Uploaded November 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The development process of Windows 11 is considerably different from previous releases. Microsoft has been working on Cobalt since October 2020, with preview builds being released to the Dev Channel with a weekly cadence for the most part. The channel has been switched to the release branch (co_release) in April 2021 with build 21354. Around this time, the company also began work on the Windows 11 user experience in a separate co_refresh branch, which was bumped to the 216xx build range, whereas the public co_release branch was in the 213xx build range.
After the release of build 21390 in May 2021, the release branch was bumped to the 219xx build range and the main user interface work from the co_refresh was merged to it. The Cobalt core is complete as of build 22000.1, although work on the user experience further continues in the refresh branch, now bumped to the 221xx range. This work is being continuously merged to the co_release branch and released in the form of cumulative updates for build 22000 to the Dev Channel, starting with build 22000.51.
Windows 11 is a major version of Microsoft Windows that was originally announced on 24 June 2021, and succeeds the Windows 10 family of operating systems. The initial Cobalt-based release has been generally available since 5 October 2021 as a free upgrade over Windows Update. It includes a refreshed user interface, as well as other minor improvements over the Windows 10 May 2021 Update.
This version drops support for 32-bit x86 systems, leaving only the AMD64/x64 and ARM64 target platforms, although 32-bit user applications are still supported via WoW64. The operating system now also requires a system with UEFI firmware that supports the Secure Boot specification and includes a Trusted Platform Module, which has been subject to controversy as it leaves many older systems that fully support Windows 10 ineligible for the free upgrade.
Now, let's see how the story goes... Can I count to 2 or look at pink-petaled flowers without puking after this?
Join the PlainGroup or I will eat your family: discord.gg/syVYHgS
The development process of Windows 11 is considerably different from previous releases. Microsoft has been working on Cobalt since October 2020, with preview builds being released to the Dev Channel with a weekly cadence for the most part. The channel has been switched to the release branch (co_release) in April 2021 with build 21354. Around this time, the company also began work on the Windows 11 user experience in a separate co_refresh branch, which was bumped to the 216xx build range, whereas the public co_release branch was in the 213xx build range.
After the release of build 21390 in May 2021, the release branch was bumped to the 219xx build range and the main user interface work from the co_refresh was merged to it. The Cobalt core is complete as of build 22000.1, although work on the user experience further continues in the refresh branch, now bumped to the 221xx range. This work is being continuously merged to the co_release branch and released in the form of cumulative updates for build 22000 to the Dev Channel, starting with build 22000.51.
Windows 11 is a major version of Microsoft Windows that was originally announced on 24 June 2021, and succeeds the Windows 10 family of operating systems. The initial Cobalt-based release has been generally available since 5 October 2021 as a free upgrade over Windows Update. It includes a refreshed user interface, as well as other minor improvements over the Windows 10 May 2021 Update.
This version drops support for 32-bit x86 systems, leaving only the AMD64/x64 and ARM64 target platforms, although 32-bit user applications are still supported via WoW64. The operating system now also requires a system with UEFI firmware that supports the Secure Boot specification and includes a Trusted Platform Module, which has been subject to controversy as it leaves many older systems that fully support Windows 10 ineligible for the free upgrade.
Now, let's see how the story goes... Can I count to 2 or look at pink-petaled flowers without puking after this?
Join the PlainGroup or I will eat your family: discord.gg/syVYHgS
