Transitioning to Windows 11
Microsoft has announced that on October 14th, 2025, they will be ending support of the Windows 10 operating system. In preparation for this end of service and in accordance with UW-IT’s guidance on best practices, Academic Technologies will be transitioning our in-classroom desktop computers from Windows 10 to the current Windows 11 operating system. With the update to Windows 11 there will be visual changes to the desktop icons and placements.
Microsoft has a brief overview video that talks about the changes in Windows 11 OS. Explore the UI of Windows 11.
Windows OS updates have already begun for the General Assignment classroom desktop computers, and we aim to be full transitioned by the start of Fall Quarter, September 24th, 2025. Other existing software currently available on the desktop computers will not change.
UPDATE (8/12/25): A notice for instructors signing into a classroom desktop computer for the first time. Windows 11 can take a longer period of time to setup your initial profile; sometimes over 5 minutes. Please plan accordingly if you are going to be using the room’s desktop computer and keep in mind that each Windows 11 profile is computer specific and does not carry over to other classroom PCs. Once your profile has been setup, subsequent logins to that room’s computer should be quicker.
New Laptop Instructional Videos
Additionally Academic Technologies has created two new instructional videos that we recently uploaded onto our YouTube channel. New laptop connectivity videos have been created to help guide and answer some common questions when connecting an Apple or Windows operating system laptop to the classroom systems.
Each can be viewed below. Take a look!