Windows 11 Government Edition is what everyone wants, but there is a catch

[harlan4096]

A new edition of Windows 11 has been making the rounds over the weekend. Called Windows 11 Government Edition, screenshots of it were posted on Twitter by Andy Kirby (via Günter Born).

According to Kirby, the edition is "maximally debloated with all telemetry and Microsoft apps removed as well as no hardware restrictions".

Several screenshots show various apps and elements of the edition. The Start menu, for example, shows no pinned icons or recent items. All Apps, another section of the Start menu, lists just five apps and a folder.



Windows 11's Start menu without pinned apps. Source Andy KirbyThe five apps include surprises, as Windows Backup appears to be installed. This cloud-powered backup option is not something that one would expect on government PCs running Windows 11.

Core apps, including Microsoft Edge or Microsoft Defender Antivirus, are not installed as part of the edition.

Furthermore, since the edition does not enforce Windows 11's new system requirements, the operating system can be installed on devices with older hardware.
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