Don’t throw away your laptop: how to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware

It’s officially time to let go. Windows 10 has been completed as we know it for some time now, only since Windows 11 having taken over. To finalize things even further, Microsoft support completed for the previous operating system in October 2025. If you’re stubborn, however, you don’t have to move on just yet. Microsoft has promised that it will continue to provide updates for one more year.

Many users who were dragging their feet are now ready to install Windows 11. However, there is a slight problem for many people. It looks like their computers don’t quite meet the minimum requirements for Windows 11.

But wait! It turns out that many of these Windows 10 computers might actually be compatible with Windows 11 despite notifications saying otherwise. All you need to do is make a few simple changes to a few settings. These fixes do not require opening your computer and should only take a few minutes.

In my case, Microsoft said my 6 year old computer was not compatible, but I followed these steps and it is now. Generally speaking, if your computer is around this age or newer, you should be able to upgrade using the steps below. If your PC is older, this is less likely, but still possible. Here’s what you need to do.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased technical content and lab reviews. Add CNET as your preferred Google source.

First, find out why Windows says your computer is incompatible

Before you start changing settings, run Microsoft’s PC Health Check application, which is probably already installed on your computer. Simply press the Windows key on your keyboard and type “Health Check”. Otherwise, you can download PC Health Check for free. Open the application and check compatibility with Windows 11. Concretely, why is it not working? If it says there are issues with Secure Boot and TPM, these could be resolved and which we detail below. If there are other issues, like an incompatible processor, that’s more of a challenge.

If it’s a CPU problem, you’re pretty much out of luck, unless you consider doing a “clean install” of Windows 11 – wiping your computer and reinstalling all your programs and files – this should bypass CPU check. However, this method is not officially supported. Since you’ll still need Secure Boot and TPM compatibility, I’m guessing that few of you reading this have a compatible motherboard but a processor that isn’t. Again, if it’s the CPU that fails the health check, unless you do a fresh install, you’ll either have to pay for extended support for Windows 10 or buy a new laptop (or compatible processor for your desktop).

Enable Secure Boot and TPM 2.0

For me, all I wanted to do was play Battlefield 6. Imagine my surprise and displeasure when Steam told me my computer was incompatible. Yes, like you, I launched Windows 11 and now I have finally crossed the dead end signpost. It turns out that the same things that BF6 needs are the same things that cause Windows 10 to assume your computer isn’t ready for Windows 11. There are two main things: Secure Boot and the Trusted Platform Module, or TPM.

Oh, and it’s worth noting, the tweaks detailed here won’t magically make computers with incompatible hardware compatible, such as those with ARM processors, some AMD processors, and much older 32-bit systems. Don’t worry if you’re not sure; You will find out what is inside your computer if you forgot it in the following steps.

Verifying Secure Boot and TPM

Press the Windows and R keys. Type msinfo32 and check for Safe Boot status. Chances are it’s extinct. Also, check BIOS mode. It should say UEFI. More on all these settings in a moment. While you are in this program, note the manufacturer and model of your motherboard, also called a motherboard. This will come in handy later.

Press Windows plus R again. Type tpm.msc and see if any information is displayed, such as manufacturer, etc., you should be good to go. Otherwise, all is not lost. You may just need to enable it, as detailed below.

BIOS settings you can change to improve compatibility

The hardest part of this whole process is figuring out how to access your computer’s BIOS, which stands for Basic Input/Output System. This is the simple programming that your computer uses to boot before loading Windows. With most BIOSes, there is a button on the keyboard that you can press to access settings during the boot process. For example, with my computer it’s Delete or F2 pressed during the initial loading screen (before Windows). I tend to press it a lot during the boot process because I don’t know when the key press will register, and back when I started building computers in the dark ages of the late 20th century, it seemed like the only way to get it to work. If you are unable to access BIOS, search for your motherboard model and “access BIOS”.

Enable UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface)

Your computer is probably already configured to use UEFI instead of the existing BIOS mode. Otherwise, you need to enable it and reboot. There are too many motherboard manufacturers for me to describe exactly where this setting will be, but it should be pretty obvious. Otherwise, check under Advanced Settings. As above, finding your motherboard and “enable UEFI” should help. Note that if you cannot enable UEFI, you will not be able to complete the following steps or upgrade to Windows 11.

Enable Secure Boot

Once back in your BIOS after enabling UEFI, look for the Secure Boot setting. Like UEFI, your system must be Secure Boot compatible to work with Windows 11. You do not need to enable Secure Boot; the option simply has to be there. However, unless you plan to install Linux or other non-Microsoft operating systems on your computer, and if you are reading this guide I assume you will not, then you should enable Secure Boot, as it prevents specific types of malware.

Enable TPM

Finally, you want to enable TPM. Again, if you can’t, you can’t upgrade to Windows 11. TPM versions have been mandatory on Windows machines since 2016. So, if your computer came with Windows 10 when it was new, it should have a TPM version. If your computer’s hardware is older, it probably doesn’t have the necessary TPM compatibility.

Officially, you need TPM 2.0 to run Windows 11, but there is a workaround for PCs with TPM 1.2 as well as some older processors. However, this involves editing your computer’s registry. If you didn’t already know how to access your computer’s BIOS, I don’t recommend messing with the registry. An error here can make your computer dead. This method was actually described on Microsoft’s support page at one point. That page has since been replaced by one that basically says: “Do not install Windows 11 on an incompatible computer.” For most people, this is probably the best advice. If you are willing to risk damaging your computer (back up all your personal data first), you can consult the Web Archive version of the Microsoft page.

With my computer, once I enabled UEFI, I was able to enable TPM security at the same time as I enabled Secure Boot. I saved my settings, restarted my computer and was ready to go. Hopefully it goes just as well for you, in which case just double-check for Windows 11 compatibility.

Another cheap hardware solution if the steps above don’t work

If the steps above didn’t work, it’s probably because your motherboard itself isn’t compatible with Windows 11’s new security standards. Before you throw it into the great recycle bin in the sky (aka Best Buy or other local electronics recycler), there’s one last hope. Several companies are doing TPM Modules which add TPM compatibility to certain motherboards. Don’t get your hopes up though. There were only a few years between this compatibility being on the horizon and manufacturers not including it, but adding the connection to include it.

Google your motherboard and “TPM Compatibility” for more information.

Should you even bother checking your Windows 11 compatibility?

If your computer is relatively new (6 years or less), it shouldn’t take long to prepare it for upgrading to Windows 11. Is this time worth it? Absolutely. Without additional security updates, at least not without other steps, your computer will be vulnerable to malware and viruses. Since there are several million Windows 10 PCs out there, many of which won’t be upgraded to Windows 11 either, it’s a safe bet that hackers will be motivated to find and exploit newly discovered security issues.

The only exception is if you have an older computer that is never connected to the Internet and never will be. Air gap, as spy films like to say. If you can’t upload things to it, it can’t be infected. Only consider this if you are Of course he will never be connected to the outside world.

If your computer is too old to upgrade, consider something new. Fortunately, with the end of year holidays approaching, some great discounts should be arriving soon.

Next steps for upgrading to Windows 11

Once your computer is ready for Windows 11, upgrading is easy and, surprisingly, it’s free for most people.