Back in 2015 with the launch of Windows 10, Microsoft was adamant that there would be no Windows 11, but technology marches on over the years, and there’s only so long you can stick with the number 10. Apple technically did it for ten years until macOS 11 Big Sur arrived, and that brand doesn’t have the same size customer base clamoring for a new number.

Windows 10 was the final version which would probably just be called Windows as time went on.
Guess what??? The new Windows 11 operating system, in its entirety, has just been leaked online

While a future update of Windows 10 is called ‘Sun Valley’, Windows 11 has leaked online, so we’re pretty sure the brand-new version of the OS is actually a thing – why would they need a code name if it wasn’t a thing?

Microsoft has announced an event on June 24 to talk about ‘the next generation of Windows’ at 11 a.m. Eastern Time, so we’re all going to know for certain pretty soon.

While you can’t actually download the operating system yourself, videos are already starting to show up from well-known tech sites like Windows Central, who have downloaded the new OS and took it for a spin.

From what it looks like, this is a total rework of the Windows UI (User Interface), with the new taskbar being the most immediately striking difference. Here are a few of the changes we can expect:

  • New Start Menu, Taskbar and Search
    Instead of being off to the left as it has been since Windows 95, Microsoft is now pushing the Start Menu to the center of your screen, though you can still move it to the left if you want. And, hey, it floats!
  • Improved Touch Controls
    Windows 11 makes it so that when you touch a window with your finger, you see a bigger representation
  • Fresh New Sounds
    When Windows 10 was introduced in 2015, the sounds did not change much. We’ve been stuck with the same audio feedback for common tasks like inserting USB drives, error messages, notifications, and more. Windows 11 finally changes things up with a new suite of sounds.

There are other improvements like Dark Mode, New ways to Multi-task, Rounded Corners, New Icons and a Refreshed Action Center to name a few.

It is important to note that the leaked Windows 11 build isn’t yet final. Things could change between now and the eventual release, but it looks as though many of these features will end up in the final operating system.

Windows 11 should be shipping sometime in October of this year. Yes, the new OS is that far along in development where it is just months – not a year – away from shipping. The Windows 11 update is anticipated to be free for all Windows 10 users.

Of course, like any significant update to Windows, users can postpone installing the OS. How long Microsoft will let users do that won’t be known until later.

We are also hearing that there will be a general Windows 10 21H2 release, implying Microsoft will let us stick with Windows 10 for a more extended period before jumping to the new OS. Again, how long that will last and how long Windows 10 will be supported (currently through October 2025) remains to be seen.

It’s likely a lot more details beyond the leaked version of Windows 11 could be revealed at Microsoft’s upcoming event, Thursday June 24th. Click through to this page and “Get A Reminder” to watch the livestream. We couldn’t be more excited!!!

Thanks to Windows Central for this heads up!