Microsoft has finally unveiled the much-rumored Windows 11 at its event, and it looks really promising in terms of visual changes and feature set. It comes with a new Start menu, a centered taskbar, a brand new Microsoft Store, and Android app support in Windows 11, among other things. Along with this, Microsoft has also released a PC Health Check app that lets you check if your computer can run Windows 11. “This PC Cannot Run Windows 11” error. So we looked into this issue and found a fix and possible explanation behind this error. So, without delay, let’s get to the guide.
Everything You Need to Know About “This PC Cannot Run Windows 11” Error (2021)
Here we first discussed the issue and then came up with a solution. If the solution doesn’t work for you, skip to the last section for a possible explanation for why this issue is occurring.
Why Does the PC Health Check App Give the Error “This PC Cannot Run Windows 11” Even On Modern PCs?
With Windows 11, Microsoft wants to tighten security in the operating system. And work on creating a secure Windows began in 2017. OEMs mandated by Microsoft to place a TPM module (a type of security chip) in laptops and desktops. The TPM module is responsible for protecting passwords, managing Bitlocker, authenticating credentials, and more.
This is why every Windows machine since at least 2017 comes with a TPM module, either TPM 1.2 or TPM 2.0. The problem is that most Computers disabled TPM module by defaultand so the PC Health Check app, “This PC Cannot Run Windows 11” error. You can check TPM availability by pressing Win + R shortcut and running it. tpm.msc.
Other than that, there seems to be some confusion regarding the TPM version. Microsoft says the minimum requirement to run Windows 11 is TPM 2.0. However Official Compatibility document for Windows 11 says there are two floors: Hard Ground and Soft Ground. Under Hard Flooring, Windows 11 will still work even if the TPM version is 1.2.
As for custom-built PCs, some motherboards do not have a TPM module. In this case, you can buy a compatible TPM chip According to your motherboard on Amazon. Various motherboard manufacturers offer a TPM chip that you can plug into the TPM slot.
Fix “This PC Cannot Run Windows 11” Error in Few Easy Steps
1. First, what you need to do Boot into BIOS or UEFI interface your PC. You can do this by pressing the boot key continuously while your computer boots up.
note: For HP notebook computers, it is usually the “Esc” or “F10” key. As with other laptop and desktop computers, the boot key may be different. So make sure you find the specific boot key for your computer from the internet. If you’re using a custom-built desktop, the boot key depends on the motherboard manufacturer.
2. After entering the BIOS/UEFI interface, Something called “TPM” or Trusted Platform Technology. Also called PTT (Platform Trust Technology) on some Intel based machines. On AMD machines, fTPM may be mentioned in the BIOS menu. Look around, dive into Advanced Settings and Make sure it’s enabled or “available”. It could also be TPM Status so go ahead and enable it.
3. Next, Find “Safe Boot” choice under different menus and enable. If the Secure Boot option is grayed out, you must set a password in the BIOS. Some laptops won’t let you enable Secure Boot unless you set an “Administrator” or “Administrator” password. So first set the password and then you can enable Secure Boot. Needless to say, you need to remember the password or your computer will be locked and you will not be able to access the BIOS.
4. Finally, some usersvirtualization” in BIOS/ UEFI does the trick for installing Windows 11. So look for one of these options: “Intel Virtualization Technology” or “Virtualization Technology” or “Intel VT-x” or “AMD-V” or “SVM Mode”. in your BIOS settings. Simply put, if you find anything in the Virtualization lines, enable it.
5. Now, press “F10” and press enter to save and exit. F10 is usually reserved for “Save and exit”, but the key may differ for your computer. We recommend checking it in the BIOS/UEFI footnote.
6. Now your computer will reboot into Windows 10. Open the PC Health Check app again and click “check now“. This time, “This PC Cannot Run Windows 11” the error should be gone. you should see “This computer can run Windows 11” message now.
7. If you are facing the “This PC Cannot Run Windows 11” error even after enabling TPM, Secure Boot and Virtualization, skip to next section for a possible explanation.
Is Your Windows 10 PC Still Incompatible With Windows 11 Even After Enabling TPM?
If you meet all the hardware requirements to run Windows 11 and still get the same error, the CPU is most likely the cause. Microsoft has released a list of Windows 11 compatible processors for both Intel and AMD. Looks like i3, i5, i7, i9 etc. Major Intel Core processors such as Must be running an 8th Gen (released 2018) or higher CPU to install Windows 11, this is a shocker. Basically, if you have an Intel processor below the 8th generation, you cannot pass the Windows 11 compatibility test.
On the other hand, Windows 11 is compatible with AMD processors, including the Athlon, EPYC and Ryzen processor series. Interestingly, Windows 11 supports Ryzen processors with: Built on Zen+ architecture or higher. Basically, all AMD processors released after 2018 support Windows 11.
In conclusion – if you are using an 8th Gen or higher Intel processor or AMD processor built on Zen+ architecture, it is officially Eligible to receive Windows 11 update, assuming your machine meets the other requirements I mentioned above. As for when you’ll get the Windows 11 update, whether it’s the Insider preview build or the stable release, find the answer in our linked article.
Even if you pass the CPU test and the app still fails, most likely a bug. Steve Dispensa, Vice President of Product Management at Microsoft, confirmed that a new update for the PC Health Check app is coming soon. Maybe you should wait for the update and check if your computer is compatible with Windows 11.
Sorry for the inconvenient experience! In the next few weeks we will improve the PC Health Check application. I hope the first update will be out tomorrow.
— Steve Dispensa (@dispensa) 25 June 2021
Having said all that, if your computer really isn’t supported by all Windows 11 benchmarks, i.e. if you’re using an older CPU or don’t have a TPM chip, there’s nothing to worry about for now.
Microsoft will provide Windows 11 updates itself to Windows Insiders who don’t meet the requirements, so there is definitely a way to run Windows 11 on unsupported devices. We just have to wait and see If Microsoft decides to ease restrictions progresses or the developer community finds ways to install Windows 11 on unsupported machines (except 32-bit PCs). As far as I can tell, older CPUs are more capable than running Windows 11.
Find How to Fix “This PC Cannot Run Windows 11” Error
This was our detailed guide and explainer why PC Health Check keeps giving incompatibility error. As I mentioned above, if you are facing the same issue even after enabling all system requirements, it is most likely caused by an unsupported CPU. Anyway, that’s it for us. If you want to know the official Windows 11 system requirements and what features Microsoft has removed from Windows 11, go to the linked articles. And if you have any questions, let us know in the comment section below.
