How to Check Why Your PC Doesn’t Meet Windows 11 Minimum Requirements

If you’re seeing the message ‘Your PC doesn’t meet the minimum system requirements to run Windows 11,’ it’s likely that one or more of your system’s components don’t fulfill the criteria set by Microsoft. But don’t worry! There are several ways to check which parts of your system are causing this issue and how you can address it.

Understanding the Minimum Requirements for Windows 11

Windows 11 comes with a set of specific hardware requirements that your PC must meet to run the operating system. These include things like the processor, RAM, storage, system firmware, and most notably, TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module) and Secure Boot capability. If your system lacks these, you might see the error message mentioned earlier.

Steps to Check Your PC’s Compatibility

There are a few ways to check why your PC doesn’t meet the Windows 11 requirements:

• Use the PC Health Check Tool: Microsoft offers a free tool to check if your PC is ready for Windows 11. You can download it from Microsoft’s official website. The tool will scan your system and give you detailed feedback on what may be preventing you from upgrading.
• Check System Requirements Manually: You can also compare your system’s specs against the official Windows 11 requirements. Pay particular attention to:
• Processor: Must be 64-bit and compatible with at least 1 GHz clock speed and 2 cores.
• RAM: Minimum 4 GB of RAM.
• Storage: At least 64 GB of free space.
• TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot: Both are required for Windows 11 to function properly.
• Use Command Prompt: You can use Command Prompt to check whether your system has TPM 2.0 enabled. Open Command Prompt and type tpm.msc to check the status of TPM on your PC.

Common Issues and Solutions

Here are some common reasons why you might see this error message and how to fix them:

• TPM 2.0 Not Enabled: Many PCs come with TPM 2.0, but it might be disabled in the BIOS. To enable it, restart your PC, enter BIOS settings, and look for a ‘Security’ or ‘TPM’ option to enable it.
• Outdated Processor: If your processor doesn’t meet the minimum requirement, you will need to upgrade to a compatible one. Check Microsoft’s compatibility list for supported CPUs.
• Insufficient RAM or Storage: Make sure your system meets the minimum requirements for both RAM and storage. You may need to free up space or upgrade your hardware to meet the specifications.

Conclusion: Is Your PC Ready for Windows 11?

Once you’ve gone through these steps, you should have a clear understanding of which part of your system is holding you back from upgrading to Windows 11. If you find that your PC isn’t compatible, consider upgrading the necessary hardware components or sticking with Windows 10 for the time being. Keep in mind that Microsoft is supporting Windows 10 until October 14, 2025, so you have some time before you need to make any changes.