Microsoft has dropped a strong clue about the Windows 11 release date, with a new tweet subtly suggesting the operating system will arrive on October 20.
The tweet, embedded below, at first looks like an innocuous screenshot of the new Windows 11 desktop.
However, when you look at the date and time in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen, Microsoft appears to be hinting at the release date, as first spotted by Betanews.
The date is set for October 20, 2011 with a time of 11:11. That’s no coincidence: whoever took the screenshot would have had to manually put the date and time forward to that date, as Windows 11 sets the clock automatically over the internet.
Microsoft has long stated that Windows 11 will be released in time for the holiday season, but has yet to publicly commit to a specific release date.
However, even if October 20 is the release date Microsoft is working to, it seems likely that the vast majority of users will have to wait until next year to get Windows 11 on their PCs.
Although Microsoft has committed to a free upgrade for Windows 10 users, FAQs on the company’s website state that those upgrades won’t be offered until 2022.
Ready to launch?
Windows 11 has been available to beta testers for a couple of months now and, though the operating system seems stable in my tests, several key features that were announced by Microsoft have yet to make the preview releases.
The most significant omission is support for Android apps, which was one of the most surprising new features announced by Microsoft when it did its Windows 11 reveal in June.
Microsoft also has some big decisions to make on the required specification to run Windows 11 and whether it’s going to stick with its controversial decision to require a modern processor and a TPM module.
