Since the announcement of Windows 11, Microsoft has been poor at communicating some of the major changes coming to its next-gen OS. From hardware requirements to CPU limitations, there is a barrage of common questions people have on their minds. Will Windows 11 run on their computer? On what basis is Microsoft creating a CPU generation limit for Windows 11? What will happen to Windows 10 users who don’t meet the hardware requirements? Well, to help solve all your doubts, we have come up with Windows 11 most common FAQs and answers. So without any wait, let’s jump to Windows 11 FAQs section.
All Your Windows 11 Questions Answered (2021)
Here, we have answered some of the most common questions about Windows 11, be it related to TPM, CPU generation, launch date, or specific Windows 11 features. We have also included questions on Windows 10 end-of-life support and what are the ways to run Windows 11 on unsupported machines. I would suggest you go through all of the questions from top to bottom to remove all your doubts regarding Windows 11.
1. Is My PC Eligible for Windows 11 Upgrade?
Microsoft is offering a free upgrade to Windows 10 users, but there are a few caveats. You can check out this free app that tells you if your PC is compatible with Windows 11 or not. The official PC Health Check app from Microsoft will also let you check if your PC can run Windows 11, but it has been taken down due to bugs for the time being.
To give you a brief explainer of the current scenario, you need a TPM security chip and an 8th-gen Intel or above processor to use Windows 11. On the AMD side, you need a Ryzen 2500 or later processor.
2. How to Upgrade to Windows 11 from Windows 10?
Currently, Windows 11 is available only to people who are part of the Dev Channel of the Windows Insiders Program. You can enroll in the program and upgrade to Windows 11 in only a few easy steps. If you need help, follow our tutorial on how to upgrade to Windows 11 from Windows 10.
3. Does Upgrading to Windows 11 Erase Data?
No, if you upgrade to Windows 11, nothing will be erased. All your files, programs, and even the activation key will remain intact.
4. How Much Does It Cost to Upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11?
If you are on Windows 10 and meet the system requirements, you don’t need to pay anything as the upgrade to Windows 11 is completely free. Also, you do not need to buy a separate license key for Windows 11.
5. Can I Go Back to Windows 10 If I Don’t Like Windows 11?
Yes, if you don’t like Windows 11 and want to roll back to Windows 10 with all your files and programs intact, then you can do so. However, you must perform this action within 10 days of moving to Windows 11. Post the 10-day period, you need to clean install Windows 10 manually. Also, make sure to back up all your files as a clean install will erase files from the C drive.
We are currently working on a detailed guide explaining how to roll back to Windows 10 from Windows 11. We will update this article with a link to the guide very soon.
6. How to Check If My Computer Has TPM?
You can simply use the Windows keyboard shortcut “Windows +R” and run tpm.msc to find if TPM is available on your PC or not. For detailed steps, follow our guide on how to check and enable the TPM chip on Windows PC.
7. Why is TPM Mandatory for Windows 11?
TPM is a hardware security chip that stores all of your passwords, private credentials, encryption keys, and more. Due to the increased risk of attacks on PC’s motherboards, Microsoft wants to guard these critical and private keys against malicious hackers. To learn about this topic in detail, head over to our explainer on what is TPM and why it is essential for Windows 11.
8. What CPUs Are Compatible with Windows 11?
Currently, Windows 11 is compatible only with 8th-Gen Intel and above processors and AMD Ryzen 2500 or later processors. You can find the complete list of Intel, AMD, and Snapdragon CPUs compatible with Windows 11 here.
That said, after users raged against Microsoft for creating an artificial CPU limitation, the company stated that it would consider adding support for 7th-Gen Intel and 1st-Gen Ryzen processors. It will test how its next-gen desktop OS performs on PCs with unsupported processors via the Insider program.
9. What Are the Minimum System Requirements for Windows 11?
The minimum system requirements for Windows 11 are a 64-bit processor, 1 Gigahertz (GHz) or faster CPU, 4GB of RAM, TPM chip, 720p display, and more. You can go through the complete list of official hardware requirements for running Windows 11.
10. What if My PC Doesn’t Meet Minimum Hardware Requirements for Windows 11?
If your PC does not meet the minimum hardware requirements to run Windows 11, you can continue using Windows 10 and will receive updates until 14 October 2025.
11. What Happens When Windows 10 Reaches End-of-Life?
As I have mentioned above, Windows 10 will reach end-of-life in 2025. After that, you will still be able to use your computer, but you will not get new features or quality updates.
Also, your Windows 10 PC will not get many security updates after 2025, leaving you more exposed to malicious attacks and viruses. You will have to pay for the extended support, as is happening with Windows 7 extended security updates, if you want to continue using your Windows 10 computer.
12. When Will the Support for Windows 11 End?
If we go by earlier trends, it seems like Windows 11 will be supported for the next 10 years – until 2031. For the first 5-6 years, there will be features and quality updates, and for the last four years, you are likely to receive support and service updates.
For enterprise users running the LTSC edition, the Windows 11 end-of-Life date will be certainly longer, just like Windows 10, which ends its support for business users in 2029.
13. How Long Will the Free Upgrade to Windows 11 Offer Last?
It has not been announced yet, but generally, the window to free upgrade lasts for one year since the beginning of General Availability (GA). So if the Windows 11 GA starts in October this year, the offer will last till October 2022. Keep in mind, this offer window is at Microsoft’s discretion, and they generally extend the upgrade window, as has happened before.
14. Can We Install Windows 11 on Unsupported CPU & Without TPM?
Officially, you can’t install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware – without TPM or an incompatible CPU. However, there are several workarounds that you can try. You will need to make some changes to the Registry, and you will be good to go.
By the way, if you are clean installing Windows 11, Microsoft does not even check the CPU generation, meaning it’s an artificial limit. Currently, only TPM and Secure Boot are checked during a clean install.
15. How to Download Windows 11 ISO Image?
Microsoft has officially stated that they will not be releasing ISOs of early Windows 11 preview builds. We need to wait for the beta channel release, which might happen in July, to access the ISO image. Keep a close eye on this download page for the Windows 11 ISO image. Make sure you are signed in with your Microsoft account.
16. How to Upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 11?
Sadly, Windows 7 users won’t get the free upgrade to Windows 11. However, you can move from Windows 7 to Windows 10 with the free Media Creation Tool. If you want to activate your Windows 10 PC after installation, you can get Windows 10 key for cheap using the linked guide.
17. What All Features Were Removed from Windows 11?
Some of the major features removed from Windows 11 are Internet Explorer, Classic Start Menu, Live Tiles, Windows Timeline, and more. Most importantly, the next-gen desktop OS has removed the ability to resize the taskbar and move it to the top or sides. Now, that’s a disappointing change but worry not as we have you covered. Here’s an in-depth guide that you can use to customize the taskbar in Windows 11.
You can check out the complete list of features Microsoft removed in Windows 11 here.
18. When is Android App Support Coming to Windows 11?
Microsoft has not confirmed the date, but Android app support for Windows 11 will most likely arrive in the Windows Insiders Dev channel in the latter half of July. To learn more about how Microsoft intends to run Android apps on Windows 11, check out our in-depth explainer on Project Latte.
19. Can We Sideload Android APKs on Windows 11?
According to a Microsoft engineer, the answer is yes. Apart from installing your favorite Android apps from the Amazon App Store, you will be able to sideload Android APKs on your Windows 11 computer.
20. When Will the Windows 11 Stable Update Release to the General Public?
Currently, Windows 11 is going through the testing phase, which will last for the next four months. According to some leaks, the Windows 11 stable update is supposed to go live on October 20, 2021.
Having said that, the stable update won’t be immediately available to all users. It will be a phased rollout, and Microsoft has said that the transition will continue till 2022. For detailed answers, check out our explainer on when will my PC get Windows 11 update.
21. When Will Windows 11 Laptops Arrive in the Market?
According to Microsoft, the first batch of Windows 11 laptops and desktops will arrive in the market during the holiday season this year.
22. Can I Upgrade My PC to Windows 11 If It Runs Windows 10 in S Mode?
Yes, you can upgrade to Windows 11 Home Edition in S mode. However, you must meet the minimum hardware requirements that I have mentioned above.
23. How Many GB is Windows 11?
For Windows 11 Home Edition, it’s around 2.8GB. For Windows 11 Pro and other editions, the ISO size is around 4.6GB.
24. Can You Move the Taskbar on Windows 11?
Windows 11 does not offer any user-facing option to change the placement of the new centered Taskbar in Windows 11. However, using some Registry tweaks you can move the Taskbar in Windows 11 easily. Just follow our guide on how to customize the Taskbar on Windows 11.
25. Can I Switch Back to Classic Start Menu with Live Tiles Support on Windows 11?
Yes, you can get the classic Start Menu back on Windows 11 by changing a few Registry values. I would suggest you follow our tutorial on how to switch back to Windows 10 Start Menu on Windows 11.
Windows 11: Most Common FAQs with Answers
So these are some of the commonly asked questions regarding Windows 11. We have tried to answer all sorts of questions, from technical ones to general questions of availability and new features. If you think we have missed out on anything, comment down below and let us know. We will beep up the article with answers to all your queries.
