Bypass Windows 11 system requirements (Install It on Unsupported Hardware)

Windows 11, Microsoft’s latest operating system, is available as a free upgrade for existing Windows 10 users, but your PC must meet some strict hardware requirements including TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and a compatible processor. While these measures aim to enhance security and performance, they leave some older but still capable devices unsupported. You may get a ‘This PC can’t run Windows 11 error‘ when installing Windows 11. However, there are methods to bypass Windows 11’s TPM, Secureboot, and other system requirements and install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware.

You can edit the registry during setup to bypass Windows 11 system requirement checks or use the free Rufus utility to create a USB install disk that skips Microsoft’s restrictions.

Windows 11 System requirements

This time Microsoft has set some strict hardware requirements to install or upgrade to Windows 11, including the need for TPM 2.0 support, UEFI, and Secure Boot capability. Here are the official system requirements for Windows 11:

• Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC).
• RAM: 4 gigabytes (GB) or more.
• Storage: 64 GB or larger storage device.
• 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 inches diagonally, 8 bits per colour channel.
• Internet connection: Microsoft account and internet connectivity are required for setup for Windows 11 Home and for Windows 11 Pro for personal use.

You can run Microsoft’s official PCHealth check tool to check whether your device meets these requirements or not.

How to Install Windows 11 on Unsupported Hardware

If your device meets the above requirements, you can open settings and check for updates to get Windows 11 free upgrade. If you get  ‘Unsupported hardware’ error here is how to bypass Microsoft’s restrictions upgrade your existing Windows 10 PC or install Windows 11 on a clean computer.

Important note: Bypassing Windows 11 requirements is not recommended by Microsoft and may lead to potential risks, including:

• Incompatibility issues
• Lack of updates or support
• Potential security vulnerabilities

Proceed at your own risk, and ensure you back up your data before attempting any changes.

Modify the Windows Registry

This is the straightforward way to bypass TPM and Secure Boot checks during the Windows 11 installation process. However this method only applicable for clean install.

• Boot your PC from the Windows 11 bootable USB. (If you don’t have one, read how to create Windows 11 installation media)
• Proceed until you see the “This PC can’t run Windows 11” message.
• Press Shift + F10 to open the Command Prompt.
• Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Now Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup
• Right-click on “Setup,” select New > Key, and name it LabConfig.
• Inside LabConfig, create the following DWORD entries:
  • BypassTPMCheck and set its value to 1.
  • BypassSecureBootCheck and set its value to 1.
• Close the Registry Editor and the Command Prompt.
• Proceed with the installation process.

Bypass Windows 11’s Requirement Using Rufus

If you are not comfortable editing Windows registry, you can use the third-party utility Rufus to make the easier. The Rufus tool simplifies the process by offering an option to create a bootable USB that bypasses TPM and Secure Boot checks.

• First, download the latest version from the Rufus website.
• Run the downloaded EXE file to launch the program — no installation required.
• Insert a USB stick into your PC, (Note, Rufus will completely formate the drive, and ensure backup of any data), and select it next to the device drop-down menu.

• Click the Select button near the top and select the Windows 11 ISO file that you downloaded. (If you don’t have check how to download the latest Windows 11 ISO)
• You can leave the other settings alone. When you’re ready, click the Start button at the bottom of the window.
• A pop-up window open, check the box for “Remove requirement for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot, and TPM 2.0. This will ensure that the Windows 11 installation won’t be blocked if your PC doesn’t qualify.

Click OK to confirm. Click OK again to set up your USB drive. Wait until the drive is formatted and created with the necessary Windows 11 installation files.

When you’re done, you can use this installation media to Boot from the USB drive and follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 11.