Windows 11 blocks install on unsupported hardware for good reason — bypassing TPM or Secure Boot requirements can leave you without future security updates. Fix firmware settings first before using unofficial workarounds.
What you will achieve
Confirm whether your PC meets official Windows 11 requirements — TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, CPU generation, RAM, and storage — and know exactly what to change in BIOS/UEFI before you start an upgrade or clean install.
1) Run the built-in PC Health Check app
- Download PC Health Check from Microsoft’s Windows 11 page, or open it if already installed.
- Click Check now. A green tick means the machine passes; red items list the failing requirement.
- Note each failure — you will address them in firmware or hardware, not in Windows alone.
2) Verify TPM and Secure Boot in Windows
Open Settings → Privacy & security → Windows Security → Device security.
- Under Security processor, click Security processor details. Specification version must be 2.0 for Windows 11.
- Under Secure boot, confirm it reads On. If Off, reboot into UEFI (often Del, F2, or F12) and enable Secure Boot plus TPM/PTT/fTPM.
Alternatively, press Win + R, type tpm.msc, and confirm TPM Ready with version 2.0.
3) Check CPU, RAM, and disk with system info
Press Win + R, type msinfo32, and review:
- Processor — must be on Microsoft’s supported CPU list (generally 8th-gen Intel or Ryzen 2000 and newer).
- Installed Physical Memory — at least 4 GB (8 GB recommended).
- BIOS Mode — should be UEFI, not Legacy.
For storage, open Settings → System → Storage and ensure the system drive has at least 64 GB total capacity with 20 GB free for upgrade headroom.
4) Use the registry-free command-line check
Open PowerShell and run:
Get-Tpm
Confirm-SecureBootUEFIGet-Tpm should show TpmPresent : True and TpmReady : True. Confirm-SecureBootUEFI returns True when Secure Boot is enabled.
5) Fix common blockers before install
- TPM disabled — enable Intel PTT or AMD fTPM in UEFI; on some boards TPM is a physical module that must be installed.
- Legacy BIOS — convert to UEFI boot (may require MBR→GPT conversion with
mbr2gpt— back up first). - Unsupported CPU — stay on Windows 10 until hardware upgrade, or accept unsupported-install risks knowingly.