New Start menu: In addition to now being in the center of the taskbar by default (though you can move it back to the left-hand side using the Taskbar settings menu), the Windows 11 Start button opens a simpler, more streamlined Start menu.And hey, Windows apps (like Notepad) finally get a Dark Mode.

Much of the interface is easier to navigate via touchscreen, and it does a much better job of intelligently adapting when you connect or disconnect displays. Overhauled visual design: Nearly every corner of Windows 11 has been updated to fit in with Microsoft’s Fluent Design language, which emphasizes rounded corners, centered text and bigger, more colorful icons.While there's a nigh infinite number of minor changes affecting everything from the appearance of menus to the location of specific settings, here are the major changes worth knowing about: Just download the Windows PC Health Check app from the official Windows 11 (opens in new tab) page. If you’re unsure about what hardware your PC has, or you want to be doubly sure that you’ll be able to upgrade to Windows 11 when the time comes, there is a way to check. (And yes, you can actually upgrade to Windows 11 without a TPM 2.0 if you really want to, but the hassle and risk are rarely worth it given how minor the difference is between Windows 10 vs 11.) How to check if your PC is compatible with Windows 11 Internet: Windows 11 Home edition requires internet connectivity and a Microsoft account (opens in new tab)to complete device setup on first use.Display: High definition (720p) display that is greater than 9” diagonally, 8 bits per color channel.Graphics card: Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver.TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.System firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable.CPU: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor (opens in new tab)or System on a Chip (SoC).Consult your laptop or motherboard manufacturer to see if your PC has TPM 2.0 support that can be enabled via the BIOS. You can read our guide to What is a TPM? And here's why you need it for Windows 11 for an in-depth rundown of what these modules do and how to find out if you have one, but in a nutshell: TPM 2.0 support is required by Windows 11, and though many laptops and PCs sold in the past few years already have it, it may be disabled by default. Microsoft has some pretty steep system requirements (opens in new tab) for this version of Windows, most notably the demand that your PC have a TPM (Trusted Platform Module) 2.0 installed. Before we dig into whether you should upgrade to Windows 11, it's important to verify whether you can.

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