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How to Check Whether Your PC Can Run Windows 11 Before Upgrading

Use PC Health Check for a hardware eligibility result, then check Windows Update for device-specific upgrade readiness before installing Windows 11.
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To check whether your PC can run Windows 11, open Microsoft’s PC Health Check app and select the Windows 11 eligibility check. For a second official check, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update on a Windows 10 PC. PC Health Check checks minimum hardware requirements; Windows Update also indicates when Microsoft has tested and validated the upgrade for your specific device.

Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. A Windows 10 computer may still work, but Microsoft no longer provides free software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for it. Microsoft explains what unsupported Windows means.

How do I check if my PC is compatible with Windows 11?

  1. Run PC Health Check. Open or install Microsoft’s PC Health Check app, then choose the Windows 11 eligibility check. It assesses the PC against Windows 11’s minimum requirements. See Microsoft’s Windows 11 system requirements and its PC Health Check application guidance.
  2. Check Windows Update. On Windows 10, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. If the PC is managed by work or school, use the organization’s process or ask its administrator; Windows Update’s consumer assessment is intended for unmanaged devices.
  3. Read the specific result. If PC Health Check says the PC is not eligible, use the requirement it identifies as the starting point. Compare the hardware or setting with Microsoft’s requirements rather than assuming that adequate RAM or storage means the PC passes.
  4. Recheck after changes. If you changed firmware settings or hardware, run PC Health Check again. Allow Windows Update time to refresh its device-specific readiness assessment.
  5. Back up important files before installing. Microsoft recommends backing up before installing a new Windows version. Its Windows 11 upgrade guidance explains the readiness process.

What does Windows 11 require?

Microsoft’s current minimum requirements include all of the following. They are a baseline, not a guarantee that every feature will work on every qualifying PC; some Windows features have higher requirements.

  • Processor: 1 GHz or faster, with at least two cores, and included on Microsoft’s approved processor list.
  • Memory and storage: at least 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage.
  • Firmware and security: UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability, and TPM version 2.0.
  • Graphics: DirectX 12-compatible graphics with a WDDM 2.0 driver.
  • Display: larger than 9 inches, at least 720p resolution, and 8 bits per color channel.
  • Initial setup: internet connectivity and a Microsoft account for initial setup of Windows 11 Home and personal-use Pro.

For an upgrade through Windows Update, the Windows 10 PC must be running version 2004 or later. Consult Microsoft’s requirements page for the full current details and processor lists.

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Why does PC Health Check say my PC can’t run Windows 11?

The app’s result should direct you to the requirement that failed. Each kind of failure has different possible remedies; changing one component or setting does not resolve other unmet requirements.

TPM 2.0 is missing or disabled

Check Microsoft’s TPM guidance and the documentation for your exact PC or motherboard model. Whether TPM 2.0 is available and how it is enabled depends on the hardware and firmware; do not assume that buying an add-on TPM module will work.

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Secure Boot or UEFI is not detected

Windows 11 requires Secure Boot capability through UEFI firmware. A compatible PC may appear to fail if its firmware settings are configured differently. Microsoft describes how to reach firmware settings through Windows Recovery and advises checking the PC maker’s documentation when you are unsure. Read Microsoft’s Secure Boot guidance. Do not treat switching from Legacy/CSM to UEFI as a universal, risk-free fix; the right steps depend on the computer and its configuration.

RAM or storage is below the minimum

Some PCs may support a RAM or storage upgrade, but compatibility depends on the model. Consider an upgrade only if that is the requirement the checker identifies and the manufacturer confirms a supported component. Extra RAM or a larger drive will not resolve an unsupported processor or another failed requirement. Microsoft discusses upgrade options in its Windows 11 FAQ.

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The processor is not supported

Eligibility depends on Microsoft’s approved processor list as well as processor speed and core count. Those characteristics are inherent to the processor, and replacing it is not a simple upgrade for every PC. Check compatibility for the exact computer before considering a processor purchase; the system’s motherboard and other components also matter.

Why doesn’t Windows Update offer Windows 11?

An absent upgrade offer does not by itself mean PC Health Check is wrong. Microsoft uses Windows Update to assess and validate readiness for a particular device, and the offer appears when the upgrade is ready for that PC. Run PC Health Check for a manual eligibility check, follow the result it gives, and wait for Windows Update to refresh if you recently changed hardware or firmware. Microsoft describes this device-specific process in its upgrade-readiness guidance.

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What should I do if my PC fails the check?

Compare possible next steps against the exact failed requirement, your PC model, the cost, and whether the change involves firmware or replacing the computer.

  • If RAM or storage is the only failed minimum, check the PC maker’s documentation for a compatible upgrade.
  • If a firmware setting is involved, use instructions for the exact model or get help from the manufacturer or a qualified repair service.
  • If the processor is unsupported or the PC cannot meet another requirement, replacing the computer may be an option, but a failed check alone does not mean replacement is the only choice.

If the PC passes the requirements, wait for Windows Update to indicate readiness for that device and back up important files before beginning the installation.

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