Microsoft itself hints at possible October Windows 11 launch

oldschool

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The release notes of Intel's graphics driver version 30.0.100.9684, which launched back in July, contained a crucial bit of information that hinted at the possible Windows 11 launch date. According to the notes, it was looking like Microsoft was planning for an October release for the brand new OS. And today, we have even more evidence suggesting that the finding could indeed be true as even Microsoft's own Windows Hardware Compatibility Program (WHCP) blog post hints towards that. Spotted by Windows Latest, Microsoft posted this article back in June titled "Now accepting Windows 11, version 21H2 submissions". Basically, it appears that the Redmont Giant has requested all of its partners to submit drivers compatible with Windows 11 21H2 update by "September 24, 2021". Here's what the full statement reads:

Partners looking to achieve compatibility for systems shipping with Windows 11, version 21H2 Release may factory-install drivers for components that achieved compatibility with Windows 10, version 2004 until September 24, 2021.
So as it stands, the September 24, 2021 date essentially appears to be the deadline for the final submission of Windows 11 compatible drivers for Microsoft's partners. This means Windows 11 could indeed release in October or somewhere around that window. When inquired, Microsoft also clarified in the comments that this Windows Hardware Certification submission request was indeed for Windows 11 21H1 and not related to Windows 10 21H1.
 

oldschool

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Microsoft gives further clues about the Windows 11 release date
On one hand, this does not tell us much more than we already know, but on the other, it does suggest that October is looking increasingly probable. It seems unlikely that there would be a huge delay between the final driver submission date and the actual launch of Windows 11 -- up to a month, perhaps, which takes us into October. But there is still the question of just when upgraders will get their hands on the new version of Windows. The official Windows Twitter account recently tweeted that it would be made available to Windows 10 devices in the first six months of 2022:

Windows 11 is due out later in 2021 and will be delivered over several months. The rollout of the upgrade to Windows 10 devices already in use today will begin in 2022 through the first half of that year.
— Windows (@Windows) June 25, 2021
This does not address the matter of people who are part of the Windows Insider program currently running a Dev or Beta build. A reasonable assumption would be that anyone with a preview build installed will be able to upgrade to Windows 11 RTM as soon as it is available (i.e. October), but we'll have to wait to see for sure.
 

amirr

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