What’s actually slowing this PC down?
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The quickest reliable answer is Microsoft’s PC Health Check app. Open it, choose Check now in the Windows 11 eligibility section, and it will tell you whether the PC passes and which requirement fails if it does not. Then use Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates as a second, built-in assessment. A pass means the hardware meets the checked requirements; it does not guarantee that Windows Update will offer the upgrade immediately.
Start with Microsoft’s official compatibility checks
Run PC Health Check
- Install or open Microsoft’s PC Health Check app from https://aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp. If it is already installed, search Windows for PC Health Check.
- Open the app and find the Windows 11 eligibility area.
- Select Check now. Microsoft describes this action as the way to see whether the device can run Windows 11.
- Read the complete result, including the named reason for a failure. Do not decide from processor clock speed alone; Windows 11 has several simultaneous gates.
A failed result is a diagnostic starting point, not a full explanation of every possible upgrade problem. It identifies a requirement to investigate, while graphics and display checks still need to be made separately.
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Run the Windows Update assessment
In Windows 10, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates. This is Microsoft’s built-in assessment and may show an eligibility message or an upgrade offer. Treat it as a companion check rather than a replacement for PC Health Check, because the two screens answer slightly different questions: one reports requirement status, while the other also reflects rollout and compatibility servicing.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteKnow the Windows 11 requirements your PC must meet
The following are Microsoft’s current Windows 11 minimums. A computer must satisfy the applicable requirements together; passing one item does not offset failing another.
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| Component | Minimum requirement | What it means when checking |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 1 GHz or faster, at least two cores, and a compatible 64-bit processor or system-on-a-chip | Clock speed and core count are necessary but not sufficient. Compatibility of the processor platform is also required. |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM | A machine can fail even when its processor is fast enough. Some desktops and laptops permit a memory upgrade; others have soldered or otherwise fixed memory. |
| Storage | 64 GB or larger | This is the device’s storage capacity requirement, not merely the amount of free space visible today. A smaller drive cannot meet the stated minimum. |
| Firmware | UEFI firmware and Secure Boot capability | Secure Boot depends on the system using UEFI rather than a legacy firmware mode. |
| Security | TPM 2.0 | The module or firmware-based TPM may exist but be disabled, so a reported failure can require a firmware-setting check rather than new hardware. |
| Graphics | DirectX 12 or later with a WDDM 2.0 driver | PC Health Check does not verify this item for you. Confirm the graphics hardware and driver separately. |
| Display | At least 720p, larger than 9 inches, and 8 bits per color channel | PC Health Check also does not check these display characteristics. |
| Upgrade starting point | Windows 10 version 2004 or later, on a currently supported Windows 10 release, for a direct Windows Update upgrade | An eligible device still needs an appropriate Windows 10 installation for the direct upgrade path. Microsoft’s published Windows 10 support end date was October 14, 2025; that date has passed. |
| Initial setup for personal Home and Pro editions | Internet connectivity and a Microsoft account | These are setup requirements for Windows 11 Home and Pro for personal use, not additional hardware specifications. |
Follow the result instead of guessing from one specification
When the processor is flagged
A processor failure is generally a platform-level limitation. The 1 GHz figure is only the lower speed threshold; the CPU must also have at least two cores and be a compatible 64-bit processor or SoC. Replacing a processor is often inseparable from motherboard, firmware and platform compatibility, so a faster chip is not automatically a supported chip. Record the exact failure shown by PC Health Check before considering any hardware purchase.
When memory or storage is flagged
RAM and storage are the requirements most likely to be changeable, but upgradeability depends on the specific computer. Check whether the memory is replaceable and whether the motherboard accepts a larger drive before ordering anything. A component that physically fits is not necessarily supported by the system firmware or connector. After a successful change, run PC Health Check again rather than assuming the old result has become invalid.
When TPM 2.0 is flagged
TPM 2.0 can be present but disabled. A failure therefore does not prove that the computer lacks a TPM chip. Inspect the manufacturer’s UEFI firmware settings for a TPM or platform-security option, using the terminology supplied for that model. Enablement changes security configuration, so record the original setting and follow the computer maker’s instructions. Recheck with PC Health Check after saving the change.
When Secure Boot or firmware is flagged
Secure Boot requires UEFI capability. A computer configured for legacy firmware mode may have suitable hardware but still fail the check. Switching firmware modes is not a casual toggle: it can affect how the existing Windows installation boots. Confirm that the system and its Windows installation support the intended UEFI configuration before changing it, and keep a recovery method available.
When graphics or display is the problem
Microsoft’s specifications require DirectX 12 or later and a WDDM 2.0 graphics driver, plus a display of at least 720p, larger than 9 inches and 8 bits per color channel. PC Health Check does not verify those items. Check the graphics adapter and its installed driver through the computer manufacturer’s documentation and Windows’ device information, then compare the monitor’s published specifications with the display requirements. Do not treat a PC Health Check pass as proof that these two categories pass.
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Use this exact post-change workflow
- Write down the failed requirement and the PC model before changing anything.
- Confirm that the proposed change addresses that specific requirement. A RAM upgrade cannot correct an incompatible processor, for example.
- Make the hardware or firmware change according to the computer manufacturer’s instructions.
- Boot Windows normally and open PC Health Check.
- Select Check now again and read the new result.
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
- Allow time for Microsoft’s eligibility information to refresh. Microsoft says this can take up to 24 hours after a hardware change.
A hardware change does not guarantee an immediate Windows 11 offer. The refreshed eligibility result and the appearance of an install offer are separate events.
Why an eligible PC may not receive the upgrade yet
Eligibility is not the same as availability
PC Health Check answers whether the device meets the stated requirements. Windows Update also considers deployment timing. Microsoft can stage an upgrade, so a qualifying PC may wait before the offer appears.
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Safeguard holds can block an offer
Microsoft may place a compatibility safeguard hold when a known app or driver could disrupt the upgrade. In that situation, repeatedly forcing the installation is not a substitute for resolving the compatibility issue. Keep using the Windows Update assessment and follow the remediation information Microsoft presents for the affected software or driver.
Refreshing after hardware work
Even when a replacement component fixes the failed requirement, Windows Update’s eligibility data may remain unchanged for up to 24 hours. Run PC Health Check again immediately to verify the hardware state, then allow the refresh period before concluding that the change did not work.
Check the direct-upgrade baseline before starting installation
For a direct upgrade delivered through Windows Update, the source installation must be Windows 10 version 2004 or later and must be a currently supported Windows 10 version. The published Windows 10 support end date was October 14, 2025, so readers checking a PC in 2026 should treat the support status of the installed release as a separate issue from its hardware score.
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Windows 11 Home and Pro for personal use also require internet access and a Microsoft account during initial setup. Arrange those prerequisites before starting, especially on a computer that normally operates offline or uses only a local account.
Decide whether remediation is sensible
| Question | Remediation may make sense when… | Replacement is usually the clearer path when… |
|---|---|---|
| Is the failed requirement changeable? | The diagnostic points to upgradeable RAM or storage, or a supported TPM that is simply disabled. | The processor platform is incompatible, the motherboard lacks the needed firmware capability, or the display/graphics hardware cannot meet the minimums. |
| What is the total cost? | The part, labor and any required firmware work are modest relative to the computer’s value. | Several components, a motherboard or professional labor would be needed. |
| Will the firmware and motherboard support the change? | The manufacturer documents the exact supported module, drive or setting for the model. | Support is undocumented, the system is proprietary, or the required setting could make the existing installation unbootable. |
| What is the app and driver risk? | The current drivers and applications are known to work after the targeted change. | A safeguard hold or an unsupported driver is the reason for the block. |
| Will Windows Update offer Windows 11? | PC Health Check passes after the change and the eligibility status refreshes. | The device still fails a non-changeable requirement or remains under a compatibility hold. |
Do not buy a generic TPM module, RAM kit or drive solely because a checklist mentions that category. Exact model compatibility determines whether a conditional fix is real. If the requirements cannot be met, Microsoft’s guidance points to a compatible replacement PC rather than an unsupported installation.
Troubleshoot common outcomes
“Not eligible” with a named requirement
- Capture the named requirement and compare it with the requirements table.
- Determine whether the issue is configurable, replaceable or platform-level.
- Make only a model-specific change, then rerun both official checks.
PC Health Check passes but Windows Update shows no upgrade
- Confirm that the Windows 10 installation meets the direct-upgrade baseline.
- Check again later because eligibility data can take up to 24 hours to refresh after hardware changes.
- Look for a staged rollout or safeguard hold caused by an app or driver.
The computer seems powerful but still fails
Performance is not the same as eligibility. A high clock speed does not compensate for an incompatible processor platform, missing TPM 2.0, unsupported firmware mode, insufficient storage or RAM, or an unmet graphics and display requirement.
A hardware change produced no immediate offer
Verify the change in PC Health Check first. If it now passes, wait for Windows Update’s eligibility information to refresh; Microsoft explicitly cautions that supported hardware does not necessarily produce an immediate Windows 11 offer.
Printable compatibility checklist
- PC Health Check installed or opened from Microsoft’s official download.
- Check now result recorded, including any failure reason.
- Processor: compatible 64-bit, at least two cores, 1 GHz or faster.
- Memory: at least 4 GB RAM.
- Storage: at least 64 GB.
- UEFI firmware and Secure Boot capability confirmed.
- TPM 2.0 present and enabled where supported.
- Graphics: DirectX 12 or later with a WDDM 2.0 driver.
- Display: 720p or higher, larger than 9 inches, 8 bits per color channel.
- Windows 10 version 2004 or later and an appropriate supported release for a direct Windows Update upgrade.
- Internet connection and Microsoft account ready for personal Windows 11 Home or Pro setup.
- Windows Update checked separately, with rollout timing and safeguard holds considered.
The practical decision is straightforward: use PC Health Check to identify the gate, verify graphics and display independently, correct only a documented and compatible issue, and then let Windows Update reassess the device. If the processor or platform cannot meet the requirements, replacement is more predictable than forcing an unsupported upgrade.
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