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This PC Can’t Run Windows 11: Check TPM and Secure Boot, Then Use the Setup Registry Workaround

A reported LabConfig Registry workaround can skip Windows 11 Setup’s TPM and Secure Boot checks, but first check firmware settings and understand the risks of unsupported hardware.
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If Windows Setup says “This PC can’t run Windows 11,” first check whether TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are supported but disabled. If you still choose to proceed, community guidance describes adding two values under LabConfig in Registry Editor while Windows Setup is running. This is an unofficial workaround for the TPM and Secure Boot checks—not a way to make unsupported hardware eligible or a guarantee that Setup will accept it.

Check the PC before bypassing a requirement

Windows 11’s published minimum requirements include an approved processor, at least 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability, and TPM 2.0. Home and Pro for personal use also require an internet connection and Microsoft account during initial setup. The Registry workaround below concerns only the TPM and Secure Boot checks; it does not bypass these other requirements. See Microsoft’s Windows 11 system requirements.

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Check TPM 2.0 in Windows

  1. Open Windows Security, select Device security, and look for Security processor details. Confirm the specification version is 2.0.
  2. Alternatively, press Windows key + R, enter tpm.msc, and press Enter. Check the status and specification version shown in the TPM Management window.
  3. If TPM is not detected or is disabled, check the PC manufacturer’s instructions for firmware settings. Depending on the processor and device, the setting may be named AMD fTPM or Intel PTT. Microsoft explains the checks and common firmware labels in Enable TPM 2.0 on your PC.

Check Secure Boot and UEFI

Secure Boot requires UEFI. Firmware menus and setting names vary by manufacturer, and Secure Boot may not appear available or enabled if the PC is using a different boot mode. Consult the device maker’s instructions before changing firmware settings; Microsoft’s overview is Windows 11 and Secure Boot.

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Use the LabConfig workaround in Windows Setup

The following sequence was shared in a Microsoft Community Hub discussion posted June 24, 2024. It is community guidance, not an official Microsoft-supported installation method. The discussion does not establish that the method will work on every current Windows 11 Setup build.

  1. Boot into Windows Setup until the compatibility warning appears. This procedure is intended for the Setup environment.
  2. Open Registry Editor from Setup. If the Setup screen provides a command prompt, press Shift + F10, type regedit, and press Enter.
  3. In Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMSetup.
  4. If it is not already present, create a key named LabConfig under Setup.
  5. Inside LabConfig, create a DWORD (32-bit) Value named BypassTPMCheck and set its data to 1.
  6. Create another DWORD (32-bit) Value in LabConfig, named BypassSecureBootCheck, and set its data to 1.
  7. Close Registry Editor, return to Setup, and retry the compatibility check.

These values do not enable TPM or Secure Boot, add missing hardware capabilities, or change the PC’s official eligibility. The sequence is described in the Microsoft Community Hub discussion about the “This PC can’t run Windows 11” setup message.

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Understand the risks of installing on unsupported hardware

Microsoft does not recommend installing Windows 11 on a device that fails its minimum requirements. Its warning says unsupported devices may not receive support or updates, including security updates. Read Microsoft’s guidance for Windows 11 on devices that don’t meet minimum system requirements, updated December 12, 2024.

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If Windows 11 has already been installed on ineligible hardware, Microsoft’s installation guidance recommends rolling back to Windows 10. Its article on ways to install Windows 11 was updated February 4, 2025. A bootable USB can be used as installation media, but creating one does not bypass compatibility checks by itself.

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Choose between enabling supported features and proceeding anyway

Option When it fits What to consider
Enable TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot in firmware The PC supports the feature, but it is disabled or not configured. Uses a capability the PC already has; follow the manufacturer’s device-specific instructions. Confirm TPM reports version 2.0 and that the system uses UEFI for Secure Boot.
Proceed using the LabConfig values You understand the PC does not meet one or both checks and choose to try the community workaround. It is not an officially supported method, does not establish hardware eligibility, and does not guarantee Setup acceptance, support, or updates.

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