Recently, various users reported receiving Windows 11 upgrade banners on their Windows 10 devices despite not meeting the minimum requirements. Microsoft already explained that this was a mistake, that the upgrade offer was “incorrect” and that accepting it would result in failure. However, this caused confusion among those who were unaware of the current Windows 11 minimum requirements. So, who is eligible for the Windows 11 upgrade?
Windows 11 was just released in October 2021. With this, you can expect most devices purchased in the last 18-24 months to be compatible with Windows 11. If you want a better way to test your device’s eligibility, you can use Microsoft’s PC. Health Check, an app that can inspect your device. This can be a useful tool to help you determine why your device doesn’t make the cut for a Windows 11 upgrade. It will also provide suggestions applying to get the Windows 11 upgrade if you don’t meet the minimum requirements. You can install this app by visiting https://aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp,
If you don’t want to install the app and check the requirements yourself, here’s a short summary of what you need to complete in order to be eligible for a Windows 11 upgrade.
Hardware Requirements
according to microsoft updated February 2023 documentYou must meet specific minimum hardware requirements to receive the upgrade. Apart from internet connectivity required for the process, here is a detailed requirement list shared by Microsoft:
graphics card: Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver.
System Firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot enabled.
TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.
Show: High Definition (720p) display, 9″ or larger monitor, 8 bits per color channel.
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with two or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or chip (SoC) on the system.
Memory: 4 gigabytes (GB) or more.
storage: 64 GB or more of available disk space.
Currently, Microsoft only requires 64GB for the last requirement regarding storage. However, it’s important to note that given Windows 11’s frequent updates and rollout of new features, higher storage may Needed To be sure you will receive updates in the future. Microsoft states that various factors will determine the amount of free space required for such Windows 11 updates in the future. These factors include:
- Pre-installed versions of Windows
- The amount of free storage space available from Windows Files to be reused
- currently installed applications
- Data collection behavior of said apps
With that said, while you can get a Windows 11 upgrade by meeting the 64GB storage requirement, we suggest going beyond the said number to prepare for the upcoming Windows 11 updates.
For a Virtual Machine (VM), on the other hand, here are the configuration requirements that must be observed:
generation: 2 (Note: In-place upgrade of existing Generation 1 VMs is not possible in Windows 11.)
storage: 64 GB or more disk space.
Security:
- Azure: Reliable launch with vTPM enabled.
- Hyper-V: Secure Boot and TPM enabled. (General settings: Secure Boot enabled, Virtual TPM enabled.)
Memory: 4 GB or more.
Processor: Two or more virtual processors.
- The VM host processor must also meet the Windows 11 processor requirements. (Note: There may be instances where this requirement does not apply for VM hosts. For more information, see Alternatives to using Windows 11 with Mac computers.)
- The process for configuring the required VM settings depends on the VM host type. For example, VM hosts running Hyper-V must have virtualization (VT-X, VT-D) enabled in the BIOS. Virtual TPM 2.0 is emulated in the guest VM independent of Hyper-V host TPM presence or version.
Software Requirements
Apart from the hardware requirements, there are also some current operating system requirements that you need to meet if you are on Windows 10. Specifically, Microsoft says that Windows 10 devices 2004 or later must have the September 14, 2021 security update or later already installed.
Also, it is important to note that Windows 11 in S mode is only available in Windows 11 Home edition. That said, you won’t be offered a Windows 11 upgrade if you’re on a Pro, Enterprise, or Education edition of Windows 10 in S Mode. Luckily, you can solve this by simply switching out of S mode. (Note: You can’t switch back to S mode later.)
Also, for users running Windows 10 Enterprise and Education editions, it is suggested that they wait for a signal from their IT administrator to let them know that Windows 11 is ready to upgrade.
Optional requirements for specific features
Switching from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is a big step, as you’ll get a variety of new Windows elements and features. Meeting the minimum requirements will entitle you to system upgrades, but some features will only be available to specific machines with specific hardware specifications. These features and their requirements include:
5G Support: Requires 5G enabled modem.
Auto HDR: Requires an HDR monitor.
BitLocker To Go: USB flash drive required. This feature is available in Windows Pro and above versions.
Client Hyper-V: Requires a processor with second level address translation (SLAT) capabilities. This feature is available in Windows Pro edition and higher.
Cortana: Requires a microphone and speakers and is currently available on Windows 11 for Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
DirectStorage: An NVMe SSD is required to store and play games that use a DirectX12 GPU with standard NVM Express controller drivers and Shader Model 6.0 support.
DirectX 12 Ultimate: Available with supported games and graphics chips.
Presence: Sensors are needed that can detect human distance from the device or intent to interact with the device.
Intelligent Video Conferencing: Video camera, microphone and speaker (audio output) are required.
Multiple Voice Assistant: A microphone and speaker are required.
crackle: A three-column layout requires a screen that is 1920 effective pixels or more in width.
Mute and unmute: Video camera, microphone and speaker (audio output) are required from the taskbar. The app needs to be compatible with the feature to enable global mute/unmute.
Spatial Sound: Requires supporting hardware and software.
Microsoft Teams: Video camera, microphone and speaker (audio output) are required.
touch: Requires a screen or monitor that supports multi-touch.
two-factor authentication: Requires using a PIN, biometric (fingerprint reader or illuminated infrared camera), or a phone with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capabilities.
Voice Typing: Requires a PC with a microphone.
Wake on Voice: Requires modern standby power model and microphone.
Wi-Fi 6e: Requires new WLAN IHV hardware and drivers and a Wi-Fi 6E enabled AP/router.
Windows Hello: Biometric authentication requires a camera configured for near-infrared (IR) imaging or a fingerprint reader. Devices without biometric sensors can use Windows Hello with a PIN or portable Microsoft compatible security key. For more information, see IT tools that support Windows 10, version 21H1.
Windows Projection: Requires a display adapter that supports Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) 2.0 and a Wi-Fi adapter that supports Wi-Fi Direct.
Xbox App: Requires Xbox Live account, not available in all regions. Visit the Xbox Live countries and regions page for the most up-to-date information on availability. Some features in the Xbox app require an active Xbox Game Pass subscription.
These features are what to expect when you upgrade to Windows 11, but there are also some features and elements that may be removed. For example, some significant changes to the start of Windows include the removal of live tiles and named groups and folders of apps. Other features that will be removed from your system when you upgrade to Windows 11 include Wallet, Windows Store for Business and Windows Store for Education, Timeline, Quick Status, and Math Input Panel. For a full list of these features that will be deprecated or removed, click Here,
Final thoughts: Installing Windows 11 on eligible and ineligible devices
If you think your Windows 10 device is eligible for a Windows 11 upgrade and meets the minimum requirements, you can visit your PC’s Windows Update page to be notified that your device is ready for upgrade. Simply go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for Updates.
If you do not meet the requirements (or your device has some Known Factors), it is not suggested to install Windows 11. Nevertheless, if you decide to keep the new OS version despite the potential consequences, there are several ways you can still upgrade to Windows 11, including using the Installation Assistant or creating Windows 11 installation media .
But, again, it is better to avoid doing them as forced upgrade translates into compatibility issues and will soon lead to device malfunction. Additionally, it is not guaranteed to receive Windows 11 updates (especially security updates) on ineligible devices that use force installation.
In such cases, you may find yourself faced with the need to revert back to Windows 10 (Start > Settings > System > Recovery > Go Back). Note, however, that this option will only be available for 10 days after a forced upgrade, as it will soon be removed to free up disk space on your device. If you miss it, then reverting to Windows 10 will be an added problem for you on top of a bad Windows 11 system.
That said, if you find your device fails to meet the minimum requirements, there are two options left to safely upgrade to Windows 11: either follow the suggestions provided by the PC Health Check app or install a Get a new device that meets the Windows 11 requirements (or buy a new one with Windows 11 already installed).