Windows 11 (original release)

Windows 11 is a rumored next major version of Microsoft Windows that would succeed the Windows 10 series. If real, it is likely based on the Cobalt codebase and linked to the Sun Valley user interface refresh effort.

The aka.ms/windows11 redirect has been found to exist in late May 2021, suggesting that a future major update may bump the major version number. At the moment, the link merely redirects to the Microsoft homepage, while non-existent links are redirected to Bing.

The rumor is supported by statements of Panos Panay, Microsoft's chief product offier, and Satya Nadella , chairman of Microsoft, both mentioning 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 monetise applications. We look forward to sharing more very soon."

- Satya Nadella in Microsoft Build 2021 opening keynote

Documentation for Windows 10 telemetry also shows that Microsoft may plan to release both the Vibranium-based Windows 10 version 21H2 and a Cobalt-based 21H2 release, which further suggests that the company could be intending to launch the latter as a new major version of Windows. A 22H2 feature update based on Copper, the development cycle that will take place in the first half of 2022, is also mentioned in the document.