Windows 11 has been rolling out on eligible devices, and you can decide whether and when to upgrade. However, Microsoft has announced that the support for Windows 10 will end in 2025, so this decision is time-limited.
If you are one of those users who are still on the fence, the following content will help you understand the new changes in Windows 11, and decide whether to upgrade in the first place.
How to upgrade to Windows 11
Before upgrading, it is recommended that you check whether your computer hardware configuration meets the basic requirements of Microsoft Windows 11. Microsoft's official Health Check will tell you if your computer system is ready for upgrade. If your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements, your upgrade path will be much easier.
In addition to checking the official Microsoft data in "Update & Security" to see if the information system is constantly updated, users who meet the hardware requirements can also upgrade through the Windows 11 installation assistant provided by Microsoft's official website and follow the step-by-step instructions to complete the installation after the download is complete.
What is the difference between Windows 11 and Windows 10
Six years have passed since the release of Windows 10, after a long period of research and development, what are the differences between Windows 11 and Windows 10?
1. Interface UI
Compared to Windows 10, Windows 11 has made more significant changes in the overall UI design, features and other aspects.
The most obvious is that the Windows 11 Start menu has a centered design. The dynamic tiles from Windows 8 have been abandoned, and the entire icon presentation is more simple and intuitive. The Dock bar at the bottom of the system is also added, as in MacOS.
In addition, the whole system adopts a new theme, and when you open a window, you can see that the window is presented in a tiled style, and all Windows are designed with rounded corners.
2. More smooth experience for users
Windows 11 is also an obvious improvement in terms of experience. By optimizing the interaction logic and menu hierarchy, Windows 11 can bring users a faster experience.
First of all, the overall interface of Windows 11 is simpler and clearer. However, its fineness is higher, so the whole interface looks very fresh, and the rendering speed is also faster after clicking.
Secondly, the search bar is integrated into the Start menu, so users can easily search for the applications or content they want.
In addition, Windows 11 also introduces a new way of multi-tasking layout - Snap Layouts, which makes the use of specific scenarios more efficient.
Windows 11 also takes care of the business users' experience. Nowadays, telecommuting has become the norm, and Microsoft has integrated Teams directly into Windows 11 so that users can easily use this application. Microsoft Teams is more tightly integrated with Windows, and clicking the Teams icon on the taskbar brings up the chat list directly, speeding up the software connection. 3.
3. Better adaptation to mobile devices
Microsoft has always attached great importance to the experience of mobile devices, but the previous versions of the system have done poorly in this regard, and this Windows 11 has been significantly optimized for mobile devices.
Take a 2-in-1 device like Surface for example, when the body is separated from the keyboard, the layout of Windows 11 does not switch to dynamic tile pages like Windows 8 and Windows 10. Instead, it will increase the touch target, thus making it easier to click, zoom, move, and other controls.
In addition, when switching between horizontal and vertical modes, the two Windows in the side-by-side layout will switch to vertical stacking, instead of one program covering the full-screen display as in the past.
4. Better gaming experience
Gaming is a key part of Windows 11. The new system natively supports Auto-HDR function, which can automatically upgrade games that only support SDR mode to near HDR effect, thus making the game screen rendering better.
At the same time, in order to speed up game operation, Windows 11 achieves better support for pass-through storage technology. Games optimized by this technology, together with solid-state drives, can significantly reduce loading time, and in addition, in recent years, Microsoft has worked to open up the boundary between XBox and Windows to enable more PC users to play XBox games directly on their PCs.
5. The newly designed Microsoft Store
Microsoft Store is not as good as APP Store or Google Store for Chinese users, but with the release of Windows 11, Microsoft also launched a redesigned Microsoft Store. In general, it is easier to search for all types of applications you want, and the whole interface UI is more concise and clear.
In addition, another highlight of Windows 11 is that through Intel Bridge technology, Android applications can be used directly in the Windows 11 system. Intel Bridge technology can greatly expand the mobile application experience, running mobile applications smoothly on PC, further simplifying the experience of working efficiently and playing games on a single screen.
Should we upgrade in the first place?
After understanding the basic situation of Windows 11, then the question arises, should we upgrade at the first time or not?
As a new system, Windows 11 certainly has some unique advantages, but it should be noted that after each new system release, many users will encounter some compatibility or stability issues, such as black screen on boot, taskbar missing, File Explorer not responding, and so on.
And because it is a new version, many of the problems appear difficult to find effective debugging tutorials, the only way is to wait for Microsoft to solve, or simply reinstall the original system.
In addition, some of the software is not yet compatible with the new system, Microsoft cannot guarantee that the original applications that can be used normally on Win7 and Win10 can be opened normally on Win11, or will not have some problems after running.
Therefore, the first batch of users who upgraded to Win 11 will inevitably become "experiments" while getting a fresh experience. Microsoft will continue to repair and improve for their feedback problems, so that the Win 11 system is increasingly perfect.
To sum up, if you usually need to use the computer to study and work, then upgrading the immature Win 11 too early may bring some impact for work. At the same time, old computers and low performance laptops are not recommended to be upgraded, at least until the optimization plan of Win11 is published on the Internet.
But if you are a receptive user and a digital enthusiast who likes to try something new, updating Windows 11 is an easy task. And except for some details of UI and other experiences, the kernel of Windows 11 is not fundamentally different from Windows 10, and it doesn't take a long time to adapt to using it.
Even if you experience the new system and feel that you are not satisfied, you do not have to worry because Microsoft provides a system restore to normal function this time, after installing the Windows 11 upgrade, you have 10 days we can realize to go back to the Windows 10 system at any time.