Many people are not happy about the upgraded hardware requirements Microsoft has set but it’s for our own good. Unlike Windows 10/8/7, Windows 11 requires some hardware components too that we will discuss below. Here is how you can check if your PC can run Windows 11 or not and what happens if it doesn’t meet the hardware requirements.
Windows 11 System Requirements
Processor: 1Ghz or faster with minimum 2 coresSystem architecture: 64-bit Display: 720p (1280×720 px) with a screen size of minimum 9-inchGraphics card: DirectX 12 compatible graphics with WDDM 2.xRAM: 4 GBStorage: 64 GBFirmware: Secure Boot enabled UEFITrusted Platform Module: Version 2.0
Everything seems fine except the last two points – TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. A lot of people are quite disappointed because of these additional requirements and aren’t sure if their PC has it or not. TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot will make our computer safer and more secure thereby protecting our data from scammers and spammers. This is a step in the right direction. Taking advantage of this innovation is one reason why they have updated the requirements for installing Windows 11.
How to Check if Your PC Can Run Windows 11 or Not
Note 1: Microsoft has taken the PC Health Check app offline. While no official explanation was given, the page now says ‘Coming Soon’ so it should be released soon. Earlier, the app displayed an error if the PC was incompatible but didn’t mention the cause of incompatibility leaving the users guessing. We hope that issue will be resolved in the upcoming version. Note 2: You can instead try the open-source WhyNotWin11 app that’s available on GitHub. It will not only test your system for Windows 11 compatibility but also suggest solutions or what’s missing/disabled. Along with the announcement of Windows 11, Microsoft launched an app for users to check whether their PCs are compatible with Windows 11 or not. The PC Health Check app will scan your PC and let you know if you can install Windows 11 on your computer or not. To get started, follow these steps: 1. Visit the official website and download the PC Health Check app. 2. Install it on your computer by clicking twice on the downloaded .msi file. 3. Once the installation is complete, click the Check now button. 4. You shall view either This PC can’t run Windows 11 or This PC can run Windows 11 message on your screen. Now, congrats if your computer is compatible with Windows 11. If not, continue reading and we will explain more in a minute once we are done with the requirements.
List of Processors Compatible With Windows 11
As there are some updates in the minimum system or hardware requirements for installing Windows 11, Microsoft released a comprehensive list of Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm processors that are fully compatible with Windows 11.
Windows 11 supported Intel processorsWindows 11 supported AMD processorsWindows 11 supported Qualcomm processors
So, which processor does your machine carry?
How to Check Which Processor You Have
Not everyone knows which processor they have – don’t worry, you are not alone. It is easy to find out. There is a free tool called Speccy which allows you to view PC’s hardware details including your processor name. To get started, download Speccy from the official website and install it on your computer. Once the installation is complete, open the app and find the information on your screen.
What Happens if Your PC Doesn’t Meet the Hardware Requirements
If you have an old computer, you may or may not be able to install Windows 11 because of TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirements. If that’s the case, you can continue using Windows 10 with all the official updates that roll out in the future. However, it is recommended to upgrade your hardware before October 14, 2025, because that is the official retirement date of Windows 10 Home and Pro’s support.
Hardware Requirements for Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds
As everything took place suddenly, many Insider Preview Build users might not get time to upgrade their hardware. Eventually, it will slow down their further development. Keeping that in mind, Microsoft will be relaxing the hardware requirements temporarily for Windows 11 Insider Preview Build users. Image Source: Microsoft Meaning, even if your computer doesn’t meet the required hardware and you have a Windows 10 Insider Preview account, you can opt for Windows 11 Insider Preview once it launches.
Fix ‘This PC can’t run Windows 11’ Error
As noted earlier, chances are your computer is eligible for the free upgrade and can run Windows 11. If you get This PC can’t run Windows 11 error while running the PC Health Check app, you must enable Trusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0) and Secure Boot from the UEFI. Almost all computers manufactured after 2016 have TPM 2.0 built-in and hence your PC should be eligible. However, TPM and Secure Boot are disabled by default and have to be enabled from the UEFI menu manually. The steps are easy to follow and won’t take more than a few minutes.
Wrapping Up: Check if Your PC Can Run Windows 11
The PC Health Check app is quite comprehensive when it comes to finding if your PC can run Windows 11 or not. However, it would be better if it mentioned the reason for non-compatibility. Right now, users are left guessing and not sure why they can’t upgrade to Windows 11. One way to find out is by going through the complete list of all pre-requirements.
