If your PC is a few years old, there’s a fairly good chance that you won’t be able to run Windows 11, at least at launch. So, here’s a look at the basic requirements for installing Windows 11 on a PC.

Minimum System Requirements for Installing Windows 11

Microsoft has listed the following basic hardware requirements on its website. The company has made it clear that users may need to upgrade their PCs if they don’t meet the requirements.

CPU: 1Ghz or faster on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip GPU: DirectX 12-compatible with WDDM 2. 0 driver RAM: 4GB or higher Hard Drive: 64GB or higher System Firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 1. 2 or 2. 0 Display: HD (720p) display greater than 9” diagonally, 8 bits per color channel Internet connection and Microsoft accounts: Windows 11 Home edition requires internet connectivity and a Microsoft account to complete device setup on first use.  Switching a device out of Windows 11 Home in S mode also requires internet connectivity.

How to Check Windows 11 Compatibility

Not everyone knows what hardware they have in their system. Thankfully, Microsoft offers a convenient way to check if your PC will be capable of running Windows 11 at launch. Here’s how:

Download and install the new PC Health Check app from Microsoft. Launch the app and click on Check Now. You should get a similar pop-up on your screen.

Don’t panic just yet if you find that your PC isn’t compatible. Many users with modern hardware are facing this problem, but it’s mostly TPM or Secure Boot-related. Both of these settings can be changed from the BIOS menu.

AMD fTPM and Intel PTT

If you have an AMD CPU, set AMD fTPM (firmware TPM) to Enabled in the Advanced menu within your system BIOS/UEFI settings. If you’re using an Intel CPU, you can turn on Intel PTT (Platform Trust Technology) from the same menu. Save your settings, boot up your PC, and re-check using the app.

No Need to Hurry for Windows 11

Windows 11 isn’t coming out until the holiday season. So, you have a few months to make sure you have the necessary hardware. If you can’t afford a new PC soon enough, there’s absolutely no need to worry since Microsoft will continue to support Windows 10 till October 2025. That’s four years of security updates for your aging computer.