With Windows 10 now out of free support, a lot of people are asking the same question: does my computer actually qualify for Windows 11? The good news is it’s easy to check. The less good news is that some perfectly usable PCs get knocked back on a technicality that’s often fixable.
The Official Minimum Requirements
According to Microsoft’s official specifications, a PC needs the following to run Windows 11:
- A 1 GHz or faster processor with 2 or more cores, on Microsoft’s approved compatible processor list
- 4 GB of RAM (8 GB or more is a much more comfortable real-world minimum)
- 64 GB or more of storage
- UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability
- TPM version 2.0
- A graphics card compatible with DirectX 12 or later
- A display larger than 9 inches, at 720p or higher
The two that trip people up almost every time are TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot.
Step 1: Use the PC Health Check App
The fastest way to check is Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app. Install it, open it, and click “Check now.” It will tell you plainly whether your PC is eligible, and if not, which specific requirement it’s failing.
Step 2: If It Says “TPM 2.0 Not Found”
Here’s the bit most people don’t realise: on the majority of PCs built in the last 6-8 years, a TPM 2.0 chip is physically present but simply switched off in the BIOS or UEFI firmware by default. It’s often labelled differently depending on the manufacturer:
- Intel systems: usually called “PTT” or “Intel Platform Trust Technology”
- AMD systems: usually called “fTPM” or “AMD PSP fTPM”
Enabling it involves restarting your PC, entering the BIOS/UEFI setup (usually by pressing Delete, F2, or Esc during startup, depending on your manufacturer), finding the security or advanced settings tab, and switching TPM/PTT/fTPM to enabled. If you’re not comfortable poking around in BIOS settings, this is a five-minute job for us rather than something to guess at.
Step 3: If It Says “Secure Boot Not Supported” or “Not Enabled”
Secure Boot is also usually a firmware toggle rather than a hardware limitation, on any PC built for Windows 8 or later (so, most PCs from 2012 onward). It sits in the same BIOS/UEFI menu as TPM settings, typically under a “Boot” or “Security” tab.
Step 4: If Your PC Genuinely Can’t Upgrade
If PC Health Check flags the processor itself as incompatible, that one isn’t a settings fix. At that point you’ve got three honest options:
- Enrol in Windows 10 ESU for continued security patches while you plan ahead, see our article on Windows 10 support ending for details
- Upgrade key components if the rest of the machine has life left in it and the limiting factor is genuinely just the CPU generation
- Replace the machine, particularly if it’s already 7+ years old and showing its age in other ways too, and if you do retire it, recycle it properly rather than binning it, see our guide on what to do with your old computer
Not Sure Which Applies to You?
Bring it in, or let us take a remote look, and we’ll tell you straight whether your PC just needs a five-minute BIOS tweak or whether it’s genuinely time to consider something new. Get in touch through the contact form on our homepage.