12 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade to Windows 11

Windows 11 is gaining popularity. Most new Windows laptops and tablet PCs come with Windows 11 preinstalled, and it is becoming rarer to install Windows 10 on a new device. Still the question remains what tangible reasons do you have to upgrade to it compared to Windows 10? We answer that question by running you through all the best new features Windows 11 offers.

1. Appearance

The new operating system has some of the most advanced features for productivity and security, but what really tilts the scales in Windows 11’s favor is its next level look and feel, the kind we’ve never seen with Microsoft products before.

• The redesigned taskbar comes with centered icons.
• There is a heavy focus on glass-like transparency and a layered fading of colors.
• The menus look genuinely inviting, especially if you’re used to aesthetically pleasing menu icons from other operating systems.
• The taskbar, applications and file explorer windows subtly change their appearance with any desktop background of your choice.
• A new Widgets menu with news, notifications, and other alerts such as weather details.

Not a fan of the latest Start menu? No problem: it’s very easy to move it to the left just like Windows 10.

2. Snap Layouts

Snap has been a core feature of Windows since Windows 7 but hasn’t gone through very many changes until now. Pre-set and customizable Snap layouts have been added to the Snap feature in Windows 11, allowing up to six different types of window layouts (depending on your maximum screen resolution) to be easily accessible at a given time.

It’s just so easy, fast, and intuitive to snap your mouse cursor and position all your open windows and tabs. For those of you using a touchscreen PC, just snap with your fingers!

3. Snap Groups

In addition to the new preset and customizable Snap layouts, Snap Groups have been added. Snap Groups are used to save specific layouts of specific applications. For instance, if you need to have your Personalization Settings on one quarter of the screen and browser tabs on the other, and keep two snap windows open for other activities, a Snap Group would remember all this information for you. You can return to it anytime.

Getting in and out of the Snap Layouts and Groups is a breeze. It doesn’t consume your valuable time as you don’t have to remember those window configurations: your desktop arranges everything neatly like a concierge.

4. Multiple Desktops

Windows 11 has a multiple desktops feature which can be accessed from taskbar. Just click the “Task View” button to open multiple desktop instances which you can rename and keep your essential tasks segregated for better multitasking. You can rearrange the windows in any order, rename the ones you’re currently working on, and close all the extra desktops anytime.

Previously, multiple desktops in Windows all had to share the same background, barring the use of third-party programs. Windows 11 will have desktops with individual backgrounds built into the operating system, allowing for that extra level of customization.

5. File Explorer Tabs

No need to struggle with multiple open windows. From version 22H2 onwards, Windows 11 has introduced tabbed browsing in its File Explorer windows. This allows you to create as many tabs as you want within the same window, scroll through each one horizontally, copy-paste files and folders from one tab to the next, and create tab groups.

The best part is using so many tabs does not impact your RAM or CPU consumption. Even when multiple tabs are open, the system feels lightweight.

6. File Explorer Command Bar

Instead of a boring ribbon typical of Windows 10 and earlier operating systems, the Windows 11 File Explorer displays a Command Bar on top of each window. You can cut, copy, paste, rename, and delete the files by just hovering your cursor near the top area. The right mouse click option is also available, but it’s much faster to use this novel method.

You can also rotate the images within the File Explorer window, and create new files, folders, Word documents, and PowerPoint presentations from the “New” dropdown button.

7. Microsoft Teams Integration

The realities of a post-pandemic world have made good video-conferencing software more important than ever. Microsoft Teams has done well in this regard, and it’s integrated directly into Windows 11.

8. Gaming Performance Enhancements

Gamers will rejoice as Windows 11 supports some of the latest gaming feature enhancements which are at its best ever. The Xbox Gaming pass and its library features closely integrate with the PC experience. The next generation of Microsoft Games are more likely to be designed for the PC compared to other devices. As a result, you get the desired speeds with this version.

9. DirectX 12 Ultimate Support

DirectX 12 Ultimate is where all of the next-generation gaming features are going to be on Windows, especially for games using features like real-time ray-tracing and mesh shading. If you want the highest graphics settings and in-game framerate, having DirectX 12 Ultimate will be a necessity for Windows gamers moving forward.

While you can certainly find DirectX 12 support in certain Windows 10 laptops, Windows 11 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate as a minimum spec requirement.

10. HDR Video Streaming and Auto HDR Feature

A good HDR setting can add quite a lot to a game, but unfortunately, it isn’t natively supported by all games. This makes sense since HDR is somewhat complex. With Windows 11, Microsoft has taken Xbox’s Auto HDR technology and applied it to all DirectX 11 (or newer) games running on the operating system.

Windows 11 supports HDR Video Streaming out of the box and allows using an Auto HDR option which can be turned on for supported devices. At least for people with HDR TVs and HDR monitors, this will make quite a few games look better than ever with no extra work needed from the developers.

11. DirectStorage Support

Everyone knows a Solid-State Drive (SSD) makes your PC faster, but most modern games aren’t made to utilize all that extra speed. With the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles being built on top of NVMe SSDs as a baseline, games are being made with that level of storage speed in mind, greatly increasing the possibilities. DirectStorage brings that technology to Windows but is only going to be available on Windows 11. You need at least 1 TB NVMe SSD to get this benefit.

Even with Windows 11, running an SSD requires many precautions such as updating the SSD firmware, enabling AHCI and TRIM, keeping DeFrag On, and enabling High Performance Power options.

12. Enhanced Hardware Security

Windows 11 offers a more enhanced hardware security packaging than any of its predecessors. Apart from the regular options seen in Windows Security, there are three security features that help protect your device against remote threats:

• Core isolation: this is a virtualization-based security with memory integrity On, protecting your device from malicious codes.
• Trusted Platform Module (TPM): all Windows 11 devices have TPM module 2.0 in the security processor, with the highest cryptographic protection.
• Secure boot: secure boot is enabled as a default in Windows 11

The first and most obvious incentive for users to upgrade to Windows 11 is to stay up to date, especially in today’s era of ransomware attacks. Windows 11 will be the first to get all the major security updates and fixes that could impact users of previous versions of Windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Windows 10 users get Windows 11 for free?

Yes, as of 2023, all Windows 10 users qualify for a free upgrade to Windows 11 provided their device meets the minimum requirements of hardware and software. It includes TPM 2.0 and higher, a PC Health Check, and other graphics and security tests.

As a general rule, if your Windows 10 device was purchased closer to 2020, it is more likely to qualify for a Windows 11 upgrade than a device purchased around 2015.

Should I upgrade to Windows 11 or buy a new laptop?

If your Windows 10 hardware qualifies for a free Windows 11 upgrade, you should prefer it as it will save you a ton of money. It’s very easy and you just need to spare 24 hours. We have a guided installation manual that covers all the steps.

How long will Windows 10 be supported?

Windows 10 is going to be officially supported by Microsoft till 2025-end. It will continue to receive security updates for another two years after that. It is also possible that Microsoft may extend the deadline in future given the slower rate of adoption for Windows 11, but it is too soon to predict that. Still, if you do not wish to migrate to Windows 11, you can wait a few more years.

Image credit: Person working on Windows 11 computer at Unsplash. All screenshots by Sayak Boral.