Installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware: what you should know

You can install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, but Microsoft says it isn’t recommended, the PC won’t get support, and updates, including security updates, aren’t guaranteed. For most older PCs, Windows 10 ESU, Linux Mint or ChromeOS Flex is the safer choice.

Last updated October 25, 2026 · Facts checked against Microsoft support pages

The short version

Microsoft doesn’t recommend installing Windows 11 on a PC that doesn’t meet the minimum requirements.
Such PCs aren’t entitled to updates, show a desktop watermark, and damage caused by incompatibility isn’t covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
Check first whether TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot is just switched off. That’s fixable without any workaround.
If the processor is the problem, safer options are ESU until October 12, 2027, Linux Mint or ChromeOS Flex.

First, make sure your PC is really unsupported

Many PCs fail the Windows 11 check only because TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot is turned off in the firmware. Microsoft says most PCs shipped in the last five years can run TPM 2.0. Run PC Health Check and read what each failure means. If it’s a setting, follow our guide to enabling TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot and you’ll get Windows 11 the supported way.

If the processor is what fails, no setting will change that. Read on before you decide.

Microsoft’s position

Microsoft’s support article, Installing Windows 11 on devices that don’t meet minimum system requirements, is clear:

Installing Windows 11 on such a device isn’t recommended.
The device won’t receive support from Microsoft.
It might malfunction because of compatibility or other issues.
It isn’t guaranteed to receive updates, including but not limited to security updates.
Damage caused by lack of compatibility isn’t covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.

To go ahead, you have to accept a disclaimer that says the PC will no longer be supported and won’t be entitled to receive updates. Microsoft says that if you’ve already installed Windows 11 on an ineligible device, you should roll back to Windows 10 immediately. Microsoft has also said the minimum requirements remain unchanged.

The real risks

Updates can stop at any time

Monthly updates may install today, but Microsoft makes no promise about the next one. That matters most for security fixes, which are the reason to run a current system in the first place.

Each yearly version may need a new workaround

Windows 11 gets a new version every year. Workarounds that got around one version’s checks don’t always carry over. For example, the Rufus tool’s own changelog shows it had to add a new method to get around Windows 11 version 24H2’s in-place upgrade restrictions.

Instability and no support

Microsoft says unsupported devices might malfunction, and it won’t help if they do. Your PC maker may not either: damage caused by incompatibility isn’t covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

Reminders on screen

Microsoft says a watermark is added to the Windows 11 desktop on unsupported devices, and a notification may appear in Settings saying the requirements aren’t met.

Going back is time-limited

After an upgrade, Settings → System → Recovery → Go back returns you to Windows 10, but only for 10 days. After that, Microsoft says the files needed are deleted and going back is no longer possible. You’d need the password for your Windows 10 account to roll back.

Is it legal?

We can’t give legal advice, and your rights depend on your license and where you live. Here’s what Microsoft documents: its own support article describes installing Windows 11 on ineligible devices, and the consequences it lists are losing support and the entitlement to updates. If you need certainty, read the Microsoft Software License Terms that come with Windows or ask Microsoft.

How people do it

We don’t give step-by-step instructions, because we don’t recommend it. This is a general overview, so you understand what’s involved.

A registry change for upgrades. Microsoft’s “Ways to install Windows 11” page used to describe a registry value for upgrading PCs that fell short on the TPM or processor check. Microsoft removed those instructions in early 2025, and the current page no longer includes them. A Microsoft spokesperson told Windows Latest that the requirements are unchanged and the company no longer recommends the method.
Modified installation media. Rufus, an open-source tool for making bootable USB drives, offers options when creating Windows 11 media to remove the TPM, Secure Boot and RAM requirements, and to skip the Microsoft account requirement. Rufus isn’t made by Microsoft, and using it doesn’t change Microsoft’s position above.

If you go ahead anyway: back up everything first. Microsoft warns that a clean install completely wipes the drive, and all files and installed apps are lost.

Safer alternatives

Option	Cost	Best for
Windows 10 ESU	Free for most people	Keeping Windows 10 secure until October 12, 2027 while you plan
Linux Mint	Free	People happy to learn a new system and keep the PC long term
ChromeOS Flex	Free	People who mostly use a web browser, on models Google has certified
A supported PC	Varies	Anyone who depends on Windows-only software

ESU is the lowest-effort option: you keep Windows 10 and your apps. Switching to Linux Mint or ChromeOS Flex means installing a new system, so back up first. If you’re buying a replacement, check the model in our Can It Run? database.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware?

Microsoft says such devices might malfunction and aren’t guaranteed updates, including security updates. Without guaranteed security fixes, the PC may end up less protected than a Windows 10 PC enrolled in ESU, which is covered until October 12, 2027.

Will an unsupported CPU get Windows 11 updates?

It might, but there’s no guarantee. Microsoft’s disclaimer says the PC won’t be entitled to receive updates, so any update that does arrive could be the last.

Can I install Windows 11 with TPM 1.2?

Not as a supported installation. Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0, and Microsoft says a lower specification version doesn’t meet the requirements. Check first that a TPM 2.0 isn’t simply switched off in the firmware.

Can I go back to Windows 10 afterwards?

Yes, within 10 days of upgrading, from Settings → System → Recovery → Go back. After that, you’d have to reinstall Windows 10, which only gets security updates through ESU.