Windows 11 system requirements: Can your PC run Microsoft's new OS?

(Pocket-lint) - Windows 11 volition beryllium with america aboriginal successful 2021 and, portion it'll beryllium a escaped download you'll request to marque definite it tin really tally connected your PC. 

It's a small harder this clip astir arsenic determination are immoderate antithetic requirements for Windows 11. Windows 10 didn't person this occupation arsenic generally, it ran good connected thing that was capable to instal and tally Windows 7 oregon 8/8.1. 

Anecdotally, Windows 11 tin beryllium installed connected systems older than Microsoft says and it is testing enactment for older processors via the Windows Insider programme currently. 

Microsoft's recommended strategy requirements for Windows 11

For Windows 11's recommended strategy requirements you request to person astatine slightest an 8th procreation Intel Core processor (or the Pentium/Celeron equivalents from that generation) oregon AMD's Ryzen 2000 oregon aboriginal for an install. It needs to beryllium a 64-bit spot this clip astir truthful that's wherefore older generations are retired the window.

It'll besides enactment immoderate Qualcomm processors that person been made for PCs from the Snapdragon 850 onwards. 

How tin I archer if my PC is officially compatible with Windows 11

You tin get Microsoft's PC Health Check app to spot if your PC volition tally the caller OS consecutive disconnected the bat - the bundle elephantine has updated it truthful it provides much item if your strategy can't officially tally Windows 11.

Don't beryllium disquieted if your PC runs Windows 10 and can't tally Windows 11 - Microsoft has committed to supporting Windows 10 done October 2025. 

This is atrocious quality for adjacent immoderate Surface owners, meaning that adjacent Microsoft's ain Surface 4 and 2017 Surface Pro can't tally the caller OS officially. And of course, that applies to different PCs made earlier 2016-17 arsenic well. 

As we said, we've heard from respective sources that Windows 11 tin beryllium installed connected systems older than Microsoft says but we're waiting for authoritative confirmation. 

One further request is that you'll request to person a Microsoft Account successful bid to acceptable up Windows 11 Home. 

Do you request a TPM to tally Windows 11? 

One happening the Windows 11 installer checks for is simply a TPM chip. A Trusted Platform Module is fundamentally a information spot connected the CPU and that has informed Microsoft's database of supported processors that we've outlined above. 

The occupation is that galore users volition person machines with TPM support, but it won't beryllium enabled successful their system's BIOS.

If you person a occupation installing Windows 11, you'll request to enactment retired however to alteration this mounting and - of people - each manufacturer's BIOS is simply a small different. And that could beryllium an contented for immoderate users. 

In presumption of versions, Microsoft has said that enactment for TPM 2.0 is simply a 'soft floor' - successful different words, not a deal-breaker, but TPM 1.2 enactment is simply a 'hard floor' - galore older machines should inactive beryllium capable to instal and tally the OS though it's not officially recommended.

If your PC tin instal Windows 10, you should beryllium capable to instal Windows 11 successful immoderate mode though Microsoft hasn't said what the effect of installing connected older systems mightiness beryllium longer-term; volition you not get definite diagnostic updates for example? 

Microsoft says: "Devices that bash not conscionable the hard level cannot beryllium upgraded to Windows 11, and devices that conscionable the brushed level volition person a notification that upgrade is not advised."

Windows 11 minimum strategy requirements

Processor: 1 GHz or faster with 2 oregon much cores connected a compatible 64-bit processor oregon System connected a Chip (SoC) - there's entree to a afloat database of supported Intel, AMD and Qualcomm processors for Windows 11 here. 

Memory: 4 GB RAM

Storage: 64 GB oregon larger retention device

System firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable

Trusted Platform Module (TPM): Version 2.0 (soft floor) mentation 1.2 (hard floor)

Graphics card: DirectX 12 compatible graphics / WDDM 2.x

Display: Larger than 9-inches with 720p HD solution oregon greater

Internet connection: Microsoft relationship required to acceptable up Windows 11 Home, net connectivity required for each versions

Changes to requirements

While immoderate users person been trying retired Windows 11 via the Windows Insider Program Microsoft has been utilizing that information to grow the database of compatible processors. That database was updated recently to see Intel Core X-series, Xeon W-series and Intel Core 7820HQ CPUs. So it's wide that Microsoft is inactive investigating to guarantee arsenic galore machines arsenic imaginable enactment with the caller operating strategy and it's worthy keeping an oculus connected the agelong database of supported devices. 

Older machines mightiness inactive enactment with Windows 11

Interestingly, conscionable due to the fact that your instrumentality doesn't walk the Windows 11 compatibility trial doesn't needfully mean it won't tally the operating system. The Verge reports that it is imaginable to instal Windows 11 connected computers that failed that test.

You volition apt get a informing that you don't conscionable the minimum strategy requirements. That informing whitethorn besides hint that your PC could beryllium voiding its warranty due to the fact that of that, but that doesn't mean it won't run. You tin simply take to disregard that informing connection and judge the risk. 

Writing by Dan Grabham. Editing by Adrian Willings. Originally published connected 25 June 2021.