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Windows 11

File:Windows_11_Desktop.png · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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Windows 11

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Also known as Windows11

personal computer operating system by Microsoft released in 2021

AI overview

Windows 11 is Microsoft's personal computer operating system that was released in 2021, serving as the successor to Windows 10. It matters because it's the operating system that runs on millions of computers worldwide, providing the foundation for how people work, communicate, and access information on their PCs.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Wikidata facts

Subclass of
Windows NT
Official name
Windows 11
Follows
Windows 10
Based on
Windows 10
Developer
Microsoft
Manufacturer
Microsoft
Image
Windows11abstract.webp
Show 18 more facts
language of work or name
Nepali
working title
Sun Valley
announcement date
2021-06-24
copyright holder
Microsoft
inception
2021-10-05
publication date
2021-10-05
distributed by
Microsoft Store
update method
optical disc image
Commons category
Microsoft Windows 11
GUI toolkit or framework
Fluent Design System
topic's main category
Category:Windows 11
software version identifier
10.0.26220.7670
edition or translation of
Microsoft Windows
hashtag
Windows11
price
199
Sources (14)

via Wikidata · CC0

~40 min read

Encyclopedic overview

Windows 11 is the current major release of Microsoft's Windows NT operating system, released on October 5, 2021, as the successor to Windows 10 (2015). It is available as a free upgrade for devices running Windows 10 that meet its system requirements. The Windows Server counterpart, Windows Server 2025, was released in 2024. It is the first major version of Windows without a corresponding mobile edition, following the end of support for Windows 10 Mobile, and is implemented to mobile devices with different form factors, screen sizes and CPU architectures (including tablets and handheld game consoles with smaller screen sizes) as a unified edition of Windows. As of October 14, 2025, Windows 11 is the only fully supported consumer-oriented version of Windows.

The operating system introduced a redesigned Windows shell influenced by elements of the canceled Windows 10X project, including a centered Start menu, a separate "Widgets" panel replacing live tiles, and new window management features. It also incorporates gaming technologies from the Xbox Series X and Series S, such as Auto HDR and DirectStorage on supported hardware. The Chromium-based Microsoft Edge remains the default web browser, replacing Internet Explorer, while Microsoft Teams is integrated into the interface. Microsoft also expanded support for third-party applications in the Microsoft Store, including limited compatibility with Android apps through a partnership with the Amazon Appstore.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Windows 11” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

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