You can now purchase a Windows 11 license directly from Microsoft

Users no longer need to upgrade to Windows 11 via Windows 10

You can now purchase a Windows 11 license and download it directly from the Microsoft Web site, rather than upgrading from a version of Windows 10, the company has confirmed.

According to PCMag, the change appears to have occurred sometime in May 2022, but a lack of a press release or communication from Microsoft meant that this change slipped through the cracks.

For many PC users, Windows 11 will already be installed or available as an upgrade for their existing machines, and has been since its launch in October 2021, but DIY PC builders have (until recently) had to download a version of Windows 10 before upgrading from that operating system.

Download Windows 11 from Microsoft

A Windows 11 Home download can be added to an online shopping cart and purchased for $145, which represents no price increase over the equivalent Home version of Windows 10.

At first it seems that there is no Pro version of the operating system, but it can be found under another page on Microosft’s website. Windows 11 Pro is available for $259 – the same price as Windows 10 Pro.

The ability to purchase a Windows 11 license should save PC builders time, no longer having to get it through the previous operating system.

A processing speed of at least 1 GHz, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage and a minimum nine-inch 720p screen are some of the key requirements for do-it-yourselfers to install Windows 11.

Windows 11 update 22H2 also brings more control over security measures and offers more protection against malware.

We confirmed with a Microsoft store representative that the current downloads are running on build number 21H2 and that users should receive a notification when 22H2 is ready to download.

Source: tech radar