Windows 11 system requirements 2026: check your PC's compatibility

The Windows 11 system requirements are stricter than those of Windows 10: in addition to processor, RAM and storage, Microsoft requires TPM 2.0 and UEFI firmware that supports Secure Boot. In this guide, you will learn which minimum requirements apply, how to check your PC with PC Health Check and with built-in Windows tools, and what you can do if a requirement is not met.

Key points at a glance

• Windows 11 requires a supported 64-bit processor, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, TPM 2.0 and UEFI with Secure Boot capability.
• Microsoft's free PC Health Check app shows whether your device is compatible and, if not, where it falls short.
• TPM and Secure Boot are present on many computers but switched off in the UEFI. This can usually be changed with just a few settings.
• Since version 24H2, the processor must also support the SSE4.2 and POPCNT instructions.

Windows 11 system requirements at a glance

Microsoft specifies the following minimum values for Windows 11. The authoritative source is always the current overview on Microsoft's Windows 11 specifications page.

For Windows 11 Home, and for Windows 11 Pro for personal use, Microsoft requires an internet connection and a Microsoft account during initial setup. To find out which edition suits your needs, read our comparison Windows 11 Home or Pro.

Why Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot

The Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is a security component that stores cryptographic keys in protected form. Windows 11 uses it for device encryption and BitLocker, for Windows Hello and for virtualisation-based security, among other things. The TPM can be a separate chip on the motherboard or a firmware solution inside the processor: Intel calls this Platform Trust Technology (PTT), while AMD refers to fTPM.

Secure Boot ensures that only signed bootloaders are loaded at start-up. This makes life harder for malware that tries to take hold before Windows even starts. For the minimum requirement, what counts is that your PC runs in UEFI mode and supports Secure Boot. You should still switch the feature on, as it brings a real gain in security.

How to check your PC's compatibility

Microsoft's app is the most reliable option. With the built-in tools tpm.msc and msinfo32, you can also see exactly where the problem lies.

With PC Health Check

1. Download and install Microsoft's “PC Health Check” app. You can find a description on the PC Health Check support page.
2. Start the app and click “Check now” in the Windows 11 section.
3. The app reports whether your PC meets the requirements. If not, “See all results” shows which requirements are missing, such as TPM, Secure Boot or the processor.

Checking TPM with tpm.msc

1. Press the Windows key + R, enter tpm.msc and confirm with Enter.
2. In the “TPM Management” window, you will find the entry “Specification Version” under “TPM Manufacturer Information”.
3. If it says 2.0, this requirement is met. If a message appears saying that no compatible TPM was found, the module is missing or disabled in the UEFI.

Checking UEFI mode and Secure Boot with msinfo32

1. Press the Windows key + R, enter msinfo32 and confirm.
2. In the System Summary, look for the “BIOS Mode” entry. It should read “UEFI”. If it says “Legacy”, the PC is running in the old legacy mode.
3. Check the “Secure Boot State” entry. “On” or “Off” means that Secure Boot is supported. “Unsupported” typically appears in legacy mode.

Comparing your processor with Microsoft's list

You can see your processor model under Settings → System → About. Compare it with the lists of supported processors that Microsoft publishes for Intel, AMD and Qualcomm, for example the list of supported Intel processors. As a rough rule of thumb, Intel Core from the 8th generation and AMD Ryzen from the 2000 series onwards are supported, but in individual cases the list is what counts.

Switching on TPM and Secure Boot in the UEFI

If the check reports a missing TPM or missing Secure Boot, it is worth taking a look at the firmware settings: on many newer motherboards both are present but disabled by default. Switching them on is a regular method described by Microsoft. Our guide shows step by step how to enable Intel PTT or AMD fTPM in the UEFI and what to bear in mind when switching from legacy mode to UEFI.

New since version 24H2: SSE4.2 and POPCNT

Since Windows 11 24H2, the system requires the SSE4.2 and POPCNT processor instructions. Practically all processors from the past 15 years or so support both. For computers that meet the official requirements, nothing therefore changes.

This point is relevant for very old systems that Windows 11 does not officially support anyway: the current version no longer starts on them at all. This also affects installations where the hardware check was bypassed by unofficial means.

If your PC does not meet the requirements

• TPM or Secure Boot switched off: Enable it in the UEFI as described above.
• Too little RAM or storage: RAM or a larger SSD can be added to many desktop PCs and some laptops.
• Processor not on the list: No setting will fix this. The only solutions are new hardware or a new PC.
• Stopgap solution: Windows 10 devices receive security updates via the ESU programme until 12 October 2027. Our guide to Windows 10 ESU explains how enrolment works.

Methods for bypassing the hardware check are circulating online. Microsoft does not support such installations and does not commit to providing updates for them. To find out what risks this involves and which legitimate alternatives exist, read our article Windows 11 without TPM 2.0.

Your PC is compatible: the next steps

If the device is running an activated copy of Windows 10, switching to Windows 11 is generally free of charge: Home becomes Home, Pro becomes Pro. Our guide Upgrading Windows 10 to Windows 11 describes the three methods. For a clean fresh start, see Reinstalling Windows 11.

If you have a self-built PC or a device without an existing Windows licence, or if you want to switch from Home to Pro, you need a suitable product key. The key is delivered to you by email, together with instructions.