Microsoft suddenly launched Windows 11 VMs exclusively for developers

Microsoft has quietly launched Windows 11 Enterprise VMs, a version of Windows 11 designed to help developers build apps and services for Microsoft's new operating system.

The download link for Windows 11 Enterprise VMs has suddenly appeared on a page that was previously reserved for the developer version of Windows 10. Page titles and captions are still for Windows 10, but the download links for Windows 10 VMs are gone and have been replaced with Windows 11 VMs.

Download Windows 11 Enterprise VMs here.

Microsoft suddenly launched Windows 11 VMs exclusively for developers Picture 1

Windows 11 Enterprise VMs will be available for VMware, Hyper-V, VirtualBox and Parallels. The tools developers need to build Windows 11 apps, from coding environments and templates to SDKs are bundled in Windows 11 Enterprise VMs.

Specifically, Windows 11 Enterprise VMs will include Windows 11 Enterprise, Windows 10 SDK, Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, Windows Subsytem for Linux (WSL), and Windows Terminal. Developer mode is also enabled by default allowing developers to install apps that have not been approved for testing.

The main thing to note is that Windows 11 VMs will expire on January 9, 2021 so developers have only a few weeks to research. Then perhaps a new set of virtual machines will be released by Microsoft.

Microsoft did not explain why it quietly launched Windows 11 Enterprise VMs. Besides, the launch of Windows 11 Enterprise VMs at this time is also a bit late, why Microsoft does not say why late.

Although not completely conquered users, Windows 11 will become the most used platform in the future. Therefore, developers need to urgently optimize software and build new applications for Windows 11. Windows 11 Enterprise VMs will help developers do this job more easily.

David Pac

Update 24 November 2021