Your computer should meet specific hardware requirements to install Windows 11. Here is a list of Windows 11 minimum system requirements.
On June 24th, 2021, Microsoft unveiled the new Windows 11 operating system. Windows 11 is the next evolution and successor to Windows 10. As you might have guessed, Windows 11 has a lot of things we can talk about and experience. Especially the new design, new Microsoft Store, support for running Android apps natively, Direct Storage support, improved gaming experience, unique setup experience, new Windows 11 wallpapers, etc.
All in all, Windows 11 might be what people have been waiting for all these years. I’m very excited to get my grubby hands on it as soon as possible.
As with any new Windows version, there are specific hardware requirements that your computer needs to meet. If your computer doesn’t meet these requirements, you might not be able to install the Windows 11 operating system.
Thankfully, Microsoft laid out the Windows 11 minimum system requirements plain and straightforward. That means we can quickly know the Windows 11 system requirements and see if your system meets those minimum or recommended requirements.
In this quick and straightforward guide, I will share a list of all the Windows 11 system requirements and how to check if your system meets them.
Windows 11 minimum requirements
Following are the Windows 11 minimum hardware requirements your computer should meet to install it successfully.
- 64-bit CPU.
- CPU should have two or more cores.
- 4 GB or more memory (RAM).
- 720p display with at least an 8-bit color channel.
- The Graphics card should be DirectX 12 and WDDM 2.0 compatible.
- Modern UEFI firmware.
- Support for Secure Boot.
- Support for TPM >v1.2 (Trusted Platform Module).
Note: Microsoft recommends TPM v2 for the best experience.
How to check if the computer meets Windows 11 requirements?
Some requirements like the processor type, number of cores, available memory, display size, and DirectX version are easy to verify. You can get these details from the task manager, control panel, and DirectX diagnostic tool.
Other requirements like BIOS or UEFI, secure boot, and checking the TPM version require you to boot into the motherboard or laptop firmware.
Thankfully, you don’t have to go through the list manually to check if your system meets these requirements. To make things easier, Microsoft released a new tool called PC Health Check that scans your computer and lets you know if it is Windows 11 compatible. You can think of it as Windows 11 compatibility check.
Windows 11 Requirements Checker app
Download the PC Health Check app from the official website and double-click on the exe file. The app will be installed automatically as soon as you do that.
Download link: https://aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp
After installing, open the tool from the Start menu.
Next, click on the “Check Now” button.
If your computer is Windows 11 compatible, you will see the “This PC can run Windows 11” message.
If the system is not Windows 11 compatible, you will see the “This PC cannot run Windows 11” message. The app will also tell why your system is incompatible.
Can I install Windows 11 on an incompatible computer?
Even if the app says your computer is Windows 11 incompatible, it might still be possible to install if you can rectify the compatibility issues. For example, if you don’t have enough system memory, you can buy additional RAM modules. If you are on a desktop and don’t have the TPM module, you can buy a TPM module from Amazon.
Alternatively, you can also try your luck by plugging in the Windows 11 USB installer and installing it. In some cases, Windows 11 will install but shows system requirements not met the watermark.
That is all. It is that simple to check Windows 11 system requirements.
I hope this easy Windows 11 how-to guide helped you.
If you are stuck or need some help, comment below, and I will try to help as much as possible.
