Windows 11 is out right now and available as a free upgrade from Windows 10 — assuming you have the right hardware for the job, that is. That’s right, Windows 11 does have some minimum system requirements.
So if your machine doesn’t have all the right hardware, you’re going to be stuck with plain-old Windows 10 for the foreseeable future. In case you are wondering whether your machine has what it takes, here’s how you can check.
Windows 11 system requirements
As PC gamers will know, there’s a big difference between the minimum system requirements needed to run software, and recommended specs you’ll need to run things smoothly. But here's what you absolutely need to run Windows 11.
- CPU: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC)
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB of larger
- System firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable
- TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0
- Graphics card: Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver
- Display: High definition (720p) display that is greater than 9” diagonally, 8 bits per color channel
- Internet: Windows 11 Home edition requires internet connectivity and a Microsoft account to complete device setup on first use.
How to check if your PC is compatible with Windows 11
If you’re unsure about what hardware your PC has, or you want to be doubly sure that you’ll be able to upgrade to Windows 11 when the time comes, there is a way to check. Just download the Windows PC Health Check app from the official Windows 11 page.
PC Health Check has been around for a while, but the Windows 11 requirements testing tool was originally launched back in June. Unfortunately people were getting confused about their results, forcing Microsoft to pull the tool for a while.
But now PC Health Check is back, meaning you can see whether your PC can run Windows 11, or what the problem is if it can't.
Once the app is installed and open, you need to locate the Windows 11 banner at the top of the page and click Check Now.
The Health Check app will immediately tell you whether or not your PC is capable of running Windows 11 or not.
In my case, my old Huawei MateBook X Pro has no issues, and will be able to upgrade to Windows 11 when it’s released. However because the revamped PC Health Check app gives you a breakdown of each individual requirement, you can better see which one your computer doesn't meet.
Wait, I need a TPM? What's that?
The one thing in the list of Windows 11 specs that may confuse you is the TPM. TPM stands for Trusted Platform Module, and it’s best known as the main means of security on Windows PCs. It’s usually built into business laptops and desktop machines, so it’s not the kind of thing most people will even think about when buying a new computer.
The Windows Health Check app will warn you if your PC doesn't have an active TPM, so if it’s given the all clear you have nothing to worry about. However just because the PC Health Check App can't detect a TPM doesn't mean you don't have one.
Some motherboards, especially ones that ship separately, may have a TPM that isn't enabled. To make matters worse, some manufacturers, specifically ASUS, have been updating firmware on some of their older hardware to sure they are compatible with Windows 11 — even if Microsoft doesn't officially support them.
So make sure to read our guide on how to check if your Windows PC has a TPM 2.0 chip. Microsoft has also released resources to help you activate any dormant TPMs in the BIOS settings, if you're comfortable doing that yourself.
