Windows 11 is still not as popular as Microsoft would like it to be, but a lot of people are using it. And if you’re building or rebuilding a PC, you can start with the latest operating system, right? Now you can. Microsoft is selling licenses for Windows 11 along with a download directly from its online store. In the past, home installers needed to download and install Windows 10 and then update via Windows Update (which may still be your preferred path if you want to get Windows on the cheap).
Exactly when Microsoft switched to selling Windows 11 is unclear. According to PCMag, it was sometime after the beginning of May. Notably, both Windows 11 and the older Windows 10 are still available for purchase, although there is no way to get W11 on a “hard” USB drive, as was the case for Windows 10. It’s either a direct download or nothing.
The operating system pricing has remained the same, with Windows 11 Home going to cost you $139 in the US, while Windows 11 Pro will cost you $199. (Here are the differences if you’re not sure.) Current Windows 10 users can still upgrade to Windows 11 through Windows Update or several other methods. Please note that according to Microsoft, Windows 10 will be supported until at least October 2025.