Windows 11 System Requirements

Before installing or upgrading to Windows 11, you should check that your computer meets the minimum system requirements.

The easiest way is to use Microsoft’s own compatibility tool. It will quickly tell you whether your PC can run Windows 11 and, if not, which requirement is missing.

Recommended: Use Microsoft’s PC Health Check Tool #

For most users, this is the simplest option.

1. Download and install Microsoft’s PC Health Check app.
2. Open the app.
3. Click Check now.
4. The tool will show whether your PC meets the requirements for Windows 11.

If your computer is not compatible, the tool will normally explain why. Common reasons include missing or disabled TPM 2.0, Secure Boot being turned off, or an unsupported processor.

Minimum Requirements for Windows 11 #

Your computer must meet these minimum requirements:

Component	Minimum requirement
Processor	1 GHz or faster, 2 or more cores, compatible 64-bit processor
RAM	4 GB or more
Storage	64 GB or more
System firmware	UEFI, Secure Boot capable
TPM	TPM 2.0
Graphics	DirectX 12 compatible graphics with WDDM 2.0 driver
Display	720p HD display, 9 inches or larger
Internet	Required for setup, updates, and some editions

How to Check Your PC Manually #

If you want to check the most important settings yourself, you can use the tools already built into Windows.

Check Processor and RAM #

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type:msinfo32
3. Press Enter.
4. In the System Information window, check:
   • Processor
   • Installed Physical Memory (RAM)

Your PC needs a compatible 64-bit processor and at least 4 GB RAM.

Check Storage Space #

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click This PC.
3. Look at your main drive, usually C:.

Windows 11 requires at least 64 GB of storage. In practice, having more free space is recommended so Windows has room for updates and temporary files.

Check Secure Boot and UEFI #

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type:msinfo32
3. Press Enter.
4. Look for:
   • BIOS Mode
   • Secure Boot State

For Windows 11, BIOS Mode should normally show UEFI, and Secure Boot should be supported or enabled.

If Secure Boot is turned off, it may be possible to enable it in your computer’s BIOS or UEFI settings. The exact steps depend on your computer manufacturer.

Check TPM 2.0 #

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type:tpm.msc
3. Press Enter.

If TPM is available and ready, Windows will show information about it. Look for the TPM version. Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0.

If TPM is missing or disabled, it may need to be enabled in the BIOS or UEFI settings.

Check Graphics Compatibility #

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type:dxdiag
3. Press Enter.
4. Open the Display tab.

Your graphics card or graphics chip must support DirectX 12 with a WDDM 2.0 driver.

What If My PC Does Not Meet the Requirements? #

If your computer does not meet the Windows 11 requirements, installation may not be possible through the normal Microsoft upgrade process.

In some cases, features such as TPM or Secure Boot are available but disabled in BIOS/UEFI. In other cases, the hardware may simply be too old for Windows 11.

For most users, the best first step is to run Microsoft’s PC Health Check tool and follow the result shown there. If it does not pass, the tool will usually show what needs to be changed or upgraded.