How to Install Windows 11 on Unsupported PCs: Bypassing System Requirements

When Microsoft released Windows 11, many users wanted to upgrade but faced strict hardware requirements like TPM 2.0, UEFI secure boot, and specific CPU compatibility. These checks were meant for performance and security but blocked older PCs from installing the OS. However, users found ways to bypass these checks using tools like Rufus or registry tweaks.

While this allows you to use Windows 11 on older systems, it comes with risks. Unsupported installations might miss updates, leading to security threats, and performance might suffer due to hardware issues.

Bypassing the installation requirements may affect the operating system’s performance. We recommend backing up any important data on your computer beforehand.

Windows 11 System Requirements

The following are the installation requirements for Windows 11:

For a complete list of system and feature-specific requirements, visit the official Microsoft website here.

Prerequisite

Before you begin, download a Windows 11 image to your computer as you will need it to create a bootable USB drive and install Windows 11.

If you do not have a Windows 11 image, you can use our guide to download an official Windows 11 ISO, which provides a step-by-step process.

1. Use Rufus

When upgrading an unsupported PC to Windows 11, Rufus can bypass hardware checks by creating a bootable USB drive. It removes restrictions related to TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and RAM requirements, allowing your PC to boot from the installation media and complete the setup without compatibility issues.

1. Download and open Rufus from the official website here.
2. Connect your USB drive and select your Windows 11 ISO image.

   

3. Choose ‘Standard Windows Installation’. Set ‘Partition Scheme’ to ‘GPT’ and check ‘Quick Format’.

   

4. Press ‘Start’, then check the boxes to remove the 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, and online account requirements.

   

5. Click OK and wait for the process to finish.

2. Use Windows Registry Hack

Changing the Windows Registry lets users skip certain hardware checks during installation. This process adjusts the system’s settings to ignore requirements for components like TPM or CPU compatibility. As a result, Windows can install on unsupported devices without checking these hardware features.

1. Boot from your Windows 11 bootable USB drive.
2. Press SHIFT + F10 on the first Windows Setup screen to open the command prompt.

   

3. Type ‘regedit’ and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

   

4. Navigate to:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup

   

5. Right-click the ‘Setup’ folder and select ‘New > Key’.

   

6. Name the new key ‘LabConfig’.
7. In ‘LabConfig’, right-click the right pane and select ‘New > DWORD (32-bit) Value’.
8. Create a key named ‘BypassTPMCheck’ and set its value to 1.
9. Create another key named ‘BypassSecureBootCheck’ and set its value to 1.

   

10. Create a ‘BypassRAMCheck’ key and set its value to 1.
11. Close the Registry Editor and the command prompt.
12. Continue with the Windows 11 installation.

3. Use Windows Update

If you do not have a Windows 11 ISO image or cannot download one, there is a way to install Windows 11 through the Windows Update feature.

1. Click this link to navigate to the GitHub file for skipping the TPM check in Windows updates.
2. Click ‘Download raw file’ to get the script.

   

3. Right-click the downloaded file and select ‘Run as administrator’.

   

4. Approve the action in the User Account Control dialog.
5. Wait for the PowerShell window to show ‘Skip TPM Check on Dynamic Update [INSTALLED]’.
6. Press any key to exit the window.
7. Press the Win key + I to open Windows Settings.
8. Go to Windows Update and check for the Windows 11 upgrade.
9. If the upgrade isn’t showing, restart your computer and check again.

4. Edit Windows Registry

Changing key settings lets your PC skip hardware checks during installation, allowing unsupported machines to upgrade. This makes the system act as if it has the required components. Proceed carefully and back up your data to prevent issues.

1. Press Win key + R, type ‘regedit’, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

   

2. Go to:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup

   

3. Right-click in the right pane, choose ‘New > DWORD (32-bit) Value’, and name it ‘AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU’.

   

4. Set the value to 1, exit the Registry Editor, and restart your machine.
5. After restarting, attempt the Windows 11 upgrade using the installation media.