Microsoft warns against installing Windows 11 on incompatible PCs

Not long ago, Microsoft doubles down on efforts Its policy requires PCs to have TPM 2.0-compatible hardware to install Windows 11. support pageMicrosoft acknowledged the possibility of installing Windows 11 on incompatible devices, starting with a direct warning about it:

“It is not recommended to install Windows 11 on devices that do not meet the Windows 11 minimum system requirements. If Windows 11 is installed on substandard hardware, you should safely assume the risk of encountering compatibility issues.

Risks mentioned here include system crashes and a lack of critical security updates that would otherwise keep your computer safe and protected from malware, hackers, and scammers.

Therefore, anyone wishing to install Windows 11 like this must first accept the following disclaimer:

“This PC does not meet the minimum system requirements to run Windows 11 – these requirements help ensure a more reliable, higher-quality experience. Installing Windows 11 on this PC is not recommended and may cause compatibility issues. If you By continuing to install Windows 11, your computer will no longer be supported and will not be entitled to receive updates. Damage to your computer due to lack of compatibility is not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. By choosing to accept, you acknowledge that you have read and Understand this statement.

As of December 12, the support page has been updated to include clearer messaging that Microsoft does not endorse or condone the installation of Windows 11 on incompatible systems:

“This support article was originally published on October 4, 2021, when Windows 11 was first released to the public. At the time of publication and today, the purpose behind this support page is to detail the considerations for customers to understand when Windows 11 is not compliant System Requirements Impact of installing Windows 11 on devices with Microsoft recommendations On devices with Windows 11 system requirements, Microsoft recommends that you roll back to Windows 10 immediately.

Installing Windows 11 on an incompatible PC

For Windows 11, Microsoft’s main requirement is to provide TPM 2.0 chips. we explained before What is TPMwe also wrote how you can You may not actually need to buy a TPM for Windows 11. But for an efficient installation, you Do Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0.

That said, there are certainly workarounds available to force the installation of Windows 11 on systems lacking the appropriate hardware (although Microsoft does tend to block such workarounds when they become popular).

After installing Windows 11, if your device does not meet the requirements, you will see a new watermark on your desktop and you will see a notification in the Settings app. These can only be removed through registry adjustments.

Return to Windows 10 afterwards

For anyone who updates to Windows 11 without meeting the requirements, Microsoft is offering the opportunity to return to Windows 10.

Recovery options can be found under Settings System > Recovery > Recovery Options. Then, the step-by-step procedure will take you back to Windows 10.

Further reading: Want to keep using Windows 10? it will cost you

Editor’s note: The original version of this article stated that Microsoft’s incompatible hardware directive came shortly after the company said it would not open older hardware to Windows 11. shown. PCWorld regrets this error, and we’ve rewritten this article to clarify the issue.