September 01, 2021: -On Tuesday, Microsoft said that it would start offering free upgrades to Windows 11, the next version of its desktop operating system, to eligible PCs on October 5.

Windows, initially released in 1985, remains a crucial piece of Microsoft’s business. Windows delivered $6.6 billion in revenue in the second quarter, representing 14% of the company’s software and total hardware revenue. A successful release of Windows 11 could secure the franchise’s future, which can also benefit other parts of Microsoft’s business, like Azure and Office.

For past updates, Microsoft uses the on-device data and other factors to determine which devices will get the offer to upgrade first, Aaron Woodman, general manager for Windows marketing.

On PCs running Windows 10, which can include the necessary components to run Windows 11, the Windows Update feature will notify people when the upgrade is available.

Windows 11 enables the modern look, with rounded corners and app icons displayed in the center of the taskbar. New voices are designed to be less jarring. Microsoft redesigned the Start menu, the app store, and the Settings app, and it’s easier to arrange multiple app windows on the screen. The refresh comes as Microsoft faces increasing competition from Chromebooks running Google’s Chrome OS, and Chromebooks can run Android apps. And Android apps will be available by way of the Appstore of Amazon.

And Windows 11 will be going up against a widespread release in the form of its predecessor. Microsoft is releasing Windows 10 in 2015, making this the most extended period a version of Windows has been in the market before a replacement. It has become the most popular PC operating system globally, boasting 1.3 billion monthly active devices. Microsoft will keep doing to support Windows 10 through 2025, and the company tells people to stick with it if their PCs can’t run Windows 11 and don’t want to buy a new PC.

Last week, Microsoft said that it would support new Windows when it’s running on a variety of PC processors, including Intel chips manufactured by 2016. The company expects all devices that meet the Windows 11 requirements to receive the free upgrade by mid-2022, Woodman wrote.