Microsoft Tightens Windows 11 Upgrade Paths: What You Need to Know
Update: As of October 1, 2024, Microsoft has made it more challenging to circumvent the compatibility checks necessary for upgrading to Windows 11. However, there are solutions available. For more details, see this article.
"Holy moly, it worked!" exclaimed a reader after successfully upgrading his 12-year-old PC from Windows 10 to Windows 11, despite repeated obstructions from Microsoft's compatibility checker. Following advice from my article, "How to upgrade your incompatible Windows 10 PC to Windows 11," he triumphed after multiple email exchanges with me as he navigated through the hurdles. "We saved another laptop from the scrap pile," he concluded.
Shortly after publishing the article, over two dozen users shared their upgrade experiences, all reporting successful transitions, even with PCs as old as 15 years. Over the subsequent month, hundreds more shared their experiences, with nearly all achieving success. These reports provided valuable insights, enabling me to develop guidelines for completing Windows 11 upgrades, which is increasingly pertinent with Windows 10's end-of-support date looming in October 2025.
Understanding Upgrade Options
Upgrading to Windows 11 from a non-compatible PC offers two primary routes. The first, officially documented by Microsoft, still requires a lower compatibility threshold, while the second is an unofficial hack that entirely bypasses compatibility checks.
Common Roadblocks to Upgrade
The published system requirements for Windows 11 are:
- Processor: 1GHz or faster with two or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or system on a chip (SoC)
- RAM: At least 4GB
- Storage: At least 64GB of available storage
- Security: TPM version 2.0, UEFI firmware, Secure Boot capable
- Graphics Card: Compatible with DirectX 12 or later, with a WDDM 2.0 driver
- Display: High-definition (720p) display, 9-inch or greater monitor, 8-bits per color channel
Most modern PCs meet these requirements, but older machines often fail on the CPU and security fronts:
- Incompatible CPU: Systems using Intel Core processors older than the 8th Generation (Coffee Lake, late 2017) and AMD Zen 1 processors are blocked.
- TPM 2.0: While most Windows 10 PCs include a firmware-based TPM, older models (2015 and earlier) might only have TPM 1.2.
- Secure Boot Supported: This confusing requirement mandates that Secure Boot must be supported, meaning systems configured with Legacy BIOS will fail.
Evaluating Your System's Compatibility
The simplest way to check if your PC can upgrade is by using the PC Health Check utility:
| Download Link | Steps |
|---|---|
| Download PC Health Check | Install the app → Click "Check now" under "Introducing Windows 11" → Review compatibility issues. |
For checking Secure Boot status, use Microsoft’s System Information utility, Msinfo32.exe. In the System Summary, the entries BIOS Mode and Secure Boot State indicate compatibility.
Choosing Your Upgrade Strategy
Based on compatibility, choose one of two upgrade strategies:
Option 1: Registry Edit
A simple registry tweak can allow upgrades for PCs with no issues other than an old CPU:
- Change the Windows registry to bypass the CPU check, allowing an upgrade if any TPM is present.
- If your PC has a TPM 1.2 chip, you might need to enable it in the firmware settings.
Option 2: Bypass Compatibility Checks
Older PCs lacking TPM or Secure Boot support can use an unsupported hack:
- Replace the Appraiserres.dll file with a 0-byte equivalent using a local folder.
- Utilize tools like Rufus or Ventoy to simplify this process.
Note, recent changes from Microsoft in October 2024 require additional steps using an elevated Command Prompt, as outlined in "How to upgrade your incompatible Windows 10 PC to Windows 11."
Conclusion
Upgrading older PCs to Windows 11 is complex but achievable with the right strategies. Reader experiences underline both methods' effectiveness, although they note longer-than-expected upgrade times. For those wishing to share their experiences or seek further assistance, email Win11Upgrade [at] realworldwindows.com.
This article was initially published on September 10, 2024, with updates made on October 5, 2024.
Additional Reading
- Microsoft blocked your Windows 11 upgrade? This tool can get the job done
- Wiping a Windows laptop? Here’s the safest way to erase your personal data - for free
- You can still upgrade old PCs to Windows 11, even if Microsoft says no: Readers prove it
- Microsoft to start charging for Windows 10 updates next year. Here’s how much
- This hidden Windows 11 setting adds an "End task" option to every task on your taskbar
