9 key reasons to upgrade to Windows 11 right now

Something needs to be said to stay up to date. Windows 11 is the first major update of the flagship desktop operating system in seven years. When you upgrade to Windows 11, you’ll get the latest in interface design and technology. You also get capabilities and features found only in the latest version of the software. Even the included apps have higher versions! The underlying system code also makes advancements that will land you in the dust if you stick with older software.

However, making a big change in the operating system is not for everyone, and I have made clear my reservations about Windows 11 in previous articles. Don’t worry, though, because you’ll have to stick with Windows 10 if you want to until 2025. In the meantime, here are some compelling reasons you might want to make the switch sooner.

1. More consistent interface

PC users no longer have to bow when friends show them their smooth macOS and Chrome OS user interfaces. Windows 11 is pretty smooth, except for the occasional old-fashioned Control Panel dialog. The rounded window corners, compact Taskbar, and touch-friendly design (sorry, Apple) are easy on the eyes. It just looks better. Don’t forget the subtle and pleasant new system sound(Opens in a new window)also.

2. Improved bundled apps

The apps included in Windows 11 are better than the ones in Windows 10. The all-new Media Player app makes watching videos, listening to music and podcasts even better. Windows 11 users will also get Clipchamp (coming soon), a simple template-based PWA video editor suitable for small businesses creating videos for marketing and advertising. The Clock app on Windows 11 deserves a special mention because of the useful new Focus Sessions feature that helps you stay focused on projects. The Photos app also includes surprising video editing capabilities, with some features not even found in Clipchamp. The Notepad, Paint, and Calculator apps have also been updated.

The screen capture feature in Windows 11 continues to improve, with many good options. Microsoft has updated the aging Snipping Tool (accessible with Windows Key-Shift-S), which competes with the similarly named and more advanced Snip & Sketch app. The Snipping Tool allows you to select rectangular or freehand areas, the program window, or the entire screen. It will then open a small editor for cutting and marking. The screenshot tool also has a delay timer and built-in options for saving and sharing. You can still use the tried and true PrtSc key to save a screen image file to the clipboard or to OneDrive.

4. Snap layout for an organized screen

In Windows, you can always arrange the windows on your desktop however you want. Just when I thought it was impossible to improve on the already great features in Windows 10 — allowing you to snap a window to the side to fill exactly half of the screen, or into an angle for exactly a quarter of the screen. screen analysis — Microsoft offers another window layout trick called Snap Layouts. When you hover your pointer over the maximized icon at the top right of any window, you’ll have multiple layout choices in thumbnail view. You can even save layouts for a group of apps that you want to reuse later in a single taskbar icon.

Windows 10 has a nifty News and Interests panel that pops up when hovering over a Taskbar icon, but Windows 11 Widgets are much more customizable. And soon, Windows 11 will support third-party information widgets(Opens in a new window). Many extremely useful first-party widgets: News, Weather, Sports, Traffic, Family Safety, Stock Price, Outlook Calendar, To-Do, and OneDrive Photos. Your news feed is customizable by topic and source. Microsoft has also previewed a new feature for the Widget panel that will let you view it in full screen mode.

6. Twice as resistant to malware

According to PCMag’s lead security analyst, Neil J. Rubenking, Windows 11 is extremely secure. Much of that is thanks to the requirement of a secure processor known as the Trusted Platform Module. (Despite the enhanced security, this new requirement still confuses many Windows commentators, as it means that some older PCs won’t be able to run the new operating system.) Rubenking saves Note that, according to Microsoft, “The secured core PC is twice as resistant to malware infection. ”

7. Improved multiple desktops and display sockets

New docking behaviors in Windows 11 make it more efficient to use an external large display. The operating system now remembers window positions on the connected desktop and minimizes them when you disconnect, instead of strewn across the smaller screen with application windows. New to Multiple Desktops is the ability to use different wallpapers on each and the redesigned desktop switching interface.

8. Run Android Apps on Your PC

Being able to run Android Apps directly on your Windows 11 PC was a hot topic at the launch of Windows 11. However, this ability has some limitations. You can only install apps through the Amazon AppStore or by downloading them, not through the largest source of Android apps, Google Play. Jason Cohen of PCMag has put together a guide on how to run Android apps in Windows 11. You need an Amazon Account and supported apps are limited. Much more useful to me is Phone Link, which lets you view and run any app on a nearby Android phone.

9. Improved HDR and gaming performance

Windows 11 has two enhancements when it comes to using high dynamic range (HDR) color on your compatible display. You can turn it on or off via the Windows Game Bar, and the new Auto HDR feature should help you even out with that hassle. Another gaming improvement comes from the new DirectStorage feature, which allows games to load directly into video memory, bypassing the CPU for much faster game load times.

Do more with Windows 11

To get the most out of the new operating system, read Windows 11 Tips and Tricks. Plus, stay up to date with all the latest news and coverage on our Windows 11 home page.