Windows 11 rolling out to more PCs, time to check for an update

Surface Pro 8 Vs Surface Pro 7 Compare
Surface Pro 8 Vs Surface Pro 7 Compare (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • Windows 11 is now rolling out to more PCs that meet its minimum requirements.
  • The new operating system launched on October 5, 2021.
  • Microsoft explains that "the availability of Windows 11 has been increased" in the Windows health dashboard.

Windows 11 started rolling out to eligible PCs on October 5, 2021. Now, it appears that the rollout has expanded to more devices. In an update to the Windows health dashboard, Microsoft says, "The availability of Windows 11 has been increased and we are leveraging our latest generation machine learning model to offer the upgrade to an expanded set of eligible devices" (via Bleeping Computer).

The Windows health dashboard adds, "We recommend that you upgrade your devices to Windows 11 to take advantage of the latest features and advanced protections from security threats."

It's unclear how many more PCs will receive Windows 11 following this increase. If you've been waiting to upgrade but haven't seen the option yet, it may be worth checking again through the Settings app on Windows 10.

Windows 11 is gradually rolling out to eligible devices. Even PCs that meet the minimum requirements of Windows 11 may not see the option to upgrade right away. The full rollout of the new OS may not finish until mid-2022. If you don't want to wait to upgrade, there are several methods to manually upgrade to Windows 11.

A recent survey from AdDuplex says that over 5% of PCs now run Windows 11. Microsoft's latest operating system has only been generally available for a few weeks, so it will take time for it to approach anywhere near the share that Windows 10 has.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.