Can my PC run Windows 11? Check in two minutes
To find out whether your PC can run Windows 11, open Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app and select Check now. If the answer is no, it tells you which requirement failed, and a TPM or Secure Boot failure is often just a setting that’s switched off.
The short version
- Windows 11 needs a supported processor (generally Intel Core 8th gen or newer, or AMD Ryzen 3000 series or newer, plus a few Ryzen 2000 desktop chips), TPM 2.0, UEFI with Secure Boot capability, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage.
- PC Health Check is Microsoft’s official checker. It’s free.
- A processor failure can’t be fixed with a setting. TPM and Secure Boot failures often can.
- Shopping for a used PC? Look the model up in our Can It Run? database.
Step 1: Run PC Health Check
- Search the taskbar for PC Health Check and open it. If it isn’t installed, download it from aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp.
- Under Windows 11 eligibility, select Check now.
- Read the result. Microsoft says it explains why the device is or isn’t eligible and what you can do about it.
That’s the whole check. If the PC passes, you’re done. If it fails, the rest of this guide explains the result.
The Windows 11 requirements
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Processor | 1 GHz or faster, 2 or more cores, on Microsoft’s list of compatible 64-bit processors |
| Memory | 4 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB or more |
| System firmware | UEFI, Secure Boot capable |
| TPM | Trusted Platform Module version 2.0 |
| Graphics | DirectX 12 compatible, with a WDDM 2.0 driver |
| Display | High definition (720p), 9 inches or larger, 8 bits per color channel |
| Internet | Windows 11 Home needs an internet connection and a Microsoft account to finish setup |
To upgrade directly from Windows 10, the PC also needs Windows 10 version 2004 or later with the September 14, 2021 security update or later installed.
Step 2 (optional): Check it yourself
If you want to see the details behind PC Health Check’s answer, check the three requirements that fail most often.
Processor
Open Settings → System → About and look at Processor under Device specifications. Then compare it with Microsoft’s supported processor lists for Intel and AMD. If you’re not sure how to read the model number, see how to check your CPU generation.
TPM 2.0
Press Windows key + R, type tpm.msc and select OK. If the TPM is ready, check that Specification Version (under TPM Manufacturer Information) says 2.0. If you see “Compatible TPM cannot be found”, the TPM may be turned off.
UEFI and Secure Boot
Press Windows key + R, type msinfo32 and press Enter. On System Summary, look at BIOS Mode and Secure Boot State. BIOS Mode should say UEFI. If it says Legacy, the PC is booting in the older BIOS mode, and Windows 11 needs UEFI.
What each failure means
| What failed | What it usually means | Fixable? |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | The processor isn’t on Microsoft’s supported list | No (not with a setting) |
| TPM 2.0 | The TPM is switched off in the firmware, missing, or older than version 2.0 | Often |
| Secure Boot | The PC boots in Legacy BIOS or CSM mode instead of UEFI | Often, with care |
| Memory or storage | Less than 4 GB of RAM or 64 GB of storage | Sometimes, with an upgrade |
For TPM and Secure Boot fixes, follow our guide to enabling TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. Read its warning before switching from Legacy to UEFI: on a PC whose drive uses the older MBR layout, Windows won’t start until the disk is converted.
PC Health Check says no, but you think it should be yes
This is common, and the cause is usually one of these:
- The TPM is turned off. Microsoft says most PCs shipped in the last five years are capable of running TPM 2.0, and that most retail motherboards used by people building their own PC ship with the TPM turned off by default.
- The PC boots in Legacy mode. Windows 11 needs UEFI. Turning Secure Boot on is optional for the upgrade, but the PC must be Secure Boot capable, which means running in UEFI mode.
- The processor is just too old. Microsoft’s Intel list for Windows 11 version 24H2 starts at 8th-gen Core processors, so a 7th-gen chip such as a Core i5-7200U isn’t on it, even in an otherwise capable PC. Not every AMD chip numbered in the 2000s is listed either, so check the exact model.
- You’re not sure about your model. Microsoft suggests asking your PC manufacturer to confirm which Windows versions are available for a specific device.
If the processor is the only problem, no setting will fix it. Your choices are covered below.
If your PC can’t run Windows 11
- Enroll in Windows 10 ESU to keep getting security updates until October 12, 2027. It’s free for most people. See our Windows 10 ESU guide.
- Switch to Linux Mint or ChromeOS Flex. Both are free. ChromeOS Flex is officially supported only on models Google has certified.
- Replace the PC with a refurbished model that meets the requirements. Check it in our Can It Run? database first.
- Install Windows 11 anyway. Microsoft doesn’t recommend it and says such PCs aren’t guaranteed updates. Read the risks of installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware first.
Frequently asked questions
Is PC Health Check safe?
Yes. PC Health Check is Microsoft’s own app, and Microsoft’s support pages link to it for checking Windows 11 eligibility. Download it from Microsoft’s link rather than a third-party site.
Can my PC run Windows 11 without TPM?
Not officially. TPM 2.0 is one of Microsoft’s minimum requirements. Workarounds exist, but Microsoft says PCs that don’t meet the requirements won’t get support and aren’t guaranteed updates, including security updates.
PC Health Check says my PC can run Windows 11, so why can’t I download it?
Microsoft sometimes places a “safeguard hold” on PCs with a known compatibility issue. Windows Update then shows a message that the update is on its way but not ready for your device. Microsoft recommends waiting until Windows Update offers the upgrade.
Is there an online Windows 11 compatibility checker?
Microsoft’s official checker is the PC Health Check app, which runs on the PC itself. Microsoft’s processor requirements page points customers to it. To check a model before you buy it, use our Can It Run? database.
More in Old PC Rescue
- Windows 10 end of support: your 6 options
- Windows 10 ESU explained: cost, enrollment and what it covers
- How to check your CPU generation
- How to enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot
- Installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware: what you should know