Why Your Computer May Or May Not Work For Windows 11
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Why Your Computer May Or May Not Work For Windows 11

If you’re this, there’s every probability you’re getting a “this PC can’t run Windows 11” message every time you try to install or upgrade to the all-new operating system.


To help, we’ve created this in-depth guide on how to fix the “this PC can’t run Windows 11” error.


Let’s get cracking:


Minimum System Requirement for Windows 11


The first thing you need to do is ensure that your PC supports the minimum requirements for Windows 11. These are:

  1. A 64-bit processor

  2. 4GB of RAM and a 64GB Drive

  3. 1GHz clock speed, at least 2 cores

  4. Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0 or newer

  5. UEFI, Secure Boot capable

  6. DirectX 12 or later compatibility with WDDM 2.0 driver

  7. 9-inch display with 1366 x 768 as the minimum resolution

  8. List of AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm processors that support Windows 11

Sure, your PC may have all of these specifications but fail to install Windows 11 – which takes us to our next point.


Why Am I Getting “This PC Can’t Run Windows 11” Error?


Despite your PC being compatible with Windows 11, you may still encounter the “this PC can’t run Windows 11” error via the Health Check app.

There are three possible reasons for Windows incompatibility error. These are:

  1. Inaccurate report by the Health Check tool

  2. The TPM is disabled on your PC

  3. You’ve not enabled the Secure Boot


How to Fix your PC if it Can’t Run Windows 11

Needless to say, you’ll need to solve the three defects highlighted above to enable your PC to run Windows 11. Here’s how:


Inaccurate Report by Health Check App


According to the details of a Microsoft official document, your PC must have multiple levels of hardware to operate the new OS – “Soft Floor” and “Hard Floor.”

The Health Check app checks your PC’s compatibility against the Second-floor hardware requirement, implying that your machine needs to run on TPM 2.0 and 8th Gen Intel & Ryzen 2000 series processors.


In reality, however, you can still install Windows 11 on PCs running on a 64-bit dual-core processor with a 1GHZ clock speed. So, there’s a likelihood that the “your PC can’t run Windows 11” error could be because of incorrect analysis by the Health Check app.


Microsoft has said it’s aware of the problem already and is working to resolve it by updating the Health Check app.


What can you do? Well, wait for the update. Meanwhile, you can down the updated app of Windows 11 page and check-mark the ‘check for compatibility” tab.


Disabled TPM


For starters, TPM (Trusted Platform Module) is a security chip that provides hardware-based, security-related functions. TPM has been a standard since 2016, and it’s likely your PC has it already.


In fact, computers manufactured during the last couple of years come with TPM 2.0. You can check if your machine has a compatible TPM by running the get-tpm command in the PowerShell window. Here’s how:

  1. On the Start menu, search for Windows PowerShell

  2. Right-click on Windows PowerShell. Click on Run as Administrator

  3. Allow the window to open. Type and enter get-tpm

  4. Check if your PC has TPM and whether it’s enabled or not

  5. You can also check if your computer has TPM by pressing Win + R, type tpm.MSC and press enter. Wait for the TPM Management window to open. Then check the “status” of your PC’s “TPM Specification Version.”

How to Enable the TPM


If your PC’s TMP is disabled, you’ll need to open the BIOS menu and enable it manually. Here’s how.

  1. Start by shutting down your computer

  2. Reboot your machine and during start-up, open the BIOS or UEFI menu. You can do this by pressing F1, F2, F10, F11, and DEL.

  3. Note – the keys may vary depending on the manufacturer – so be sure to refer to the user manual or manufacturer’s website for accurate info.

  4. Allow the BIOS or UEFI menu to open and tap the Security option

  5. Look for TPM and check whether it’s enabled. Enable it if it’s not.

  6. Once you’ve enabled the TPM. Save and Exit. Restart your computer.

Disabled Secure Boot


Secure Boot is a security standard designed to ensure your PC boosts using software a manufacturer trusts. That way, your machine is safe from malware. Secure Boot is a standard in all PCs.

  1. Your devices must Secure Boot to be compatible with Windows 11.

  2. How to Check if Secure Boot is Enabled in Your PC

  3. To check the status of your computer’s Secure Boot, you’ll need to do the following:

  4. Press Window +R. That opens the Run window

  5. Type and enter msinfo32

  6. Allow the window to open and look for “Secure Boot State.”

  7. If the Secure Boot isn’t enabled, you can enable it by following the steps below.

How to Enable your PC’s Secure Boot in BIOS Menu


Start by opening the BIOS or UEFI menu using the same steps for activating TPM as described above.

  1. Head over to the Boot tab. Go to the Advanced Mode.

  2. Look for the Secure Boot option and check if it’s enabled.

  1. Enable it

  2. Save and exit. Restart your computer.

  3. Next, open your machine’s Health Check tool. Check for compatibility to verify if it has passed the test or not. If not, you’ll need to recheck your PC’s specs.

How to Know Why Your Computer Isn’t Compatible with Windows 11


You can know why your PC isn’t compatible with Windows 11 thanks to WhyNotWin11, a nifty compatibility checker tool designed to scan your computer and determine where the problem is.


Here’s how to go about it.

  1. Your browser may block the app. If it does, click the three-dot and save the file.

  2. Also, Windows may flag the app, blocking the installation. Click More info and tap Run anyway.

  3. Click OK to run the app.

  4. The tool will check and determine if your machine can run on Windows 11 in a few seconds.

  5. And, if your computer isn’t compatible, the tool will tell you the missing specifications.

WhyNotWin 11 works by matching your PC’s hardware with the known requirements for Windows 11 compatibility. We’re talking about:

  1. Boot Type

  2. TPM Minimum

  3. CPU Generation

  4. Disk Partitioning

  5. Core Count

  6. DirectX Support

  7. CPU Frequency

  8. RAM

  9. Storage

  10. CPU Architecture

  11. Secure Boot


Check if all the requirements are market green as shown in the image above and click OK. If there are any parameters with a red X next to them, that’s the cause of the compatibility problem. Be sure to make the necessary changes.


The Bottom Line


Now you know why you get the “your PC can’t run Windows 11” error when you attempt to install or upgrade to the new OS. Most importantly, you know how to fix the issue.

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