Windows 11 requirements: how to check TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot
Shari
The most common reason a computer “does not support” Windows 11 is not weak hardware, but two settings that are switched off in the BIOS. Before you give up on upgrading, run these checks.
The minimum requirements
- Processor: 64-bit, 2 cores or more, 1 GHz+, from Microsoft's approved list
- Memory: at least 4 GB (in practice — 8 GB)
- Disk: at least 64 GB of free space
- TPM version 2.0
- UEFI with Secure Boot enabled
- Graphics compatible with DirectX 12 / WDDM 2.0
A 30-second check
Press Win + R, enter tpm.msc and press Enter.
- If it says “The TPM is ready for use” and, at the bottom, Specification Version: 2.0 — everything is fine.
- If it says “Compatible TPM cannot be found” — it is probably switched off in the BIOS rather than missing.
- If the version is 1.2 — that is not enough for Windows 11.
For Secure Boot: Win + R → msinfo32. In the right-hand column, look for BIOS Mode (it must be UEFI, not Legacy) and Secure Boot State (it must be On).
How to enable TPM
Restart and enter the BIOS/UEFI (usually Del, F2 or F10 during start-up). The setting is named differently depending on the processor manufacturer:
- Intel: look for PTT or Intel Platform Trust Technology — usually under Advanced → PCH-FW Configuration.
- AMD: look for fTPM or AMD fTPM switch — usually under Advanced → AMD CBS → Trusted Computing.
Enable it, save (F10) and restart.
How to enable Secure Boot
In the BIOS, under the Boot or Security menu, look for Secure Boot and enable it. If the option is greyed out and unavailable, the reason is usually one of two:
- The system is running in Legacy/CSM mode instead of UEFI;
- The disk is in MBR rather than GPT format.
Important: switching from Legacy to UEFI without preparation will stop Windows from starting. Make a backup first. Windows has a built-in tool, mbr2gpt, for converting the disk without data loss, but if you are not sure what you are doing, seek help from a service technician.
The official check
The quickest way is Microsoft's PC Health Check app. It tells you exactly which requirement is not met, instead of simply saying “not compatible”.
If the computer really does not meet the requirements
There are unofficial ways to bypass the check, but Microsoft does not guarantee updates for such machines — and updates are precisely the reason to upgrade. For older hardware the more sensible choice is Windows 10 Pro. A comparison of the two versions is available here.
If the machine does meet the requirements, you can move to Windows 11 Pro or Windows 11 Home.
