Microsoft is announcing that Windows 11 will be released on October 5th. The new operating system will be available as a free upgrade for eligible Windows 10 PCs, or on new hardware that ships with Windows 11 pre-loaded.

The free upgrade to Windows 11 will start rolling out on October 5th, but like many Windows upgrades in the past, it will be available in phases. New eligible devices will be offered the upgrade first, and then Windows 11 will become available for more in-market devices in the weeks and months following October 5th.

"Following the tremendous learnings from Windows 10, we want to make sure we're providing you with the best possible experience," explains Aaron Woodman, general manager of Windows marketing at Microsoft. "We expect all eligible devices to be offered the free upgrade to Windows 11 by mid-2022."

On existing Windows 10 PCs, Windows Update will let people know when the upgrade is available for Windows 11. You can also check to see if your device is eligible for the Windows 11 upgrade through Windows Update, or Microsoft's dedicated PC Health Check app