Can Your PC Upgrade to Windows 11? — Step-by-Step Check (Microsoft Guide)

Thinking about upgrading to Windows 11? Microsoft published clear minimum requirements — including TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, a supported 64-bit CPU, 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. The easiest, official way to test compatibility is with Microsoft’s PC Health Check app. Below you’ll find a step-by-step checklist, how to run the tools, and what to do if your PC doesn’t qualify.

Quick checklist — Windows 11 minimum requirements (short)

• 64-bit processor (1 GHz or faster with 2+ cores) — supported model list by Microsoft.
• 4 GB RAM or more.
• 64 GB storage or more.
• UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability.
• TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module).
• Graphics: DirectX 12 / WDDM 2.x compatible.

For full details and feature-specific requirements consult Microsoft’s official requirements page.

Step 1 — Use Microsoft’s PC Health Check (fast & official)

Why: This is the official, fastest compatibility check and shows exactly which requirement fails (if any).

1. Download PC Health Check from Microsoft: aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp.
2. Install and open the app.
3. Click Check now. The app will return “This PC can run Windows 11” or explain what needs attention.

Step 2 — Check TPM 2.0 (required)

TPM 2.0 is a security module Windows 11 uses for features like BitLocker and Windows Hello. Many systems shipped with TPM or have firmware TPM (fTPM) on modern CPUs.

Quick checks

• Method A — TPM MMC: Press Win → type tpm.msc → Enter. If TPM exists you’ll see the TPM Manufacturer and Specification Version (needs to be 2.0).
• Method B — PowerShell: Open PowerShell as Admin and run Get-Tpm. If TPM is present it returns a Summary including the SpecVersion.
• If TPM is missing but your motherboard supports it, you may be able to enable TPM/fTPM in UEFI/BIOS (see Step 4).

Step 3 — Confirm Secure Boot is enabled

Windows 11 requires UEFI firmware and Secure Boot capability (and ideally enabled). To check it quickly:

1. Press Win + R, type msinfo32 and press Enter.
2. In the System Information window look for Secure Boot State. It should say On. If it says Off you may be able to enable it in your UEFI/BIOS settings.

Step 4 — If TPM or Secure Boot aren’t enabled — how to turn them on

Many modern PCs have TPM and UEFI but they’re disabled by default. Microsoft documents how to enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot in firmware (UEFI).

1. Open Settings → Update & Security → Recovery and click Restart now under Advanced startup. Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced options → UEFI Firmware Settings → Restart to enter UEFI/BIOS.
2. In your UEFI settings look for “Security” or “Advanced” → enable TPM / fTPM / “Security Chip”.
3. Find the Secure Boot option and enable it (may require switching from Legacy/CSM to UEFI boot mode). Save and reboot.
4. If unsure, consult your PC or motherboard manual — steps and labels differ across manufacturers.

Step 5 — Check CPU, RAM & Storage

Microsoft requires a compatible 64-bit CPU, 4GB RAM and 64GB storage minimum. To check quickly:

• CPU: Open Settings → System → About or run msinfo32 to see your processor model and speed. Then compare to Microsoft’s supported processor lists or the requirements page. If your CPU is old (pre-8th Gen Intel or early Ryzen), it may not be supported./li>
• RAM: In Settings → System → About check Installed RAM. 4GB is minimum; 8GB+ is recommended.
• Storage: Ensure at least 64GB free. Use File Explorer or Settings → Storage to check available space.

Step 6 — Run Windows Update & make a clean backup

Before upgrading, update your current Windows (security & driver updates) and back up important files (OneDrive, external drive, or system image). A clean backup avoids surprises during the upgrade process.

Step 7 — If PC Health Check says “This PC can’t run Windows 11”

Don’t panic — Microsoft’s report will list which requirement failed. Typical fixes and options:

• Enable TPM/Secure Boot in UEFI if hardware supports it.
• Upgrade RAM or swap to an SSD if low on memory or storage.
• Check CPU support: If the processor is not on Microsoft’s supported list you’ll need a new CPU/motherboard or a newer PC.
• Enterprise options: Businesses can consider Extended Security Updates or managed rollout plans. See Microsoft documentation for enterprise guidance.

Options if your PC can't be upgraded

1. Hardware upgrades — add RAM, replace HDD with SSD, or add TPM module (if your motherboard has a TPM header). Not all laptops allow upgrades.
2. Buy a new Windows 11–compatible PC — recommended if CPU and firmware are not supported.
3. Alternative OS — consider Linux distributions (Ubuntu) or ChromeOS Flex for older devices.

Useful commands & quick checks (copy-paste)

-- Check TPM:
tpm.msc

-- PowerShell TPM check:
Get-Tpm

-- System Information (Secure Boot state & CPU):
msinfo32

-- Download PC Health Check:
https://aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp

Final advice & resources

Start with the official PC Health Check app — it shows exactly what’s missing and points you to fixes. If the PC is only missing firmware settings (TPM / Secure Boot) you can often enable them; if the CPU is unsupported, upgrading the machine is the realistic path. For the official requirements and detailed guidance, see Microsoft’s Windows 11 requirements and support pages.

Need help running these checks? Drop your PC model (e.g., Dell XPS 13 2020) and We’ll guide you step-by-step on whether it can be upgraded and how.