When the PC Health Check app says your PC "doesn't meet the requirements," start by finding which item failed. The answer splits three ways depending on the item: a firmware setting change is enough, a part needs replacing, or there is no supported path without a new PC.
Paths by requirement
Combining the minimums in Microsoft's Windows 11 system requirements page with the remedies the same page gives for each item:
| Item | Minimum | If not met |
|---|---|---|
| TPM | Version 2.0 | If disabled, turn it on in firmware. Not possible if the specification version is below 2.0 |
| System firmware | UEFI, Secure Boot capable | Check whether a setting change can enable it. Secure Boot works only under UEFI |
| RAM | 4GB | Replace parts if the model allows upgrades |
| Storage | 64GB or more | Replace the drive if the model allows it |
| CPU | 1GHz or faster, 2+ cores, on the approved list | Not considered an upgradable component |
| Graphics | DirectX 12 or later, WDDM 2.0 driver | No specific remedy given on the page |
| Display | Larger than 9 inches, 720p, 8 bits per color channel | No specific remedy given on the page |
Upgrading through Windows Update requires Windows 10 version 2004 or later.
TPM: when it is just switched off
Microsoft's guide to enabling TPM 2.0 is written for users who cannot upgrade because their PC supports TPM 2.0 but it has not been set up. It says retail motherboards used for self-built PCs ship with TPM turned off by default. Failing the check does not mean the chip is missing.
To check, press Windows key+R and run tpm.msc. If you see "Compatible TPM cannot be found," it may be disabled. If details appear, confirm that the specification version is 2.0. If it is lower than 2.0, no setting will fix it.
You turn it on in the UEFI firmware settings. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery, select Restart now, then Advanced options > Troubleshoot > UEFI Firmware Settings. Menu names vary by manufacturer. Examples from the guide include Security Device Support, TPM State, AMD fTPM switch, AMD PSP fTPM, Intel PTT, and Intel Platform Trust Technology.
The requirements page says that if you change your PC to meet the requirements, wait until Windows Update notifies you that the upgrade is ready.
If the CPU is the blocker
The requirements page treats the processor as the main factor in whether a PC can run Windows 11 and does not consider clock speed or core count upgradable. Approved lists are published per version. In the 25H2 Intel list, the oldest Core i series is 8th generation. The AMD list lists the Ryzen 3000 series with G and GE models marked as exceptions.
Both lists say in their introduction that these are CPUs "OEMs may use for new Windows 11 devices." The list pages do not say whether the same scope applies to upgrade eligibility for existing PCs. The ways the requirements page gives for checking upgrade eligibility are the PC Health Check app and Windows Update.
Installing around the requirements
In its guidance on Windows 11 on devices that don't meet minimum requirements, Microsoft does not recommend such installations. Those devices are not guaranteed to receive updates, including security updates. Installation proceeds only after you accept a notice that damage due to lack of compatibility isn't covered by the manufacturer's warranty. A watermark is added to the desktop after installation. The Go back option to return to Windows 10 is available only for 10 days after the upgrade.
If the CPU is not on the list or the TPM doesn't support 2.0, the supported option is a new device. If you stay on Windows 10 until then, see our post on home ESU being extended to October 12, 2027.