Windows 11: is it worth upgrading? All the known issues

The release of Windows 11: is it wise to get into it right away, or should Windows 10 issues encourage users to wait?

2021 is going to end with a bang because Microsft announced that Windows 11 comes out in October.^[1] This new version of the operating systems should bring various functions and new features from the transparent UIs to particular boosts for gaming performance. People online,^[2] as always, discourse about the latest releases, and when the specific preview got released, those questions^[3] started to increase. This is not a perfect thing, Windows, so it is normal to have issues, bugs, other problems requiring fixes and patches.

We all saw and still can see how many issues Windows 10 updates can create.^[4] Is that a reason to be concerned about the initial release? Maybe. Those huge changes in the Windows 11 can offer a much better user experience. But updating to an entirely new version of the OS right away can be risky. While those new effects, extra shadows, revamped applications, clean user interface, improvements in support of Android apps, and features like multi-window support, snap layout, gaming capabilities are attractive, you need to keep some things in mind.

Consider backing your data before upgrading in case something is not going to go smoothly. You can go ahead and upgrade to Windows 11 as soon as it comes out in October. But it is less risky and more advised to wait and see. The new release looks promising, and various issues people have already indicating should be fixed. The same goes for many problems with previous versions and things that users have complained about for years.

However, there might be new issues with the new operating system, and it is not known how well this version will perform. It is hard to say what can go wrong without fully experiencing Windows 11 yet. Giving time to process the release and drawbacks that eventually come out should be a wiser choice. Nevertheless, there are many people who want the newest iPhone and the latest version of the programs as soon as it is released. This is why the most common question right now – “is my PC going to run Windows 11?“.

When is it okay to upgrade?

Microsoft states that upgrading from Windows 10 to 11 will be free, and even though the release is set for October 2021, it can still take time, and the final, publicly available version will see the light of day sometime next year.

The upgrade rollout plan is still being finalized but is scheduled to begin late in 2021 and continue into 2022. Specific timing will vary by device.

Even if we assume that everything goes well with the Windows 11 release, caution still is important. Older programs might not work properly or stop working entirely, you might need to use particular programs. This is one of the reasons to hold out. Also, since the important question is compatibility with your device, you need to consider the requirements for hardware before deciding to upgrade too. Minimum system requirements:

• Processor: 1GHz with two or more cores on a compatible 64-bit SoC.
• Memory: 4GB RAM.
• Storage: 64GB or more.
• System firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable.
• TMP: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.
• Graphics card: DirectX 12 compatible / WDDM 2.x.
• Display: High-def (720p) display, larger than 9” diagonal in size, 8 bits per color channel at least.
• Internet: Microsoft account and internet connectivity required for setup for Windows 11 Home.

If your PC is not meeting these specifications, it might be that your device cannot run Windows 11. One common issue with machines is the TMP that keeps lots of machines not compatible with the new release. This is a feature that can be integrated into your computer's motherboard or added separately via CPU. The chip protects encryption data and credentials stored on the computer.^[5] This is the feature helping with the security when malware infects the machine and targets credentials.

Microsft requires the chip due to increased numbers of malware attacks and hacks^[6] to prevent major issues. Not all Windows 10 machines can be upgraded, but the TMP chip can be checked beforehand via BIOS settings. All 8th Gen Intel Core and AMD Ryzen 2000 and newer chips should be supported. You have time to upgrade, but no later than October 2025 because Windows 10 will not be supported after that.

Windows 10 vs. Windows 11: what can be expected

Start menu and Taskbar

This will probably be the biggest difference between the two because in Windows 11, the Taskbar and Start menu going to appear in the center of the screen. This change will resemble the macOS display a lot, so you can change it back to the left side if you are not happy with the change. The Start menu, in general, is going to be more simplistic, and it going to stop supporting the Live Tiles feature. The search bar, usually appearing in the Taskbar, becomes an icon, and the Cortana function is removed entirely. Taskbar customization is not available, and the only place where it can be is the bottom.

External monitor support

Multitasking is a common question and a function that people rely on. Multitasking often involves external monitor usage. With Windows 11, multitasking goes to another level. You can increase the performance of your system with Snap Layouts that group windows and saves them to your Taskbar. The particular bugs in Windows 10 with the external monitor get fixed in windows 11.

Microsoft Store

The app store is one of the common search keywords due to issues in Windows 10 and errors stemming from the store. Microsft Store already relaxed some policies and, before the official Windows 11 release, opened the store for third-party application developers.^[7] Other features that come with the upgrade of the OS include the support of Android apps Amazon Appstore usage. The new design should make it easier to get to wanted apps and movies.

Update cycle and support

It is indicated that Windows 11 will receive yearly updates like macOS. It is still unknown what happens with Windows 10 because it is revealed that Windows 10 will no longer be supported after 2025. It is possible that Windows 10 updates become less frequent, so it is best to upgrade to the newest OS version eventually.

Application compatibility

It is common for compatibility issues to trigger errors and functionality failure on machines. It can be expected to occur with Windows 11 since not all apps will be supported right away. This can be the reason to wait before upgrading.

Known Windows 11 issues

Microsoft released preview versions of Windows 11 earlier for testing purposes. It is the opportunity to see possible issues that can get fixed until the final release. Improvements can be implemented, and the list of bug fixes gets smaller. The upgrade is in the development stage, so even these known errors can be the thing of the past once Windows 11 becomes available for all home PC users. However, there are some issues that users need to be aware of and expect to have them on the day of release too. Some of them might have workarounds until the proper solution.

Start

• In some cases, entering text in search via Taskbar or start might be difficult. Some workarounds include opening the Run dialog box via Win and R keys.

Taskbar

• Flickering Taskbar related to input method switching.

Search

• Clicking the Search icon might not open the search panel in full. You might need to restart the Windows Explorer process and try again.
• Restarting the PC might be a workaround to the issue when the recent searches do not appear while hovering with the cursor over the Search icon.
• Search panel appearing black.

Widgets

• The board of widgets might be empty. Sign out and sign back in to fix it.
• Links from widgets do not invoke apps to the foreground.
• External monitors can display the wrong size of widgets. Launch the widgets via WIN + W shortcut on your actual PC and then on the external monitor.
• Location information via the Family widget might not be available.

Store

• The order of search results in Store is not correct.
• Install button lacks functionality.
• Ratings are not available.

Windows Sandbox

• Taskbar crashing continuously.

File Explorer

• Laggy File Explorer when people try to select items from the menu.

Oracle VirtualBox

• Some users are unable to start Virtual machines (VMs) and receive errors.

Smart Sound Technology drivers

• Devices with the affected Intel SST driver might receive a blue screen error.

Display

• Difficulty with rare color profiles which affects some displays.
• On certain HDR displays, white colors could display in bright yellow or other colors.
• The issue occurs when certain color-rendering Win32 APIs return unexpected information or errors under specific conditions.

Updates

• Windows 11 KB5008215, which was released on December 15 has been causing issues.
• Some users have claimed that they’re unable to apply the cumulative update as the patch fails to install with cryptic error messages.

Storage drives

• Some users experience performance issues with certain storage drives like SSD and NVMe.
• This typically happens when users try to move files between the system partition and the rest of the partitions as the bug only affects the partition where Windows 11 is installed.

Overall, Windows 11 comes with a more consistent new design and improved capabilities, videogame selection, window layout options. It offers a better experience when using a few monitors, and overall performance should be improved.

Android application support is another great new feature that should compensate for those cons, including the lack of tools that go away with this built or the different look. We should remind you that Windows 10 updates are still causing issues, so jumping straight to upgrading the Windows 11 might not be the best option right after the release.

Even though the list of issues might not become much longer after the public release, you need to have those risks in mind. This article will be updated with all the new updates and errors, solutions, workarounds for the indicated problems with the latest Windows version.