Today marks the launch of Windows 11 except the only way to insure you get the operating system is by purchasing a new computer.

Microsoft started rolling out Windows 11 to eligible devices on Monday 4th October but this process is very much luck of the draw.

“Over time, we will make Windows 11 available to existing (in-market) devices based on hardware eligibility, reliability metrics and other factors that impact the upgrade experience. If you have a Windows 10 PC that’s eligible for the upgrade, Windows Update will let you know via the Windows Update Settings page when it’s available. We expect all eligible Windows 10 devices to be offered the upgrade to Windows 11 by mid-2022,” Microsoft wrote in a blog.

As part of the Windows Insider Programme we were hoping to jump this queue but as of time of writing the operating system upgrade is not visible in Windows Update.

In fact, the only way to get your hands on the final release of Windows 11 today – through legitimate means – is by buying a new computer or notebook that has the OS installed, or a model that is running Windows 10 but is eligible for a free upgrade through the Windows website.

On that note, your computer needs to be running at least version 2004 of Windows 10 and the 14th September service update in order to qualify for an upgrade to Windows 11.

With all of this having been said, Windows 10 will be supported through to 14th October 2025 so there really is no rush to switch to Windows 11.

While Microsoft has been testing the operating system out in the wild via its Insider Programme, perhaps waiting for all the bugs and kinks to be ironed out as more folks start using the OS isn’t the worst idea.

If you’re keen to try out Windows 11, keep an eye on the Windows Update page (located in Updates & Security in Settings) for a notification to upgrade.