Buzz
Windows 11 is scheduled to launch later this year, and Microsoft has confirmed that only eligible devices can install the new operating system through Windows Update. If your computer is not compatible with Windows 11, Microsoft says you can try installing the new OS using the Media Creation Tool, but this process is not recommended.
Windows update now indicates whether Windows 11 can be installed on your PC.
The software giant has announced specific hardware requirements that a computer must meet to install the Windows 11 October 2021 Update. Your computer is considered eligible if it comes with an 8th-generation Intel chip, Ryzen 2000 and newer. The list also includes support for some 7th-generation processors, such as Core X-series, Xeon W-series, and the Core i7-7820HQ chip.
Download the latest Windows 11 here:
- See more: Link to download Windows 11 Pro
Unfortunately, no additional chips will be added to the list, at least not at this time. Microsoft has also confirmed that their own Surface products like the Surface Laptop will not be upgraded to Windows 11. There will be no special treatment for Surface products as only newer models are allowed to install the new Windows version.
In a Q&A session, Microsoft revealed that they can also identify devices with hardware or software compatibility issues.
Right now, you need to use the PC Health Check tool to check for Windows 11 compatibility issues. However, in the Release Preview Channel, Microsoft has added a notice to reveal more about this.
As you can see in the screenshot above, Windows Update will notify users whether their device is ready for Windows 11 or not, and this notification also links to related support articles including additional information about Windows 11 installation requirements and removed features.
Microsoft is currently rolling out compatibility notifications like the one above for testers in the Release Preview Channel of the Windows Insider program. A similar compatibility notification may appear on devices that do not meet the requirements. Microsoft is trying to identify compatibility issues using remote telemetry data, and this process cannot be fooled.
In addition, Microsoft has also released a new version of the PC Health Check tool to provide more detailed information about incompatible devices. For example: now the app will mention if Secure Boot is disabled or if your computer lacks TPM 2.0 support. Lastly, if you have received the notification that your computer can install Windows 11 and the official Windows 11 update, you can refer to the installation guide here to install the latest version of Windows for yourself.
- See more: How to install Windows 11
- See more: How to update to official Windows 11
