Windows 11 on incompatible systems: Windows Update works fine

Yesterday was the first Patch Tuesday after the release of the Windows 11 operating system a week earlier. It was clear that Microsoft would release the first cumulative update for Windows 11 that day.

One question that users around the world had prior to the first update was whether updates would be delivered to systems that do not meet the minimum Windows 11 system requirements.

Especially a phrase from Microsoft stood out: if you continue with the installation of Windows 11, your PC will no longer be compatible and you will not have the right to receive updates. The company did its best to be as ambiguous as possible, with users concerned that their devices would not even receive security updates if they did not meet the minimum system requirements. Ultimately, this would result in users having to go back to Windows 10 or install a different operating system on the device.

Yesterday’s release of KB5006674 for Windows 11 provided a definitive answer, one that Microsoft did not provide. A quick test on multiple devices running Windows 11, all but one that do not meet Microsoft’s system requirements for Windows 11, resulted in a successful delivery of the update.

Cumulative update, updates for Microsoft Defender Antivirus, .NET Framework, and Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool were delivered through Windows Update.

A successful delivery does not necessarily mean that future updates will also be provided, but it is clear that customers running Windows 11 on devices that are not officially supported will receive updates.

Microsoft could have meant feature updates all the time when it mentioned that there was no guarantee that incompatible devices would receive updates. Devices can have the same compatibility issues when feature updates are released: Windows Update may not work and other update means need to be used, for example through programs like Rufus and downloading Windows 11 manually.

The first feature update for Windows 11 will be released in late 2022, probably around October 2022. Windows Update should work fine until then, and even after, as all home versions of Windows 11 are supported for 24 months after launching. Business customers get even 36 months of support.

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