Whenever you open windows explorer and close it, the ram it uses is increased by a few MBs without going down when you close it. For example: When I turn on my pc, Windows explorer uses 60mb, and then when I open a random folder, it reaches 80, and when I close the same window, it only drop to 70mb, not 60. And after I open and close a folder multiple times, it reaches a 1 GB!! Windows 11 stems from recent efforts to reinvigorate the OS, following a string of internal experiments to deviate from the widely popular Windows 10. Windows 11 is real, and it's a big update.
-->Applies to
- Windows 11
Deployment planning
This article provides guidance to help you plan for Windows 11 in your organization.
Since Windows 11 is built on the same foundation as Windows 10, you can use the same deployment capabilities, scenarios, and tools—as well as the same basic deployment strategy that you use today for Windows 10. You will need to review and update your servicing strategy to adjust for changes in Servicing and support for Windows 11.
At a high level, this strategy should include the following steps:
If you are looking for ways to optimize your approach to deploying Windows 11, or if deploying a new version of an operating system is not a familiar process for you, some items to consider are provided below.
Determine eligibility
As a first step, you will need to know which of your current devices meet the Windows 11 hardware requirements. Most devices purchased in the last 18-24 months will be compatible with Windows 11. Verify that your device meets or exceeds Windows 11 requirements to ensure it is compatible.
Microsoft is currently developing analysis tools to help you evaluate your devices against the Windows 11 hardware requirements. When Windows 11 reaches general availability, end-users running Windows 10 Home, Pro, and Pro for Workstations will be able to use the PC Health Check app to determine their eligibility for Windows 11. End-users running Windows 10 Enterprise and Education editions should rely on their IT administrators to let them know when they are eligible for the upgrade.
Enterprise organizations looking to evaluate device readiness in their environments can expect this capability to be integrated into existing Microsoft tools, such as Endpoint analytics and Update Compliance. This capability will be available when Windows 11 is generally available. Microsoft is also working with software publishing partners to facilitate adding Windows 11 device support into their solutions.
Windows 11 availability
The availability of Windows 11 will vary according to a device's hardware and whether the device receives updates directly, or from a management solution that is maintained by an IT administrator.
Managed devices
Managed devices are devices that are under organization control. Managed devices include those managed by Microsoft Intune, Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager, or other endpoint management solutions.
If you manage devices on behalf of your organization, you will be able to upgrade eligible devices to Windows 11 using your existing deployment and management tools at no cost when the upgrade reaches general availability. Organizations that use Windows Update for Business will have added benefits, such as:
- Ensuring that devices that don't meet the minimum hardware requirements are not automatically offered the Windows 11 upgrade.
- Additional insight into safeguard holds. While safeguard holds will function for Windows 11 devices just as they do for Windows 10 today, administrators using Windows Update for Business will have access to information on which safeguard holds are preventing individual devices from taking the upgrade to Windows 11.
Note
If you use Windows Update for Business to manage feature update deployments today, you will need to leverage the Target Version policy rather than Feature Update deferrals to move from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Deferrals are great for quality updates or to move to newer version of the same product (from example, from Windows 10, version 20H2 to 21H1), but they cannot migrate a device between products (from Windows 10 to Windows 11).
Also, Windows 11 has a new End User License Agreement. If you are deploying with Windows Update for Business Target Version or with Windows Server Update Services, you are accepting this new End User License Agreement on behalf of the end-users within your organization.
Unmanaged devices
Unmanaged devices are devices that are not managed by an IT administrator on behalf of an organization. For operating system (OS) deployment, these devices are not subject to organizational policies that manage upgrades or updates.
Windows 11 will be offered to eligible Windows 10 devices beginning later in the 2021 calendar year. Darkest dungeon®: the shieldbreaker download. Messaging on new devices will vary by PC manufacturer, but users will see labels such as This PC will upgrade to Windows 11 once available on products that are available for purchase.
The Windows 11 upgrade will be available initially on eligible, unmanaged devices to users who manually seek the upgrade through Windows Update. As with all Windows Update managed devices, the Windows Update Settings page will confirm when a device is eligible, and users can upgrade if they choose to.
Just like Windows 10, the machine learning based intelligent rollout process will be used when rolling out upgrades. Machine learning uses a combination of testing, close partner engagement, feedback, diagnostic data, and real-life insights to manage quality. This process improves the update experience, and ensures that devices first nominated for updates are the devices likely to have a seamless experience. Devices that might have compatibility issues with the upgrade get the benefit of resolving these issues before the upgrade is offered.
Windows 11 readiness considerations
The recommended method to determine if your infrastructure, deployment processes, and management tools are ready for Windows 11 is to join the Windows Insider Program for Business. As a participant in the Release Preview Channel, you can validate that your devices and applications work as expected, and explore new features.
As you plan your endpoint management strategy for Windows 11, consider moving to cloud-based mobile device management (MDM), such as Microsoft Intune. If a cloud-only approach isn't right for your organization just yet, you can still modernize and streamline essential pieces of your endpoint management strategy as follows:
- Create a cloud management gateway (CMG) to manage Configuration Manager clients over the internet.
- Attach your existing Configuration Management estate to the cloud with tenant attach so you can manage all devices from within the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center.
- Use co-management to concurrently manage devices using both Configuration Manager and Microsoft Intune. This allows you to take advantage of cloud-powered capabilities like Conditional Access.
For more information on the benefits of these approaches, see Cloud Attach Your Future: The Big 3.
The introduction of Windows 11 is also a good time to review your hardware refresh plans and prioritize eligible devices to ensure an optimal experience for your users.
Servicing and support
Along with end-user experience and security improvements, Windows 11 introduces enhancements to Microsoft's servicing approach based on your suggestions and feedback.
Quality updates: Windows 11 and Windows 10 devices will receive regular monthly quality updates to provide security updates and bug fixes.
Feature updates: Microsoft will provide a single Windows 11 feature update annually, targeted for release in the second half of each calendar year.
Lifecycle:
- Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, and Pro for Education editions of Windows 11 will receive 24 months of support from the general availability date.
- Enterprise and Education editions of Windows 11 will be supported for 36 months from the general availability date.
When Windows 11 reaches general availability, a consolidated Windows 11 update history will be available on support.microsoft.com, similar to what is available today for Windows 10. Similarly, the Windows release health hub will offer quick access to Windows 11 servicing announcements, known issues, and safeguard holds.
It is important that organizations have adequate time to plan for Windows 11. Microsoft also recognizes that many organizations will have a mix of Windows 11 and Windows 10 devices across their ecosystem. Devices on in-service versions of Windows 10 will continue to receive monthly Windows 10 security updates through 2025, as well as incremental improvements to Windows 10 to support ongoing Microsoft 365 deployments. For more information, see the Windows 10 release information page, which offers information about the Windows 10 Semi-Annual Channel and Long-term Servicing Channel (LTSC) releases.
Application compatibility
Microsoft's compatibility promise for Windows 10 is maintained for Windows 11. Data from the App Assure program shows that Windows 10 compatibility rates are over 99.7% for enterprise organizations, including line of business (LOB) apps. Microsoft remains committed to ensuring that the apps you rely upon continue to work as expected when you upgrade. Windows 11 is subject to the same app compatibility validation requirements that are in place for Windows 10 today, for both feature and quality updates.
App Assure and Test Base for Microsoft 365
If you run into compatibility issues or want to ensure that your organization's applications are compatible from day one, App Assure and Test Base for Microsoft 365 can help.
App Assure: With enrollment in the App Assure service, any app compatibility issues that you find with Windows 11 can be resolved. Microsoft will help you remedy application issues at no cost. Since 2018, App Assure has evaluated almost 800,000 apps, and subscriptions are free for eligible customers with 150+ seats.
Test Base for Microsoft 365: For software publishers, systems integrators, and IT administrators, Test Base for Microsoft 365 (currently in private preview) is a service that allows you to validate your apps across a variety of Windows feature and quality updates and environments in a Microsoft-managed Azure environment. Enterprise organizations can also nominate their software publishers for participation by completing a short form.
You might already be using App Assure and Test Base in your Windows 10 environment. Both of these tools will continue to function with Windows 11.
Next steps
Also see
-->Applies to
- Windows 11
Windows 10 and Windows 11 are designed to coexist, so that you can use the same familiar tools and process to manage both operating systems. Using a single management infrastructure that supports common applications across both Windows 10 and Windows 11 helps to simplify the migration process. You can analyze endpoints, determine application compatibility, and manage Windows 11 deployments in the same way that you do with Windows 10.
After you evaluate your hardware to see if it meets requirements for Windows 11, it's a good time to review your deployment infrastructure, tools, and overall endpoint and update management processes and look for opportunities to simplify and optimize. This article provides some helpful guidance to accomplish these tasks.
Infrastructure and tools
The tools that you use for core workloads during Windows 10 deployments can still be used for Windows 11. A few nuanced differences are described below.
Important
Be sure to check with the providers of any non-Microsoft solutions that you use. Verify compatibility of these tools with Windows 11, particularly if they provide security or data loss prevention capabilities.
On-premises solutions
If you use Windows Server Update Service (WSUS), you will need to sync the new Windows 11 product category. After you sync the product category, you will see Windows 11 offered as an option. If you would like to validate Windows 11 prior to release, you can sync the Windows Insider Pre-release category as well.
Note
During deployment, you will be prompted to agree to the End User License Agreement on behalf of your users. Additionally, you will not see an x86 option because Windows 11 is not supported on 32-bit architecture.
If you use Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager, you can sync the new Windows 11 product category and begin upgrading eligible devices. If you would like to validate Windows 11 prior to release, you can sync the Windows Insider Pre-release category as well.
Note
Configuration Manager will prompt you to accept the End User License Agreement on behalf of the users in your organization.
Cloud-based solutions
- If you use Windows Update for Business Group Policy or Configuration Service Provider (CSP) policies, you will need to use the Target Version capability rather than feature update deferrals to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11. Feature update deferrals are great to move to newer versions of your current product (for example, Windows 10, version 20H2 to 21H1), but do not enable you to move between products (Windows 10 to Windows 11).
- Quality update deferrals will continue to work the same across both Windows 10 and Windows 11. This is true regardless of which management tool you use to configure Windows Update for Business policies.
- If you use Microsoft Intune and have a Microsoft 365 E3 license, you will be able to use feature update deployments to easily update devices from one release of Windows 10 to another, or to upgrade Windows 10 devices to Windows 11. You can also continue using the same update experience controls to manage Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Cloud-based management
If you aren't already taking advantage of cloud-based management capabilities, like those available in Microsoft Endpoint Manager, it's worth considering. In addition to consolidating device management and endpoint security into a single platform, Microsoft Endpoint Manager can better support the diverse bring-your-own-device (BYOD) ecosystem that is increasingly the norm with hybrid work scenarios. It can also enable you to track your progress against compliance and business objectives, while protecting end-user privacy.
Windows 11
The following are some common use cases and the corresponding Microsoft Endpoint Manager capabilities that support them:
- Provision and pre-configure new Windows 11 devices: Windows Autopilot enables you to deploy new Windows 11 devices in a 'business-ready' state that includes your desired applications, settings, and policies. It can also be used to change the edition of Windows. For example, you can upgrade from Pro to Enterprise edition and gain the use of advanced features. The Windows Autopilot diagnostics page is new feature that is available when you use in Windows Autopilot to deploy Windows 11.
- Configure rules and control settings for users, apps, and devices: When you enroll devices in Microsoft Intune, administrators have full control over apps, settings, features, and security for both Windows 11 and Windows 10. You can also use app protection policies to require multi-factor authentication (MFA) for specific apps.
- Streamline device management for frontline, remote, and onsite workers: Introduced with Windows 10, cloud configuration is a standard, easy-to-manage, device configuration that is cloud-optimized for users with specific workflow needs. It can be deployed to devices running the Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions of Windows 11 by using Microsoft Endpoint Manager.
If you are exclusively using an on-premises device management solution (for example, Configuration Manager), you can still use the cloud management gateway, enable tenant attach, or enable co-management with Microsoft Intune. These solutions can make it easier to keep devices secure and up-to-date.
Review servicing approach and policies
Windows 11 Problems
Every organization will transition to Windows 11 at its own pace. Microsoft is committed to supporting you through your migration to Windows 11, whether you are a fast adopter or will make the transition over the coming months or years.
When you think of operating system updates as an ongoing process, you will automatically improve your ability to deploy updates. This approach enables you to stay current with less effort, and less impact on productivity. To begin, think about how you roll out Windows feature updates today: which devices, and at what pace.
Next, craft a deployment plan for Windows 11 that includes deployment groups, rings, users, or devices. There are no absolute rules for exactly how many rings to have for your deployments, but a common structure is:
- Preview (first or canary): Planning and development
- Limited (fast or early adopters): Pilot and validation
- Broad (users or critical): Wide deployment
For detailed information, see Create a deployment plan.
Review policies
Review deployment-related policies, taking into consideration your organization's security objectives, update compliance deadlines, and device activity. Apply changes where you can gain a clear improvement, particularly with regard to the speed of the update process or security.
Validate apps and infrastructure
To validate that your apps, infrastructure, and deployment processes are ready for Windows 11, join the Windows Insider Program for Business, and opt in to the Release Preview Channel.
If you use Windows Server Update Services, you can deploy directly from the Windows Insider Pre-release category using one of the following processes:
- Set Manage Preview Builds to Release Preview in Windows Update for Business.
- Leverage Azure Virtual Desktop and Azure Marketplace images.
- Download and deploy ISOs from Microsoft's Windows Insider Program ISO Download page.
Regardless of the method you choose, you have the benefit of free Microsoft support when validating pre-release builds. Free support is available to any commercial customer deploying Windows 10 or Windows 11 Preview Builds, once they become available through the Windows Insider Program.
Analytics and assessment tools
If you use Microsoft Endpoint Manager and have onboarded devices to Endpoint analytics, you will have access to a hardware readiness assessment later this year. This tool enables you to quickly identify which of your managed devices are eligible for the Windows 11 upgrade.
Desktop Analytics does not support Windows 11. You must use Endpoint analytics.
Prepare a pilot deployment
A pilot deployment is a proof of concept that rolls out an upgrade to a select number of devices in production, before deploying it broadly across the organization.
At a high level, the tasks involved are:
Windows 11 Pro Free Download
- Assign a group of users or devices to receive the upgrade.
- Implement baseline updates.
- Implement operational updates.
- Validate the deployment process.
- Deploy the upgrade to devices.
- Test and support the pilot devices.
- Determine broad deployment readiness based on the results of the pilot.
End-user readiness
Do not overlook the importance of end-user readiness to deliver an effective, enterprise-wide deployment of Windows 11. Windows 11 has a familiar design, but your users will see several enhancements to the overall user interface. They will also need to adapt to changes in menus and settings pages. Therefore, consider the following tasks to prepare users and your IT support staff Windows 11:
- Create a communications schedule to ensure that you provide the right message at the right time to the right groups of users, based on when they will see the changes.
- Draft concise emails that inform users of what changes they can expect to see. Offer tips on how to use or customize their experience. Include information about support and help desk options.
- Update help desk manuals with screenshots of the new user interface, the out-of-box experience for new devices, and the upgrade experience for existing devices.
Learn more
Windows 11 Pro
See the Stay current with Windows 10 and Microsoft 365 Apps learning path on Microsoft Learn.
- The learning path was created for Windows 10, but the basic principles and tasks outlined for the plan, prepare, and deploy phases also apply to your deployment of Windows 11.
See also
Plan for Windows 11
Windows help & learning