Windows 11 is built on the same foundation as Windows 10. As such, if you use Windows 10, then Windows 11 should be a natural transition. Many of the apps, tools, security settings, and policy settings intended for Windows 10 should continue to work on this new Operating System. Despite this, there have been some tweaks and changes that users should be aware of. If Windows 11 isn’t appealing or worthwhile, you can still stick to Windows 10. Microsoft has stated that they will continue to support Windows 10 until October 14, 2025.
Hardware Requirements
Before we go deeper into Windows 11, it should be noted that not every device is compatible (according to Microsoft). There might also be additional requirements over time for updates and to enable specific features within this operating system. Microsoft states that they were guided by three principles for this Operating System:
Requires hardware that can enable protections like Windows Hello, Device Encryption, virtualization-based security (VBS), hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI), and Secure Boot. To meet this principle, all Windows 11 supported CPUs have an embedded TPM, support secure boot, support VBS and specific VBS capabilities.
Devices upgraded to Windows 11 will be in a supported and reliable state. This was implemented by choosing CPUs that have adopted the new Windows Driver model and are supported by their OEM and silicon partners who achieve a 99.8% crash free experience.
Windows 11 is designed to be compatible by aligning itself with the minimum system requirements for Office and Microsoft Teams apps (>1GHz, 2-core processors, 4GB memory, and 64GB of storage).
Devices must meet the following minimum hardware requirements to install or upgrade to Windows 11:
- Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with two or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or system on a chip (SoC).
- RAM: 4 gigabytes (GB) or greater.
- Storage: 64 GB or greater available storage is required to install Windows 11.
- Additional storage space might be required to download updates and enable specific features.
- Graphics card: Compatible with DirectX 12 or later, with a WDDM 2.0 driver.
- System firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable.
- TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.
- Display: High definition (720p) display, 9″ or greater monitor, 8 bits per color channel.
- Internet connection: Internet connectivity is necessary to perform updates and to download/use some features.
The Windows 11 Home edition requires an Internet connection and a Microsoft Account to complete device setup on first use. Other versions should allow you to skip these steps.
Reverting a Windows 11 Upgrade
After a Windows 11 upgrade, you have 10 days to roll back to the previous Windows 10 installation. If that deadline seems uncomfortably short, you can use a built-in Windows tool to extend it to as much as 60 days.
From an administrative command prompt, typing the following command:
DISM /Online /Set-OSUninstallWindow /Value:60
This will set a value in the Windows registry that tells the operating system to delay removing the rollback files until the number of days you specified have passed (from 1 to 60). This can let users evaluate Windows 11 for nearly two months! This command should optimally be executed after completing the Windows 11 upgrade.
If you are still within the rollback timeframe, the following steps should be possible.
- Navigate to the Recovery submenu of Settings. The fastest way to get there is to search for “go back to Windows 10” and click the top result. You can also browse to Settings > System > Recovery.
- Click “Go back”
- Check off one or more reasons for your uninstall when prompted.
- Click “No, thanks” when asked to check for updates instead of rolling back. (Microsoft would love to keep you on Windows 11, but if your mind’s made up, it’s made up.)
- Click Next
- Click Next again when warned that you need to remember your password from Windows 10. (This should go without saying.)
- Click “Go back to Windows 10.”
The system will now restart and go through a restoration process that should take a few minutes. When that completes, you’re back on Windows 10.
Security and Scanning
The security and privacy features in Windows 11 are similar to Windows 10. Security for your devices starts with the hardware, and includes OS security, application security, and user & identity security.
- Windows Security App: Built into this OS, this app has a simple interface and combines commonly used security features. From virus & threat protection, firewall & network protection, account protection, and more.
- Security baselines: These are groups of Microsoft-recommended configuration settings that each explain their security impact. These settings are based on feedback from Microsoft security engineering teams, product groups, partners, and consumers. This also helps ensure that user and device configuration settings are compliant with the baseline.
- Microsoft Defender Antivirus: This is built into Windows, and helps protect devices. When used with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, the organization gets strong endpoint protection, and advanced endpoint protection & response. If Endpoint Manager manages devices, then one can create policies based on threat levels in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
- Application Security Features: Many of these security measures can help prevent unwanted or malicious code from running, isolate untrusted websites & untrusted Office files, protect against phishing or malware websites, and more.
- Windows Hello for Business: Replaces passwords, and uses a PIN or biometric that stays locally on the device. Device manufacturers are including more secure hardware features, such as IR cameras and TPM chips. These features are used with Windows Hello for Business to help protect user identities on your organization devices.
- As an administrator, Microsoft is recommending to going passwordless to help secure user identities. The Windows OS, Azure AD, and Endpoint Manager work together to remove passwords, create more secure policies, and help enforce compliance.
Services
In addition to retaining most services and features from Windows 10, Windows 11 has also added some new ones:
Windows 11 is designed to be compatible by aligning itself with the minimum system requirements for Office and Microsoft Teams apps (>1GHz, 2-core processors, 4GB memory, and 64GB of storage).
Included with the OS and is automatically available on the taskbar. Users can select the chat icon, sign in with their personal Microsoft account, and start a call.
This version of Microsoft Teams is for personal accounts. For organization accounts, deploy the Microsoft Teams app using MDM policy (such as Endpoint Manager).
Included with the OS, users can create flows with this low-code app to help them with everyday tasks. For example, users can create flows that save a message to OneNote, notify a team when there’s a new Forms response, get notified when a file is added to SharePoint, and more.
Customizing the Desktop
This feature allows users to customize the sizes of apps on their desktop. And, when you add other apps to the layout, the snapped layout stays in place.
Users can manage some snap features using the Settings app > System > Multitasking
This includes some apps that are pinned by default. You can customize the Start menu layout by pinning (and unpinning) the apps you want. For example, you can pin commonly used apps in your organization, such as Outlook, Microsoft Teams, apps your organization creates, and more.
Users can manage some Start menu features using the Settings app > Personalization
This is the area located at the bottom of the desktop screen. You can pin (and unpin) apps on the Taskbar. For example, you can pin commonly used apps in your organization, such as Outlook, Microsoft Teams, apps your organization creates, and more.
Users can manage some Taskbar features using the Settings app > Personalization
Widgets are available on the Taskbar. It includes a personalized feed that can include weather, calendar, stock prices, news, and more. On the Windows 11 taskbar, select the widgets icon to open and see the available widgets.
You can enable/disable this feature using the Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Widgets Group Policy.
You can also deploy a customized Taskbar to devices in your organization.
On the Taskbar, you can select the Desktops icon to create a new desktop. This can be used to open different apps depending on what you’re doing. For example, you can create a Travel desktop that includes web sites and apps that are focused on travel and another virtual desktop for personal use.
Users can manage some desktop features using Settings app > System > Multitasking
Applications
In addition to supporting most apps for Windows 10, there are also new apps for Windows 11.
Users who are in the Windows Insider Program can download and install Android apps from the Microsoft Store. There are two ways to install the Subsystem.
Method 1:
Open the Microsoft Store app and search for the Amazon Appstore. Select “Get” to install it. During the installation process, the Windows Subsystem for Android will be installed on your PC.
Method 2:
Search for a mobile app on the Microsoft Store and install it. The Amazon Appstore and the Windows Subsystem for Android will be installed before the mobile app is installed.
Regardless of which method you use, when the installation is finished, the Windows Subsystem for Android Settings app and the Amazon Appstore will appear in the Start menu and your app list.
Users can continue to use MSIX packages for UWP, Win32, WPF, and WinForm desktop application files, continue to use Windows Package Manager to install Windows apps, and can create Azure virtual desktops that run Windows 11.
Starting with Windows 11, the Company Portal is your private app repository for your organization apps.
This app is included with the OS and combines Windows PowerShell, command prompt, and Azure Cloud Shell all within the same terminal window with the option to create multiple different tabs. On previous Windows versions, it’s a separate download in the Microsoft Store.
Has a new look and includes more public and retail apps compared to previous versions.
This is included with the OS and is the default browser. Internet Explorer (IE) isn’t available in Windows 11. In Microsoft Edge, you can use IE Mode if a website needs Internet Explorer. To save system resources, Microsoft Edge uses sleeping tabs. Users can configure these settings and more in edge://settings/system.
Deployment and Servicing
Install Windows 11
Many methods one used to install to install Windows 10 can also be used to install Windows 11. For example, you can deploy Windows to your devices using Windows Autopilot, Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT), Configuration Manager, and more.
If you’re purchasing new devices, you can use Windows Autopilot to set up and pre-configure the devices. When users get the device, they sign in with their organization account. In the background, Autopilot gets them ready for use and deploys any apps or policies you set. You can also use Windows Autopilot to reset, re-purpose, and recover devices. Autopilot offers zero touch deployment for admins. This might be a great choice if your workforce is remote or global.
This Mobile Application Management (MAM) and Mobile Device Management (MDM) provider. It helps manage devices and apps in your organization. Policies can also be configured and deployed to users and groups. Some uses include installing apps, configuring device features, enforcing PIN requirements, blocking compromised devices, and more.
Starting with Windows 11, the OS feature updates are installed annually. However, like Windows 10, Windows 11 will receive monthly quality updates. There are options to install updates on your Windows devices, including Endpoint Manager, Group Policy, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), and more.
Some updates are large and use a significant amount of bandwidth. Delivery optimization helps reduce bandwidth consumption by sharing the work of downloading the update packages with multiple devices in your deployment. Windows 11 updates themselves are smaller compared to Windows 10 since they try to only pull down source files that are different. You can create policies that configure delivery optimization settings.
Conclusion
Microsoft has made a lot of effort to smooth over Windows 10’s rough edges and has listened to a lot of feedback from their users. Windows 11 has also included many interesting additions such as Android App support, Snap Layouts/groups, and Windows 365. While it may be tempting to immediately upgrade to Windows 11 when notified, there may be some incompatibilities that slipped through that could heavily impact you. In fact, Windows 11’s hardware requirements are higher than 10’s, meaning not every PC running 10 can run 11 well. Until October 14, 2025 approaches, there isn’t much incentive to switch away from Windows 10 if you aren’t intrigued by Windows 11’s features and presentation. Thankfully, if you upgraded to Windows 11, you have 10 days (can be extended to 60) to return to Windows 10 if you feel you made a mistake. By the time Microsoft stops supporting Windows 10, Windows 11 should hopefully be even more complete and attractive to consumers. Carefully evaluate each version and see what will work best for you.
