Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 11, launched in October 2021, but many PCs lack the hardware needed to upgrade. So what can you do if your computer isn’t ready to take the leap? Is an upgrade even worth it?
When Windows 11 launched, it started with some restrictive and controversial requirements. Most notably, Microsoft requires users to be online and have an active Microsoft account in order to use it. However, if your PC isn’t compatible, options and workarounds are available, although they vary in difficulty and risk involved. It can be as simple as connecting your computer to the internet, or as complex as manually upgrading the hardware in your PC.
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What are the minimum requirements?
The minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11 are as follows:
- Processor: 1 GHz or faster with two or more cores; Must be 8th Gen Intel/AMD Zen 2 or newer
- R.A.M: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB
- System Firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable
- TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.
- Graphic card: Graphics card compatible with DirectX 12 or higher with WDDM 2.0 driver.
- Network: Internet connection and Microsoft account
If you’re not sure, Microsoft’s PC Health Check app will check if your PC meets the minimum requirements for Windows 11.
You can try installing it anyway
Microsoft does not recommend installing Windows 11 if your computer does not meet the minimum requirements. The company says running the latest operating system on a computer that isn’t powerful enough can cause “compatibility issues,” preventing your PC from receiving updates and voiding your warranty if the upgrade damages your hardware.
Despite this, Microsoft has provided instructions for customers who want to get Windows 11 running on a computer that doesn’t support it. So if you want to take the risk, you can install Windows 11 and see if it works.
To update an unsupported machine, you must create a registry key that bypasses the TPM 2.0 and CPU model checks. Tampering with registry keys comes with its own risks, so make sure you know what you’re doing before attempting this. Once the registry key is linked, you should be able to run the Windows 11 installer tool and update your computer.
If you ignore Microsoft’s warnings and decide to upgrade, be on the lookout for problems. You may be lucky and have a smooth ride, but you have ten days to go back to Windows 10 via the System Restore tool if you encounter any problems. Go to Start, Settings, System Restore and go back. After ten days, Windows deletes the recovery files to free up disk space, and rolling around becomes more complex.
Update your PC
If you’re somehow being held back by a lack of RAM or disk space, you have a potentially easy fix. You can get twice Windows 11’s minimum RAM requirement for less than $35, while a cheap external hard drive can help you free up the space you need. RAM clips snap into place; Make sure you’re using the correct channels and that the RAM you buy is compatible with the rest of your PC. An external hard drive can be connected via USB.
Unfortunately, for most prospective Windows 11 users right now, the required upgrades are more complex and expensive than installing new RAM or connecting an external hard drive. The good news is that you may not need to buy and install a whole new motherboard. You need one with a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip that supports TPM 2.0. If you purchased your computer after July 28, 2016, it likely has a compatible TPM chip.
TPM modules are available and compatible with some older motherboards, so be sure to check them out before tearing your rig apart. Your PC may have a compatible TPM chip that you have not activated. Carry out this check and, if necessary, authorize your chip.
You also need a relatively new processor. The oldest CPU that you can use to run Windows 11 is an 8th generation Intel processor, which was first released in August 2017. AMD users still need newer hardware – the Zen 2, released in 2019, is the oldest AMD CPU compatible with Windows 11.
Installing a processor is one of the trickiest parts of building a PC, but it’s something an amateur can do in under 30 minutes. Motherboards and other components tend to be future-proof to some degree. So if your processor is holding you back from an upgrade, there’s a good chance you can fit a compatible CPU. Upgrading laptop hardware is more complicated and the range of compatible parts is much smaller. Some soldering may be involved. But if you feel confident, it is possible to upgrade laptops.
Don’t worry too much
Microsoft won’t be “retiring” Windows 10 until October 2025 at the earliest, giving Windows 10 users a few more years before they consider a new operating system. Until retirement, Windows 10 will continue to receive support, including critical security updates and bug fixes. You don’t have to be in a hurry with the upgrade, and you might even be better off buying a new device in a year or two rather than forcing the new operating system on the older PC you currently have.
If you hold off, there’s also a chance that Microsoft will lower the requirements for Windows 11. Last year the company said its requirements were “subject to change through testing,” so there’s a chance it’s trying to maximize the number of Windows 11 devices it will work with if uptake stalls. Either way, there’s no reason you should feel like an upgrade is badly needed. Take your time.
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