Can my PC run Windows 11? The quickest way to find out is Microsoft’s free PC Health Check app: install it, open it and select Check now under Introducing Windows 11. If your PC fails, the app names the reason, usually TPM 2.0, Secure Boot or an unsupported processor, and the first two can often be fixed with a firmware setting.
This matters because Windows 10 support has ended, and home Extended Security Updates now run until October 12, 2027. Our guide to Windows 10 end of support explains the dates. This post covers the check itself and what to do with the result. We run Windows 11 on our own PC; the Windows 10 steps are based on Microsoft’s support pages.
Before you start
- You need a PC running Windows 10 and an internet connection to download the app.
- The check changes nothing on your PC. It only installs the small PC Health Check app and reads your hardware details.
- To upgrade later, Microsoft says your PC must run Windows 10 version 2004 or later. Press Win + R, type
winverand press Enter to see your version.
Can my PC run Windows 11? Check with PC Health Check
- Download PC Health Check from Microsoft at
aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp(also linked from Microsoft’s Windows 11 specifications page in the sources). Many Windows 10 PCs already have it: search for PC Health Check on the taskbar first. - Open the installer, accept the license terms and select Install, then Finish.
- In the app, select Check now in the Introducing Windows 11 box at the top.
- Read the result. A message that the PC meets Windows 11 requirements means you can upgrade. If it doesn’t, select See all results to see which requirement failed.
Other ways to check
If you’d rather not install anything, look at Settings → Update and Security → Windows Update. On eligible PCs, Windows 10 shows a message that the PC can run Windows 11, often with a download button. If it says your PC doesn’t meet the requirements, PC Health Check will tell you why.
You can also check each requirement by hand with tools already built into Windows:
- TPM: press Win + R, type
tpm.mscand press Enter. Under TPM Manufacturer Information, the Specification Version should be 2.0. - Secure Boot and firmware: press Win + R, type
msinfo32and press Enter. Check BIOS Mode (should say UEFI) and Secure Boot State. - Processor and RAM: open Settings → System → About and note the processor name and installed RAM, then compare the processor with Microsoft’s supported CPU lists.
- Storage: open File Explorer and check the size of your C: drive.
Windows 11 minimum requirements
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Processor | 1 GHz or faster, 2 or more cores, compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip, on Microsoft’s supported list |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB or larger |
| System firmware | UEFI, Secure Boot capable |
| TPM | Trusted Platform Module version 2.0 |
| Graphics | DirectX 12 or later with a WDDM 2.0 driver |
| Display | 720p, larger than 9 inches diagonally, 8 bits per color channel |
| Internet and account | Windows 11 Home needs internet and a Microsoft account during first setup |
Most PCs sold from about 2018 onward meet the RAM, storage and graphics requirements easily. The three that catch people out are TPM, Secure Boot and the processor list, which is why PC Health Check failures nearly always name one of them.
What each Windows 11 compatibility check failure means
TPM 2.0 must be supported and enabled
A TPM (Trusted Platform Module) is a security chip, or a feature built into the processor, that stores encryption keys. Many PCs have TPM 2.0 but ship with it switched off. If tpm.msc says “Compatible TPM cannot be found”, it’s probably disabled in the firmware settings rather than missing.
- Open Settings → Update and Security → Recovery and select Restart now under Advanced startup.
- Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced options → UEFI Firmware Settings → Restart.
- In the firmware menus, look under Advanced, Security or Trusted Computing. Microsoft says the option may be called Security Device, TPM State, Intel PTT (Platform Trust Technology), AMD fTPM or AMD PSP fTPM.
- Turn it on, save and exit (often F10), then run PC Health Check again.
The PC must support Secure Boot
Secure Boot stops untrusted software from loading while the PC starts. It only works when the firmware runs in UEFI mode. In msinfo32, if BIOS Mode says UEFI, you can usually turn Secure Boot on in the same firmware menus, under Boot or Security.
If BIOS Mode says Legacy, the PC is in CSM (compatibility) mode and the system disk probably uses the older MBR layout. Switching to UEFI without converting the disk leaves the PC unable to start. Microsoft’s MBR2GPT tool converts the disk without deleting data: from an administrator Command Prompt, mbr2gpt /validate /allowFullOS checks whether the disk can be converted, and mbr2gpt /convert /allowFullOS does it. Afterwards, switch the firmware to UEFI and turn on Secure Boot.
Make a full backup before converting a disk. The conversion can’t be undone, and if BitLocker is on you must suspend it first. Our guide to backing up your Windows PC shows how.
The processor isn’t currently supported
There’s no setting that fixes this one. Microsoft keeps lists of supported Intel and AMD processors. Roughly, Intel 8th-generation Core and newer and AMD Ryzen 2000-series and newer are on them, with exceptions: some older Ryzen chips with 2000-series names, such as the 2200G and 2400G, are not listed. Check your exact model against the lists in the sources.
Unofficial workarounds exist to install Windows 11 on unsupported processors. Microsoft doesn’t support them, says such PCs aren’t guaranteed to receive updates, and some features may not work. We don’t recommend them for a PC you rely on. If your processor isn’t supported, enrolling in Extended Security Updates and planning a replacement is the safer route.
Not enough storage or memory
If the system drive is smaller than 64 GB or the PC has less than 4 GB of RAM, it fails the check. Storage can sometimes be upgraded by swapping in a larger SSD, and some desktops and older laptops accept more RAM. On many thin laptops the memory is soldered, so check the maker’s specifications before buying parts.
Changing firmware settings can stop your PC from starting if you change the wrong option. Photograph each screen before you change anything, so you can put it back.
If PC Health Check won’t install or run
- The installer won’t run: make sure you’re on Windows 10 with recent updates installed, then download the installer again from Microsoft’s link.
- Check now is missing: the app may be out of date. Reinstall it from the same link.
- Results don’t match what you changed: restart the PC fully after changing firmware settings, then run the check again.
- A work or school PC: firmware settings may be locked by your organization. Ask your IT team.
What to do next
If your PC passes: back up first, then follow our step-by-step guide to upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 without losing files. The upgrade is free for eligible PCs.
If it fails on TPM or Secure Boot only: fix the setting, run the check again and upgrade.
If it fails on the processor: enroll in Extended Security Updates to stay protected until October 12, 2027, and plan a new PC. When the time comes, our guide to moving everything from your old PC to a new Windows 11 PC covers the switch. More Windows guides are in our Windows hub.
FAQ
Is PC Health Check safe to install?
Yes. It’s Microsoft’s own app, downloaded from Microsoft’s site. It reads your hardware information and doesn’t change anything on its own.
How do I know if my PC is compatible with Windows 11 without the app?
Check Windows Update, which shows whether your PC can run Windows 11, or check each requirement by hand: tpm.msc for TPM 2.0, msinfo32 for UEFI and Secure Boot, and Settings → System → About for your processor and RAM.
Can I upgrade if my processor isn’t supported?
Microsoft doesn’t support it. Workarounds exist, but Microsoft says those PCs aren’t guaranteed updates. For most people, Extended Security Updates plus a supported PC later is the safer choice.
How do I check TPM without the app?
Press Win + R, type tpm.msc and press Enter. Under TPM Manufacturer Information, the Specification Version should say 2.0. You can also look in Windows Security under Device security, Security processor details.
Is the Windows 11 upgrade still free?
Yes. Microsoft says upgrading Windows 10 Home or Pro to the same edition of Windows 11 is free on eligible PCs, at the time of writing (October 2026).
