What Is Windows 11 and When Will It Launch?

The hype surrounding Windows 11 is approaching a fever pitch. Why? Because although Microsoft is yet to formally announce the latest version of Windows, a leaked version of Windows 11 granted users a glimpse into the new operating system.

So, what is Windows 11? What does Windows 11 look like? And is the Windows 11 leak real?

What Is Windows 11?

Windows 11 is Microsoft's new operating system. Speculation surrounding a new version of Windows has been building for months, with Microsoft teasing the number 11 in social media posts, videos, and more.

For example, on June 24, 2021, Microsoft is holding an extraordinary conference exploring the future of the Windows operating system. The start time for the conference? 11 am.

Then there was the 11-minute Windows Startup Sounds - Slo-fi Remix video. On its own, it sounds like the work of an amateur DJ, but the remix launched on the official Windows YouTube channel.

Is the Windows 11 Leak Real?

Following on from there is the next big question: did Windows 11 really leak online?

Well, yes, it did. On June 15, 2021, a previously unseen Windows version leaked online, first appearing on the Chinese blogging site, Baidu. The screenshots showed a new Windows version, complete with new features, such as a new Start menu, Start menu icon, taskbar, and more.

It didn't take long for Windows build 21996 (the official name of the Windows 11 leak build) to start making the rounds on the internet, with users uploading the Windows 11 ISO to several popular file-hosting sites.

But while the Windows 11 leak version is undoubtedly real—several key bits of data confirm this—it is far from the final version of Microsoft's new operating system. Windows build 21996 is an early build of Windows 11 featuring a mishmash of new features, many of which are tacked onto the existing shell of Windows 10.

Jumping into the Windows Settings panel, and you can see from the Windows specifications that the leak is very much a Windows 11 build:

Furthermore, when you attempt to install the leaked build, you are presented with a list of Windows 11 Editions, such as Home, Pro, and so on:

When Will Windows 11 Launch? How Much Will Windows 11 Cost?

As yet, Microsoft hasn't given a specific launch date for Windows 11. Windows 11 will likely launch later in 2021. For the time being, all eyes are on Microsoft's June 24 conference, when we expect much more information about the new operating system, including a potential launch date.

It is a similar story for cost. Right now, there is no confirmed price for Windows 11. Many suspect that Windows 11 will be a free upgrade from Windows 10, coming at no extra cost for existing users. Switching Windows to a continual upgrade path would align it with other major operating systems, such as macOS, which doesn't charge users to upgrade to the latest major update.

There are also suggestions that Microsoft may extend the free upgrade path to Windows 11 all the way back to Windows 7 in a further effort to shift people from the unsupported operating system. The free path from Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 to Windows 10 encouraged millions of users to make the jump to the then-new operating system back in 2015, and the free upgrade path is still open for some users.

What Does Windows 11 Look Like?

The Windows 11 leak was a mixed bag visually. There were a few changes revealed in the leak, but not all of them were entirely new.

One of the first things you'll note about the leaked Windows 11 build is the Start menu and taskbar style. We first saw the new Start menu in Microsoft's now-shelved Windows 10X operating system, but it has made a reappearance.

windows 11 start menu center screen apps

The Start menu now appears from the center of the screen, full of your pinned apps and most recently accessed files. It has nicely curved edges, too, a departure from the strong right-angles and straight lines associated with previous Windows versions. The curved edges are present throughout Windows 11, making the entire operating system a gentle visual experience and more closely resembling other popular operating systems (again, like macOS).

The Windows 11 taskbar receives a visual update, too. Taskbar icons are now anchored in the middle of the taskbar rather than their traditional position alongside the Start menu. Incidentally, the Start menu icon also receives an update, switching from the slightly angled version introduced in Windows 10 to a new, completely flat design for Windows 11.

There is also a new Widgets icon on the taskbar. When opened, the Widgets icon reveals the news and interests widget recently introduced to Windows 10. Although many Windows 10 hate the new widget, its visual style integrates with Windows 11 without issue, doing away with the blocky border in favor of curved edges and a transparent background.

Windows 11 also introduces some new snapping features too. Hovering over the window maximize icon reveals a new set of window snapping options, allowing you to choose your window location. There are 11 different options, and while none of these are new, it makes sorting your on-screen window locations much easier.

Overall, it's a mixed bag. However, that is to be expected, given that most of the information available comes from a leaked Windows 11 build. This much is clear when you see parts of Windows 10 lurking behind the scenes. For example, the notification area and Action Center in the Windows 11 leak are yet to receive curved edges or any visual overhaul for that matter.

Will Microsoft Reveal Windows 11 on June 24?

All eyes are now turning to the big Microsoft event on June 24, 2021. Microsoft has teased the number 11, while rumors of the new operating system have swirled. Some people even think that Microsoft purposefully leaked the Windows 11 build themselves to get more people talking.

Personally, I don't think that's true. The Windows 11 leak build is unfinished, missing features, and isn't what you'd expect from a major new operating system launch—even with Microsoft's patchy track record.

The only thing that remains to be seen is what happens on June 24. The old joke goes that every other Microsoft operating system is a duffer, and Windows 11 is the "other" to Windows 10. Fingers-crossed, then, reader.