Should You Install Windows 11 on Unsupported Hardware Devices?
Many readers are asking me how to download and install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware machines? Unsupported hardware means devices which don’t meet minimum system requirements to run Windows 11, devices which are incompatible with Windows 11 as they lack some piece of hardware or their hardware version is outdated.
Related: Windows 11 Minimum System Requirements
I always reply them with “No”. You shouldn’t try to install Windows 11, if your computer system is not compatible with Windows 11.
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Recently Microsoft started releasing free Insider Preview builds of Windows 11 for testing purposes. Windows 10 users who have supported hardware devices, can download and install Windows 11 Insider Preview builds as mentioned in following tutorial:
How to Download and Install Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds?
Windows 11 Insider Preview builds are only available for Insiders who are present on “Dev” channel of Windows Insider Program and “Dev” channel can be selected only if a device is supported for Windows 11 installation.
If your Windows 10 device is not supported or not compatible with Windows 11, you’ll not be able to join “Dev” channel. You can only select “Release Preview” channel which can’t be used to receive Windows 11 Insider Preview builds. Users on “Release Preview” channel can only test Windows 10 Insider Preview builds.
You’ll get “Your PC does not meet the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11. Your channel options will be limited.” error message on Windows Insider Program settings page and “Release Preview” channel will be the only option available to select as shown in following screenshot:
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Now there is a Registry tweak available to forcefully select and join “Dev” channel which may work sometimes and may allow you to get Windows 11 Insider Preview build even if your device is not supported. You just need to change Insider Program Branch name to “Dev” using Registry Editor.
Registry Tweak to Forcefully Select and Join “Dev” Channel on Windows Insider Program to Download and Install Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds:
Open Registry Editor by typing regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now go to following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\Applicability
In right-side pane, double-click on BranchName and change its value to Dev
Now go to following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\UI\Selection
In right-side pane, double-click on UIBranch and change its value to Dev
Restart your computer and after reboot, you’ll be enrolled to “Dev” channel automatically.
Now try to check for updates using Windows Update page and Windows 10 will start downloading Windows 11 Insider Preview build.
BUT after a few minutes of downloading, Windows 11 setup wizard launches and scans your computer hardware and since the device is not supported by Windows 11, you’ll get following error message:
This PC can’t run Windows 11.
So you see, even thought you fooled Windows 10 and forced Windows 11 download via Windows Update, Windows 11 update assistant tool is smart enough to detect incompatible hardware. So no benefit in using that mentioned registry tweak.
Again there are Registry tweaks available to disable hardware check and bypass TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module) version check and secure boot check as mentioned in following tutorials:
[Tip] Bypass Windows 11 TPM and Secure Boot Requirements Check to Install on Unsupported Hardware
How to Bypass “This PC can’t run Windows 11” Error and Disable Hardware Check on Unsupported Devices
You need to understand if a device is not compatible with Windows 11, that means it’s missing some hardware part or new hardware version and Windows 11 will not allow you to install the OS on unsupported hardware machines. In fact there is no benefit in installing an OS on unsupported hardware.
Even if you get success in installing Windows 11 on unsupported device by any chance, you might face booting or startup issues and Windows 11 will not work properly.
Also future builds of Windows 11 might come with more advanced techniques to check system hardware and existing Registry tweaks will become obsolete. And if you somehow managed to install existing Windows 11 Insider Preview build on incompatible hardware, you’ll not be able to upgrade it to future versions and there will be no benefit in using an expired outdated testing build of Windows in your machine.
So I’ll suggest to wait for some time and it might be possible that Microsoft may add more existing hardware such as processor models, etc to compatible hardware list and then you might be able to officially download and install Windows 11 in your device.
It’s better to wait for a stable and compatible build of Windows 11 rather than forcefully installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware which may cause you several issues and problems.
Also Check:
How to Check Your Computer has TPM 2.0 for Windows 11?
How to Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot to Install Windows 11?
Windows 10 Users will Get Free Upgrade to Windows 11, Here is How to Check?
MS has made this a big confusing mess. My question is, if you have a modern processor (one on the approved list) do you have to also have a TPM hardware module or is the approved processor enough? Do AMD and Intel system have the same requirement as far a hardware modules?
I needed to boot from a Linux USB Flash Drive so I have changed UEFI to Legacy which disabled the TPM and Windows 11 is still running fine.
I’ve done a recovery using an external drive and Windows System Image and that loaded no problem.
The registry tweaks worked on my insider laptop that is 7+ yrs old and has no TPM. I was getting the couldn’t upgrade error, tried the tweak and its working. Will i be able to in the future upgrade? who knows
There is no TPM 2.0 Requirement ,I have installed Windows 11 more than 5 Pc (older than 10 years and non of then had tpm) and don’t used any tool , I don’t understand how people achieve Not installing windows 11 Normally , is this TPM requirement a JOKE ?
@Software tester:
It must be enabled in the BIOS.
I have two notebooks, both with eight years of use, are running Windows 10 with no problems, but I confess I’m tempted to do a forced upgrade to W11, but soon I’m afraid to give problems I think I’d better continue with the W10, team that is winning you should not move.