What does "This PC doesn't currently meet all the system requirements for Windows 11" mean?
Microsoft released its new operating system Windows 11 today. It is available via Windows Update and as a standalone download.
Windows 10 users who check Windows Update right now may get the option to upgrade their device to Windows 11 free of charge, but there is also a chance that the error message -- This PC doesn't currently meet all the system requirements for Windows 11 -- is displayed instead.
Can I run Windows 11?
The error message "This PC doesn't currently meet all the system requirements for Windows 11" is displayed below any updates for the current system. It states:
"This PC doesn't currently meet all the system requirements for Windows 11.
Get the details and see if there are things you can do in the PC Health Check app."
Microsoft suggests running its PC Health Check app to get details on the compatibility issue that is preventing Windows 11 from being installed on the device.
What does the "This PC can't runWindows 11" error mean?
Microsoft set minimum system requirements for its Windows 11 operating system that are stricter than those for Windows 11. Devices need to meet these requirements or exceed them, to install Windows 11 according to Microsoft:
- Processor: 1-GHu or faster 64-bit processor with 2 cores that is at least an 8th generation process (some Intel 7th generation processors are supported).
- RAM: 4 Gigabytes of memory.
- Hard Drive space: 64 Gigabytes of hard drive space
- Firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable, TPM 2.0 chip
- Graphics card: DirectX 12 compatible with WDDM 2.0 driver.
- Display: 720p HD display, great than 9" diagonally, 8 bits per color channel
These may sound intimidating, but Microsoft released an app that reveals why Windows Update displayed the upgrade error message and which components are incompatible with Windows 11.
How to download and run the Windows PC Health Check app
The PC Health Check app is linked on the Windows Update page, but you may also open it directly with a click on this link.
- Click on "Download PC Health Check App" to start the download.
- Select a local folder to store the executable file called WindowsPCHealthCheckSetup.msi in.
- Double-click on the WindowsPCHealthCheckSetup.msi file to start the installation.
- The installation happens automatically. You do get an option to run the tool right away, but may also start it at any time by opening Start on the device, typing PC Health Check, and selecting the result.
The PC Health Check application displays information about the system and user. Here is what it tells you:
- The name of the device.
- The amount of RAM and hard drive space.
- The age of the Windows installation.
You can use it for a number of purposes, including renaming the PC.
Compatibility check reveals issues
Select the "check now" button to run a compatibility check to find out if the device meets Windows 11's system requirements.
At least one requirement will be listed on devices that received the error message "This PC doesn't currently meet all the system requirements for Windows 11" in Windows Update.
The screenshot is from a Surface Go device running Windows 10. Microsoft's PC Health Check application revealed that the processor is not compatible with Windows 11.
Devices may not be compatible with Windows 11 for a variety of reasons. Some are hardware-based, like a processor that is too old, not enough RAM or hard drive space, or missing components such as TPM.
Others may be incompatible because certain features are not enabled, such as TPM, which may have been disabled in the BIOS of the device.
Some issues can be corrected quite easily, like enabling TPM on a device if it is supported. There may also be options to install more RAM or more hard drive space. Replacing the processor may not be as simple, as it may include getting a new motherboard if the old one does not support newer processor generations.
Note: it appears that the incompatibility message is displayed in Windows Update on some devices. but not in the PC Health Check application. It is unclear at this point why that is the case.
Windows 11 can be installed on incompatible devices. Microsoft is making it difficult, as Windows Update can't be used for that. You can check out our guide on installing Windows 11 without TPM for instructions. Note that it is highly recommended that you create a backup of the system before you attempt to upgrade to Windows 11 (regardless of compatibility status of the device).
Now You: are your devices compatible with Windows 11?
There is not still W11 23H2 and these instructions are nonsense by now. :[
It worked for me just fine. You’re probably not following the instructions clearly.
Just tried the password option and the OOBE option and didnt work.
Worked perfectly. Thank OP.
Worked perfectly for me just now. Specifically, the regedit option.
Is this cut and paste from a Microsoft PR paper, because it 1000% BS:
“By listening to user insights, Microsoft has demonstrated its commitment to refining the Windows experience based on real-world needs.”
Windows 11 is proof they don’t give a s*it.
Worked for me just now
I agree! Windows 11 was a downgrade to me and I kept all 8 computers in our family on Windows 10 as a result. They didn’t listen to any customers. The taskbar was THE main reason I stayed away from Windows 11. With 6 monitors, it is impossible to navigate so many browser tabs, without the feature. I will try the new version in the virtual box to see if it is worth it yet.
Microsoft did a terrible job with this implementation.
They simply need to employ the creator of StartAllBack to fix Windows. He is smarter and more talented than the entire campus of Microsoft employees.
lol
Thank you so much! I work in IT and this is extremely useful information!
Thanks man. The second method worked great!
I used the second method, and i got exactly what i expected.
Using the Bypass 2: Use a banned email address email worked fantastically as I had gone to far to use the bypass 1.
I will be back when I next have a problem.
Keep you the great work
W11 File Explorer is the worst crap ever done. W11 is the biggest shame ever.
Just one more reason for me to go to Linux when Windows 10 ages out.
@ MarineRecon,
Be careful which Linux distro you choose. Some of them don’t include the Wayland protocol which is a security issue i.e. apps can copy, paste and inject data without user interaction.
It’s included in Fedora: https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/fedora/latest/system-administrators-guide/Wayland/
How about a DARK MODE for your website? That would be oh so nice.
Something like this : [https://img.justpaste.me/image/8617] maybe?
Done with ‘Dark Reader Extension for ? Firefox’ [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/darkreader/]
This comment was written on [https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-installation-has-failed-how-to-fix-this-upgrade-error/#comment-4573155}
Definitely NOT! Once you get older and your eyesight starts to fail you’ll positively loathe dark mode.
Not sure what eye problems *you’re* having, but for me the exact opposite is true. Dark Mode is MUCH easier on my Eyes.
BTW- I’m 52, and have worked in IT all my life. Been staring at monitors for hours each day, most days of the week since the late 1980’s.
Microsoft completely ruined File Explorer by converting to XAML/WinUI/whatever new bloated modern garbage. Its worse than it ever was.
i tested it on win10 current edition. speeds up explorer like a charm
SO what is the priority numbers to give preference to ethernet over wireless?
Worked very well happy to have Windows Photo Viewer back in action in Windows-11
Worked for me (registry option) thank god, I can use the search option to find things on my computer again. Thank you so much!
Install Everything Search and dispense with Microsoft’s crappy search tool. https://www.voidtools.com/
Martin wrote an article on it: https://www.ghacks.net/2020/10/09/add-everything-search-to-the-windows-taskbar-for-even-faster-searches/
I presume the text “WindowsCopilot,,” is a typographical error (2023/09/17/how-to-disable-windows-copilot-in-windows/). The broken comment system unfortunately looks like it is populating itself via AI autopilot.
Hopefully, this Windows Copilot nonsense fails even more spectacularly than Cortana. Who requested this? We want all of the UX features removed back in 11, not this copilot nonsense.
I really don’t mind all of these Windows enhancement but Microsoft get one thing very wrong. ‘Opt in’, is far better than seek information and work to disable.
Turn off Windows Copilot entirely is not good enough.
How to uninstall Copilot entirely ?
@ ilev,
Use Gpedit or the registry. Explained in this article: https://www.ghacks.net/2023/09/17/how-to-disable-windows-copilot-in-windows/
With that snake oil salesman Panos gone, hopefully Windows can return to a normal desktop operating system without all the insanity it has right now in Windows 11.
Can we please stop being ‘politically correct’ (lying) and call them ads again instead of ‘suggestions’?
@ Martin,
Does your gpedit hack also turn off all the other “subscribed content” shown in the registry screenshot? Do you happen to know what all those are?
Thank you, I used the fake email option, it worked great.
I wish I had read this article a few months ago, as I purchased two refurbished Windows 10 Pro PCs to replace two older ones. The 1st one I entered an existing Microsoft account I had and it imediately setup OneDrive, adding it to the path names for the common folders such as Documents, Music, video, etc. I tried to just disable OneDrive but then had odd problems finding my data copied from another older PC. long story short I was able to remove all the entries from the registry after un-installing OneDrive.
The second refurbished PC I didn’t connect the WiFi adapter so during installation I was able to click on the no Internet option. Basically I did as you suggested above; set up a local login, disabled OneDrive from running on bootup, and eventually unInstalled it. No problems with folder paths, etc.
The registry option worked for me, but only me, not any other users. How do I make this apply to all users? Yes, I have admin rights.
Just decided to create a Windows 11 system image (went OK) and then went to look for this Co-Pilot crap, but it’s nowhere to be found on my system even though I’ve got the Pro version.
What I did find though in User Configuration –> Administrative Templates –> Windows Components –> Cloud Content was the option to turn off all that Spotlight stuff. Glad to see the back of that anyway.