The launch of the new Windows is closer than ever. Source: The Verge
The launch of the new Windows is closer than ever. Source: The Verge

The launch of Windows 11 is no doubt highly anticipated and it seems Microsoft is hinting at a possible October launch date. During a Windows event that was held this week, the California-based company seemed to be set in October, and in fact, it teased a potential release for all to see. And as if to just give it all away, there was even a message on Microsoft Teams that read "excited to turn it up to 11, can’t wait for October.”

The software giant had said that its main plan is to have the new version of Windows out in the holidays. But if current reports are to be believed, Windows 11 could likely launch as early as October 20th. Besides, the Teams message highlighted above was sent out by Stevie Bathiche, one of the key engineers at Microsoft and the head of Windows and devices. 

From that profile alone, it is fair to assume that indeed this is someone who has enough credibility to tell us when we should expect Windows 11 to be released. But that is not all. Microsoft has been releasing a few images of the new Windows for the press. One thing you can see is that the date on the taskbar is set to October 20th.

The new Windows will be a “free upgrade to all eligible Windows 10 PCs.” Source: PC Gamer
The new Windows will be a “free upgrade to all eligible Windows 10 PCs.” Source: PC Gamer

Although this could just be a normal coincidence, the fact that all the photos released by the company have the date set to 20th October says a lot. Microsoft had earlier promised that it will deliver Windows 11 as a “free upgrade to all eligible Windows 10 PCs.” The windows giant had said that the upgrade would come during the holidays but it is clear that some companies like Walmart are planning to begin the upgrades in October. 

This means that Windows 11 will indeed be available by then. However, Microsoft has not yet confirmed which machines will be eligible for a Windows 11 upgrade. The company has also not issued any guidelines that may help us decide how the eligibility will be decided. Nonetheless, the Windows giant said that it will launch a blog post soon after the OS is out to explain everything, including the devices that will be eligible for the upgrade.

The interface appears to be quite similar to Windows 10. Source: XDA Developers
The interface appears to be quite similar to Windows 10. Source: XDA Developers

Even though we are now sure Windows 11 is coming out in October, there is still a lot of stuff we don't know about the new OS. Based on the sneak preview we have been given by Microsoft through photos shared online, it seems there won't be a fundamental shift from Windows 10. There may be added security features as well but the interface appears to be quite the same. 

However, from the images we have seen the new OS promises to offer a compact more organized taskbar. The great news is that there are still two months or so before Windows 11 hits the market. Between now and then, there is a lot we could still learn about the OS and what it has to offer. But right now, we are happy that it will be out sooner rather than later.