Download Windows 11: The upgrade will be provided for free, and here's how to obtain it.

If you're already a Windows 10 user, you can get a free upgrade to Windows 11, and you can try out an early version right now. Use the PC Health Check app to determine whether your computer is capable of running Microsoft's new operating system.

Windows 11 is on the way, and if you're already a Windows 10 user, the upgrade to Microsoft's newly redesigned operating system will be free. (You can learn everything you need to know about Windows 11 right here.) As long as your PC meets the minimum requirements, you'll be able to update to Windows 11 in the same way that you do Windows 10 — once it begins to be released during the holiday season of 2021 and into 2022 (While we don't have an exact date, Microsoft has hinted that it could arrive as soon as October.)

If you're a Windows Insider and can't wait for the final version, you can download the first Windows 11 Insider Preview build today and try out some of the new features, such as widgets, snap layouts, virtual desktops, and the new Microsoft Store. We'll explain how below.

To begin, check Microsoft's website for specifications to see if your current Windows 10 PC is eligible for the free upgrade to Windows 11. In addition, if you purchase a new PC between now and the general release, that computer will be eligible for the free upgrade as well.

Don't worry if you haven't updated to Windows 10 yet; there's still a way to get Windows 10 for free. Now is a good time to make the change in order to prepare your machine for the Windows 11 upgrade.

How to Get Windows 11 Insider Preview Build

If you're a member of the Windows Insider Program (which you can join for free right now), you can now download the first Insider Preview build of Windows 11. However, it's worth noting that beta versions, especially early ones like this, are notoriously buggy. Never install a beta on your primary device; instead, use a tester device if you have one. Most people should wait for the public beta in July, or even better, the general release later in the year. This first build also does not include all of the new features that will be included in the final release.

Still want to give it a shot? Here's how to do it.

1. Ensure that your device is running a licensed version of Windows 10 and that you are an administrator. If you haven't already, sign up for the Windows Insider Program. Alternatively, sign in to your Windows Insider account. Start the flight by clicking the Start button.

2. Navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Microsoft Insider Program. Get Started by clicking the button.

3. Select + to connect the Microsoft account you registered with and continue under Pick an account to get started.

4. Follow the instructions to select the experience and channel through which you want to receive Insider Preview builds: the Dev channel (for developers), the beta channel (for early adopters), or the release preview channel (for those who want to get the most recent version before it's generally released). It should be noted that this build will be released to the Dev channel.

5. Read the Privacy Statement and Terms of Service, then click Confirm. Click the Restart Now button.

6. After restarting, double-check your data settings to ensure you can download preview builds. To do so, navigate to Settings > Privacy > Diagnostics & feedback and toggle the Optional Diagnostic Data switch to On.

7. Select Update & Security > Windows Update from the Settings menu. Check for updates by clicking the Check for updates button. Based on the settings you selected, you should see the most recent Insider Preview build.

After that, your device should update in the same manner as any other Windows update, and you'll be good to go.

When Windows 11 becomes generally available, here's how to get it.

When Windows 11 becomes available this fall to all Windows users with compatible computers, you'll download it in the same way you would any new version of Windows. The majority of users will navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for Updates. You'll see Feature update to Windows 11 if it's available. Click the Download and Install button.

Windows 11 has a new streamlined design with pastel colors, rounded corners, a new startup sound, and a more Mac-like overall appearance. The Windows Start menu has been relocated from the bottom left corner to the center of the screen, with app icons arranged in the center next to it. There are numerous new desktop tools to be found. Widgets that provide information at a glance, for example, and easier virtual desktop creation Android apps will also be integrated into Windows and available for download from the Microsoft Store. (See all of Windows 11's best features and how to use them.)

The update is the first significant change to Microsoft's operating system since the release of Windows 10 in 2015. For the past year, rumors of a major Windows redesign have circulated. On May 25, at the Microsoft Build developer conference, CEO Satya Nadella stated that Microsoft was planning "one of the most significant updates to Windows in the last decade." confirming that a significant change was on the horizon for the OS's 1.3 billion users in 2021 As leaked images of Windows 11 spread, Microsoft quietly announced in mid-June that it would end support for Windows 10 in 2025.

For more, see everything we wished we could see in Windows 11 but didn't, as well as all of the major differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11.