Still, Windows 10 has proven to be the Windows 7 or its era, with the majority of PC users still running it over a year-and-a-half since the release of its successor.
Windows 10 64-bit is still the most-used OS on Steam at 63.4%. However, Windows 11 is already up to 30% and gaining. Back in November 2022, Windows 11 was sitting at 15%, with Windows 10 at 71%.
Check by going to Settings > Windows Update. Many PCs that are less than five years old will be able to upgrade to Windows 11. They must be running the most current version of Windows 10 and meet the minimum hardware requirements.
Can I upgrade for free? Upgrades to Windows 11 from Windows 10 will be free. Due to the size of the download, however, ISP fees may apply for downloads that occur over metered connections.
The answer to the question, “Is Windows 10 or 11 better?” depends on your unique needs. Windows 10 is a solid operating system that can allow you to work, play, and interact with useful apps. And Windows 11 can help you in the same way, but with enhanced features for gaming and interface layouts.
Windows 11 is definitely worth the upgrade to improve the performance of your device, unlock the latest features, including widgets and Android apps, and create a personalized user interface.
The biggest ones to leave Windows in version 11 are the Timeline, Live Tiles, and Internet Explorer. If you run an old business application that requires IE, however, you can still run an Internet Explorer mode within the Microsoft Edge browser. The Timeline is now relegated to the mists of times past.
Windows 12 was announced to be available in March 2023, but some new PCs are available with pre-installed Windows 12 that can be upgraded after the release date. If you are now using Windows 11 and looking for its new version then Windows 12 is now ready to release.
GlobalStats estimates that Windows 10 has a 68.75% share of all Windows PCs worldwide, followed by Windows 11 at 18.13%, and unsupported Windows 7 at 9.62%. Some Windows 10 computers, and likely many more PCs running Windows 7, can't upgrade to Windows 11 because of this version's minimum hardware requirements.
Windows 11 is snappier than Windows 10, but the differences are small in real-world use. The various optimizations in Windows 11 help it to run faster on weaker laptops, but you're not giving up a ton of performance with Windows 10.
14, 2025. Existing long-term servicing channel, or LTSC, releases will still receive updates beyond that end-of-support date, the company said. What does this mean for you? With no new Windows 10 feature updates coming, Microsoft is recommending you transition to Windows 11.
Windows 10 and 11 tips
The same PC will generally run faster on Windows 11 than Windows 10. But no matter how zippy your Windows 11 may be, it can run faster. And keep in mind that PCs tend to slow down over time, and you want to make sure that doesn't happen to yours. It's simple to make your Windows PC run faster.
Windows 11 hasn't been a big hit because of those shortcomings and issues discussed above. That platform has undoubtedly improved with version updates, but a large majority of users have yet to be won over by Microsoft's latest desktop OS.
Windows 11 is faster than Windows 10. However, some users is experiencing slow performance issue due to low disk storage or outdated drivers. Don't worry. It can be fixed easily.
According to various user reports, the update drastically slows SSD speeds, in some cases even cutting them in half. If you've noticed that your PC is loading slowly or programs aren't running as quickly as you'd hoped, you might be affected by this problem.
Although you can easily upgrade a Windows 10 PC to Windows 11, preserving installed apps, settings, and data files, you can't do the reverse. If you want to "downgrade" from Windows 11 to Windows 10, you have to do a clean install, which requires backing up and restoring your data files and reinstalling all your apps.
While the initial setup process was a bit of a hassle, once I had the operating system up and running, I didn't encounter any significant issues or problems. Overall, I would recommend Windows 11 as a solid and modern operating system that offers many useful features and a great user experience.
Thankfully, Windows 11 is a free update for users to make their PCs look modern with new features. Microsoft will not force you to upgrade to Windows 11 and ditch Windows 10, at least until 2025. However, it wants to ensure you are running the latest version of Windows 10 on all your PCs.
However, Microsoft reserves the right to eventually end support for the free offer. This end date will be no sooner than October 5, 2022. A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed that the above statement represents Microsoft's plans for the free Windows 11 upgrade offer.
Upgrading your system from Windows 10 to Windows 11 will not erase all your files. After the update is completed, you should have access to all user files that were previously available in Windows 10.
How Long Does It Take to Install Windows 11? General: Between 10 and 20 minutes. On different devices, Windows 11 is installed at different times. For example, it only takes about 10 minutes to update on the latest SSD.
Windows 10 will reach end of support on October 14, 2025. The current version, 22H2, will be the final version of Windows 10, and all editions will remain in support with monthly security update releases through that date.
If you continue to use an unsupported version of Windows, your PC will still work, but it will become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses. Your PC will continue to start and run, but you will no longer receive software updates, including security updates, from Microsoft.