Microsoft Still Prohibits Installing Windows 11 on Unsupported Hardware

Recently, there’s been buzz circulating about Microsoft supposedly relaxing the stringent system requirements for Windows 11 installations. A report initially appearing to stem from PCWorld and PC-WELT claimed that users could now install Windows 11 on PCs that don’t meet the minimum system specifications. Understandably, social media and Reddit were soon abuzz with this unexpected information, raising questions and generating excitement over what seemed like a significant policy shift from Microsoft. However, a bit of digging reveals that this isn’t the case.

The PCWorld article suggested that Microsoft has eased up on its demand for a TPM 2.0 chip to be present for a Windows 11 installation. Allegedly, the report stated that users could now upgrade to Windows 11 without needing the usually mandatory hardware. They cited a Microsoft support article as the source of this claim, indicating that Microsoft was apparently offering guidance on installing Windows 11 on machines that aren’t officially compatible.

But when you actually look at the Microsoft support document, no such instructions exist. Instead, what the document does is explain the consequences of choosing to install Windows 11 on a machine that doesn’t meet the minimum requirements. There are no step-by-step guides for bypassing these prerequisites.

In fact, this specific support document has been around since the initial rollout of Windows 11 version 21H2. It hit the internet on the launch day of Windows 11 and was updated over time, most notably including information about reverting to Windows 10 if you’ve managed to install Windows 11 on an unsupported device.

Curiously enough, the document doesn’t even mention TPM once, leaving the claim that the hardware isn’t required anymore in limbo. This understandably raises questions about why PCWorld and similar outlets have claimed there’s no longer a need for TPM 2.0 to upgrade to Windows 11.

For those who aren’t familiar, Windows 11 demands certain minimum system requirements to proceed with installation. Attempting to install it on a PC that falls short will lead the installer to halt. While workarounds do exist, they aren’t officially endorsed pathways for updating to or installing Windows 11.

Microsoft has since revised the support article referenced by PCWorld, reiterating that Windows 11 continues to enforce its minimum system requirements, including the need for TPM 2.0. Should you attempt to push past these requirements with a non-compliant system, the installer will still decline to proceed, upholding the existing policy.

The latest clarification from the support document reads: “This support article was originally published on October 4, 2021, at the debut of Windows 11. Its purpose, both then and now, is to provide insights for users about the implications of installing Windows 11 counter to Microsoft’s recommendations on systems that fall short of the necessary requirements. If you’ve installed Windows 11 on such a device, Microsoft advises a swift rollback to Windows 10. Windows 11’s minimum system criteria are unchanged.”