Windows 11 requirements, is your PC ready? + Tips and Tricks

The requirements of Windows 11 have been talked about since the announcement of the operating system. In case you are still not clear, in this practical article we review the previous hardware checklist that should be carried out by any user who thinks about upgrading their equipment.

If no critical flaws are discovered in the latest tests, Microsoft will publish the final version of Windows 11 tomorrow, October 5. If you want to update Windows 10 computers, use it in new installations or run virtual machines, you will have to have some minimum hardware requirements .

As we have told you in multiple articles (because the topic has been controversial and debated), Microsoft has increased the minimum requirements versus those set for Windows 10 / 8 / 7, which were basically the same. For Windows 11, in addition to the logical increase in RAM and storage space, Microsoft has added a UEFI with secure boot, the TPM security module and a graphics chip compatible with DirectX 12. And not all existing computers meet these conditions.

Windows 11 requirements

The minimum hardware requirements to be officially met are known and apply to both physical and virtual machines:

• Processor: 64-bit CPU with 2 or more cores, included in this listing.
• Memoria RAM: 4 GB.
• Storage: 64GB.
• Graphics Chip: DirectX 12 compatible with WDDM 2.0 driver.
• Firmware: UEFI supports ‘Secure Boot’ feature.
• TPM: Trusted Platform Module version 2.0.
• Screen: 9 inches with HD resolution.
• Internet connection for Windows 10 Home.
• Windows 10 version 2004 (for updates)

RAM and disk space. Little to say about RAM and storage. Any mid-range or higher current PC has quite a bit more installed and it is really necessary to get a minimum experience of the system and applications. If you need it, you can increase the memory and for storage, a 128 GB SATA SSD as a minimum size is thrown at the price.

TPM. The secure platform module is perhaps the most controversial component, although it is a classic. Widely used (almost by default) in business equipment, it is a physical chip dedicated to security tasks, authentication, generation of cryptographic keys and in general to maintain the integrity of the system. The required version 2.0 was introduced in 2015 and even though it is not present, it can be installed additionally if the board has a free connector for it. Or enable fTPM firmware-based mode on the motherboard. You can check all this in the special that we dedicate to boards and CPUs for Windows 11.

CPU. It so happens that the performance requirement is really minimal, but it has to be included in this list where processors with plenty of power to run the system are left out.

motherboard. Another of the minimum requirements of Windows 11 affects the firmware of your computer, which must be a UEFI compatible with Secure Boot. If you remember, the Secure Boot ran rivers of ink when it was implemented a few years ago and blocked the installation of Linux systems and even older Windows systems such as 7. It has to be supported on board and activated. There is little to do here except change the motherboard.

DX12. Upgrading to Windows 11 will also require a component that is less talked about than the TPM, but one that can leave many PCs out, especially with older integrated graphics. The minimum requirement in this section is a graphics card compatible with DirectX 12 / WDDM 2.x, the version of the multimedia libraries that Microsoft uses to control the PC gaming sector as Windows monopolized the desktop.

Software. If you are going to use Windows 11 to update previous systems, you must do it on Windows 10 version 2004 or higher. The use of ISO images will allow you to update other versions or perform clean installations.

Other recommended requirements. Screen needs are trivial because Windows 11 calls for 9-inch diagonal panels with 720p resolution. Others (recommended) range from audio systems to webcams and microphones for video conferencing; IR camera for Windows Hello; Wi-Fi 6E for the latest in wireless Internet connectivity; an NVMe SSD for DirectStorage; a 5G modem or support for HDR. They are optional requirements.

Does my PC meet the minimum hardware?

If you are not sure if your device meets the minimum requirements, it is best to check the compatibility with the «PC Health Check» published by Microsoft.

It is a very easy to use ‘WindowsPCHealthCheckSetup’ executable that checks if you meet the requirements. The results are in sight if you fulfill them

If you want to use third-party applications to check the compatibility of your computer for Windows 11, the best one is ‘WhyNotWin11.exe’. Free, open source and as easy to use as downloading it from GitHub and running it to get the results:

What if I don’t meet the Windows 11 requirements? In theory, they will not be able to install Windows 11. Officially… Microsoft has adopted a pragmatic attitude because it will not be able to control the immense Windows ecosystem and the system can really be installed on almost any computer, although those from Redmond will not support them, nor will they be held responsible of them.

Hacked test versions ready to install on any computer and tools capable of bypassing the verification of Windows 11 requirements are running on P2P networks. It is certain that they will also work with the final version that arrives tomorrow and for which we are preparing a extensive special news and ways to install it.