What does "This PC Doesn't Meet Requirements for Windows 11" mean?

The short answer

Your computer’s hardware doesn’t meet the minimum specifications Microsoft requires to install or run Windows 11.

Why am I seeing this?

Microsoft set stricter hardware requirements for Windows 11 compared to Windows 10. When you try to update or run the PC Health Check tool, Windows checks your system against these requirements. If something doesn’t pass, you get this message.

The most common reasons your PC fails the check:

  • No TPM 2.0 chip — a security chip that Windows 11 requires, missing on many older PCs
  • Unsupported processor — your CPU isn’t on Microsoft’s approved list, even if it’s still fast
  • Secure Boot is disabled — a BIOS setting that needs to be turned on
  • Not enough RAM — Windows 11 needs at least 4 GB
  • Not enough storage — you need at least 64 GB of disk space

How to fix it

First, find out exactly what’s failing. Download Microsoft’s PC Health Check app — it will tell you which specific requirements your PC doesn’t meet.

Then try these fixes depending on the issue:

  • TPM or Secure Boot disabled — these might just be turned off. Restart your PC, enter BIOS settings (usually by pressing F2 or Delete at startup), and look for TPM and Secure Boot options to enable them
  • Not enough RAM or storage — these are straightforward hardware upgrades that are usually affordable
  • Unsupported processor — unfortunately, this is the hardest to fix since it often means replacing the motherboard and CPU

Should you force the upgrade?

There are workarounds online to bypass these requirements, but Microsoft warns that unsupported PCs may not receive future updates and could experience compatibility issues.

When should you worry?

You don’t need to rush. Windows 10 is supported with security updates until October 2025. If your PC can’t run Windows 11, it will keep working fine on Windows 10 — you just won’t get the newer features. When security updates eventually stop, that’s when you should plan to either upgrade your hardware or switch to an alternative.