsoft, both talking about a next generation of Windows. "Soon we will share one of the most significant updates to Windows of the past decade to unlock greater economic opportunity for developers and creators. I’ve been self-hosting it over the past several months, and I’m incredibly excited about the next generation of Windows. Our promise to you is this: we will create more opportunity for every Windows developer today and welcome every creator who is looking for the most innovative, new, open platform to build and distribute and monetize applications. We look forward to sharing more very soon."

- Satya Nadella at Microsoft Build 2021

References to a potential new version leaked in Microsoft documentation weeks before the official announcement, including a mention of "Windows Sun Valley" in a description alongside Windows 10, telemetry documentation showing two separate updates both bearing the 21H2 version number, or a Windows 11 reference in accidentally published internal Azure taxonomy documentation. The aka.ms/windows11 redirect has also been found to exist in late May 2021, similarly to redirects for other major Windows releases.

A special event was held on 24 June 2021 where Microsoft officially announced Windows 11. Despite the company's great efforts to prevent any leaks prior to the event, build 21996 was leaked online on 15 June, nine days before the keynote. The build includes Windows 11 branding, as well as a new Start menu and taskbar reminiscent of Windows 10X together with redesigned user interface widgets.

Criticism
Microsoft has deliberately crippled the taskbar in this version because Satya Nadella likes the way that the taskbar is. He likes the taskbar to be at the bottom, he doesn't like toolbars to be on the taskbar. However, they forgot to remove the old taskbar (Windows 10 design).

MS also changed the start menu yet again. Why do they keep fucking with the Start Menu??? I'm blaming Nadella. They also broke Classic Shell! Luckily, you can revert to the old start menu.

The UI also looks really cartoonish in general, similar to Windows 8. OSFirstTimer made a video of his mum, Diana Adams, trying out Windows 8 and she doesn't like the new UI. She said that it was childish and cartoonish. Windows 11's UI reminds me of using a mobile device rather than a desktop computer.

List of known builds

 * For builds that predate the development of Windows 11-specific features, see the list of Windows 10 post-20H1 builds.