Microsoft Tightens Rules for Windows 11 Upgrades on Incompatible PCs – But There’s Still a Way!
Introduction: Microsoft recently updated the way it handles Windows 11 upgrades for PCs that don’t meet the hardware requirements. Since Windows 11 launched, users have found ways to bypass these restrictions, but Microsoft has just made things a bit tougher. Let’s break down what’s changed and how you can still upgrade an incompatible PC to Windows 11.
Why Are Some PCs Incompatible with Windows 11?
When Microsoft released Windows 11 in 2021, it came with strict hardware requirements, including a supported CPU and a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0. If your PC didn’t meet these requirements, it couldn’t upgrade from Windows 10.
For tech enthusiasts, however, these requirements weren’t seen as barriers but more like challenges. They soon found ways to bypass these restrictions and upgrade any PC that could run Windows 10 to Windows 11.
Two Common Methods for Bypassing Windows 11 Requirements
1. Microsoft’s Official Registry Tweak: Microsoft provides an official way to upgrade some incompatible PCs. By making a small change to the Windows Registry, you can bypass the CPU compatibility check and upgrade to Windows 11. However, there’s one key requirement: your PC must have a TPM (even version 1.2 is enough). If your system has no TPM at all, you cannot use this method.
2. The Rufus Tool and Compatibility Bypass: The second popular method is a bit of a hack and uses a tool called Rufus. Rufus allows you to create a Windows 11 installer that bypasses the compatibility checks, including the TPM and Secure Boot requirements. It’s been widely used by people looking to upgrade much older PCs that lack a TPM altogether.
What’s Changed in the Latest Windows 11 Update?
On October 1, 2024, Microsoft released Windows 11 version 24H2, and along with it, some updates that seem to have broken the second method. Users who tried to upgrade using Rufus began seeing error messages, even after selecting the compatibility bypass options. The update appeared to add new restrictions that blocked these upgrades from moving forward.
The New Workaround for Version 24H2
Thankfully, the community didn’t take long to respond. Rufus developer Pete Batard has already found a workaround for the new restrictions. If you want to perform an in-place upgrade (meaning you want to upgrade your current installation without wiping everything), you’ll need to run a series of commands from the command prompt to make further registry changes.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Make sure you run Command Prompt with elevated privileges (right-click and select “Run as administrator”).
- Run These Commands: Copy and paste the following commands into the Command Prompt and press enter after each one:
- reg.exe delete “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\CompatMarkers” /f 2>NUL
- reg.exe delete “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Shared” /f 2>NUL
- reg.exe delete “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\TargetVersionUpgradeExperienceIndicators” /f 2>NUL
- reg.exe add “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\HwReqChk” /f /v HwReqChkVars /t REG_MULTI_SZ /s , /d “SQ_SecureBootCapable=TRUE,SQ_SecureBootEnabled=TRUE,SQ_TpmVersion=2,SQ_RamMB=8192,”
- reg.exe add “HKLM\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup” /f /v AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU /t REG_DWORD /d 1
These commands modify the compatibility settings in the Windows Registry, allowing the upgrade to proceed. Once the commands are run, you can start the Windows 11 Setup process again, and it should work.
Note: Be sure to copy these commands exactly as written to avoid errors. You can find the original commands on GitHub, posted by the community that discovered this solution.
Rufus Updates Coming Soon
The next version of Rufus will include these additional tweaks in a batch script, meaning users will be able to run them more easily to bypass these new restrictions during the upgrade process.
Conclusion
While Microsoft has made it more challenging to upgrade incompatible PCs to Windows 11, the community has once again found a way around it. If you have an older PC and still want to experience Windows 11, these workarounds might help—but remember that any installation on unsupported hardware may come with risks, including no official support or updates from Microsoft.
If you’re unsure about making these changes yourself or need further advice, feel free to reach out. At System Plus, we’re always here to help you make the best tech choices for your needs.