Microsoft has introduced a significant update to the Windows 11 setup experience
a change that has been pending since the days of Windows Vista
This revamped user interface, currently available in the Canary Insider channel, signifies its testing phase status. The installation wizard now features a different
layout, with options rearranged, and the workflow slightly altered. Before this, changes to the setup wizard were minimal across various Windows versions
with the most notable being a solid blue background introduced in Windows 8
and continued in Windows 10. The new setup UI is accessible when
performing a clean install of Windows 11 using an installation media. The redesigned Windows 11 setup experience draws inspiration from the Media Creation tool
offering a seamless process with a sleek black and white interface, replacing the violet background seen since Windows 8
The traditional Install Now button is replaced by a radio button selection
Users can also revert to the legacy setup UI if preferred. The installation process with the new UI is straightforward
It begins with ensuring the system meets Windows 11's minimum hardware requirements
followed by booting from the ISO or installation media. The initial wizard page requires language, time, and currency format selection
Users then opt to install Windows 11, agree to data deletion, or choose to repair their PC
entering the Windows Recovery Environment with redesigned icons. The option to launch the legacy setup experience is also available
Following these steps, users enter the product key, select the Windows edition
accept licensing terms, and create a partition on an unallocated drive. Notably, option placements have shifted from the bottom to the top of the page in the new UI
Users then allocate the primary drive size, select the partition for OS installation
and commence the installation. Upon completion, a familiar out-of-box experience screen from previous Windows 11 versions appears
This update is a refreshing change for an aspect of the operating system that often goes unnoticed
The redesign of the Windows 11 setup experience, long overdue, is a welcome improvement, enhancing the transition to a newer operating system