Windows 11 Version History
: Offers up to 10 years of support for specialized industrial and IoT environments. Microsoft Learn +2 Version Release Date Key Focus 21H2 Oct 5, 2021 Initial Launch; New UI; TPM 2.0 22H2 Sept 20, 2022 "Moments" updates; Productivity 23H2 Oct 31, 2023 Copilot Integration 24H2 Oct 2024 AI Performance; NPU Support 25H2 Oct 2025 Copilot+ PC features 26H1 Feb 10, 2026 ARM Silicon Optimization Summary Windows 11 has evolved from a visual overhaul of Windows 10 into a sophisticated, AI-first platform. While it faced early criticism for its hardware barriers, its history shows a clear trajectory toward specialized silicon support (ARM) and deep AI integration that defines the current 2026 computing environment. Would you like a more detailed breakdown of the
Windows 11 was officially released on October 5, 2021. Built on the same core architecture as Windows 10, version 21H2 introduced a radical visual overhaul. The most striking change was the centered Taskbar and a simplified Start menu that abandoned Live Tiles in favor of a grid of pinned apps. This version focused on "glass" aesthetics (Mica material), rounded corners, and a new Snap Layouts feature that made multitasking significantly more intuitive. Under the hood, it demanded stricter hardware requirements, notably TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, aiming to make Windows 11 the most secure version to date. The First Major Refresh: Version 22H2 (The 2022 Update) windows 11 version history