How to Check If Your PC Can Run Windows 11 (And What To Do If It Can’t)
Updated May 2026 — 5 min read
Download Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app and click “Check now.” If your PC passes, upgrade free through Windows Update. If it fails (usually due to TPM 2.0 or an older CPU), our $29 tool bypasses the requirement and gets Windows 11 installed in about 20 minutes — files and apps preserved.
Windows 10 support ended in October 2025. If you’re still on Windows 10, now is the time to check whether your PC qualifies for a free Windows 11 upgrade — and if not, what your options are. The process takes about five minutes.
What Are the Official Windows 11 Requirements?
Before running the check, it helps to know what it’s testing. These are Microsoft’s published minimum requirements:
| Requirement | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 1 GHz, 2+ cores, 64-bit | Must be on Microsoft’s approved CPU list (8th gen Intel+ or Ryzen 2000+) |
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB strongly recommended for comfortable daily use |
| Storage | 64 GB free | SSD recommended but not required |
| TPM | TPM 2.0 | Most common reason PCs fail — bypassable |
| Secure Boot | UEFI, Secure Boot capable | Can usually be enabled in BIOS — also bypassable |
| Display | 720p, 9” or larger | Any modern monitor or laptop screen qualifies |
The vast majority of PCs that fail the check do so because of the TPM 2.0 or CPU generation requirement — not because they lack RAM, storage, or display resolution. These are the requirements that can be bypassed.
Step-by-Step: How to Check Your PC
Download PC Health Check
Open your browser and go to microsoft.com. Search for “PC Health Check app” and download the tool. It’s free, safe, and published directly by Microsoft. The file is small (a few MB) and installs in seconds.
Run the Compatibility Check
Open PC Health Check from your Start menu or desktop. Look for the section labeled “Introducing Windows 11” at the top and click “Check now.” The scan takes about 5–10 seconds.
Read Your Results
You will get one of two outcomes. See Step 4 and Step 5 below depending on your result.
Open Settings › Windows Update and check for updates. If you’re on a recent version of Windows 10, you should see an option to upgrade to Windows 11 for free. Click it and follow the prompts — the entire upgrade process takes 30–60 minutes and preserves your files and apps.
Click “See all results” to find out exactly which requirement failed. Note the specific failure(s) and continue to the next steps below.
Identify the Specific Failure
The most common failures are:
TPM 2.0 not found / TPM version 1.2: Your motherboard either has no TPM chip or an older version. This is the most common reason and is fully bypassable.
Processor not supported: Your CPU is 7th generation Intel or older, or an AMD Ryzen 1000 series. Also bypassable.
Not enough RAM: Under 4 GB. Adding RAM is cheap — a 4 GB stick starts at $15–$20.
Not enough storage: Less than 64 GB free. Delete files or upgrade your drive.
If Your PC Failed TPM or Processor: Use the Bypass Tool
If your failure is TPM 2.0 or processor generation, you don’t need to buy a new PC. Our $29 upgrade tool at windowsupgradehelp.com applies Microsoft’s documented registry bypass and completes the full Windows 11 upgrade automatically. Your files, settings, and installed applications are preserved throughout the process.
Can I Enable TPM in My BIOS Instead?
Sometimes, yes. Many motherboards have a TPM module but have it disabled in the BIOS by default. Here’s how to check:
- Restart your PC and enter BIOS setup (usually by pressing Delete, F2, or F10 during the boot logo)
- Look for a section called “Security,” “Advanced,” or “Trusted Computing”
- Look for a “TPM” or “PTT” (Platform Trust Technology, Intel’s software TPM) setting
- Enable it, save changes, and restart
- Re-run PC Health Check to see if you now pass
Intel PTT (available on most 6th-gen and newer Intel systems) qualifies as TPM 2.0 for Windows 11 purposes. If your system has PTT and it was disabled, enabling it may be all you need. If your system genuinely has no TPM and no PTT, the bypass tool is the fastest path forward.
What If My PC Is Just Too Old?
The honest answer: if your PC has less than 4 GB of RAM and you cannot add more, or if it has a processor from before 2010, it may be time to consider a hardware upgrade. Windows 11 will technically install but will feel sluggish.
However, this situation is less common than Microsoft’s requirements imply. The vast majority of PCs that “fail” the check are capable machines that just miss the TPM 2.0 cutoff. If your machine has 8 GB of RAM and a Core i7 from 2017, it will run Windows 11 excellently. Don’t let the check fool you into thinking you need new hardware when you don’t.
PC Failed the Windows 11 Check? We Fix That.
TPM 2.0 or unsupported CPU blocking you? Our $29 tool bypasses the requirement and upgrades your PC in about 20 minutes. Files and apps stay intact.
Upgrade for $29 →