Will my PC run Windows 11? TPM, Secure Boot and processors explained
Why a PC passes or fails Windows 11's requirements, the settings that often fix it, and your options if the processor isn't supported.
Windows 10 reached the end of its support on 14 October 2025, and the one-year Extended Security Updates programme for home users ran out in October 2026. Businesses can still pay Microsoft for extended updates for a limited time, but for most people the realistic choice now is to move to Windows 11 or to replace the computer. Before you do either, it's worth knowing exactly why a PC passes or fails Windows 11's requirements, because a surprising number of "incompatible" machines just need a setting changed.
What Windows 11 needs
Microsoft's minimum requirements are:
- A supported 64-bit processor with at least two cores. Broadly, that means Intel 8th-generation Core processors and later, and AMD Ryzen 2000-series and later, plus their equivalents in other ranges. Microsoft publishes the full lists.
- At least 4 GB of memory and 64 GB of storage.
- UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability.
- A TPM (Trusted Platform Module) version 2.0.
- Graphics compatible with DirectX 12 and a display of at least 720p.
Memory, storage and graphics are rarely the problem on a computer from the last eight years or so. The three that trip people up are the processor, the TPM and Secure Boot.
Step 1: run PC Health Check
Microsoft's free PC Health Check app tells you whether your PC meets the requirements and, if not, which one it fails. Download it from Microsoft's website, open it and choose "Check now". Make a note of exactly what it reports, because the fix depends on which test failed.
If it says TPM 2.0 is missing
Most computers sold since around 2016 have a TPM 2.0 built into the processor, but it is often switched off in the firmware settings. To check, press Windows key + R, type tpm.msc and press Enter. If it says "Compatible TPM cannot be found", the TPM is probably disabled rather than absent.
To turn it on, restart the computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI setup (usually by pressing F2, Delete or F10 as it starts; the key is often shown briefly on screen). Look for a setting called Intel PTT (Platform Trust Technology) on Intel systems or AMD fTPM on AMD systems, often under Security or Advanced. Enable it, save and restart, then run PC Health Check again.
If it says Secure Boot isn't supported or enabled
Press Windows key + R, type msinfo32 and look at two lines: "BIOS Mode" and "Secure Boot State".
- If BIOS Mode says UEFI and Secure Boot is off, you can usually enable Secure Boot in the firmware settings.
- If BIOS Mode says Legacy, Windows was installed in the older BIOS mode on an MBR-formatted disk. The disk needs converting to GPT before the firmware can be switched to UEFI and Secure Boot enabled. Windows includes a tool for this (MBR2GPT), but it should only be done after a full backup, because a mistake can leave the computer unable to start.
If it says the processor isn't supported
This is the one that can't be fixed with a setting. Unlike memory or storage, the processor on most computers can't sensibly be upgraded to a newer generation, because newer processors need a newer motherboard, and on most laptops the processor is soldered to the board anyway. Adding memory or fitting an SSD will make an older PC faster, but it won't make an unsupported processor supported.
You'll find guides online for installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware. Microsoft does allow it in some circumstances but warns that such PCs aren't entitled to updates and may stop receiving them. For a computer you rely on for banking, email or work, that isn't a sound position to be in.
Your options if the PC fails
- Replace it. If the processor is the problem and the computer is old, this is usually the sensible long-term answer. Back up your files first so they can be moved across.
- Keep it for offline or low-risk use. An unsupported PC can still be used for tasks that don't involve the internet, but it shouldn't be your main computer for browsing, email or online accounts.
- Switch operating system. Some people give older hardware a second life with a supported alternative such as a mainstream Linux distribution or ChromeOS Flex. It suits basic web use but means learning a different system, and some Windows software won't run.
If your PC passes
The upgrade is normally offered free through Windows Update. Before you start, back up your files, make sure there's enough free space (an upgrade needs room to keep your old installation for a while) and check that any specialist software or older printers you depend on have Windows 11 support. If the PC is slow on a mechanical hard drive, the upgrade is a good moment to fit an SSD at the same time.
If you'd rather not do it yourself, Repair First can check compatibility, enable TPM and Secure Boot, carry out the upgrade or a clean Windows installation, and fit an SSD or NVMe upgrade while the machine is with us. See also our PC and laptop upgrades, or call 020 8658 4366 and ask for a quote.