Windows 11 was released & began to be rolled out in October 2021. However, many people running Windows 10 still haven’t been given the chance to update to Windows 11. Often this is because Windows thinks their computer isn’t compatible.
However, there’s 2 changes you can make, quickly, for free, to make your PC ready to upgrade. First is to enable TPM 2.0, second is to enable secure boot.
Windows 11 Hardware Requirements:
| Processor | 1GHz or faster with two or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or system on a chip (SoC) |
| RAM | at least 4G |
| Storage | at least 64GB of available storage |
| Security | TPM version 2.0, UEFI firmware, Secure Boot capable |
| Graphics card | Compatible with DirectX 12 or later, with a WDDM 2.0 driver |
| Display | High definition (720p) display, 9″ or greater monitor, 8-bits per color channel |
How to Check If Your PC Is Compatible to Upgrade
There are two ways to check if you’re ready to run the new version of Windows.
Method 1: Check in Windows Update. Go to Settings > Windows Update. You should see a box that either says your PC is ready to upgrade, or that it’s not compatible.
Method 2: Run Microsoft’s PC Health Check app. Click ‘Check now’. After analysing your system, it will determine whether you’re set to upgrade.
How to Enable TPM 2.0
TPM (Trusted platform module) is a chip built into most PCs since 2015. It aims to keep PCs secure, like an extra level of authentication. You may just need to enable it.
TPM 2.0 can be enabled in your BIOS settings.
- Restart your PC. During boot up, press DELETE or F2 to enter BIOS settings.
- Go to advanced mode.
- Go to ‘Settings‘ > Security > Trusted Computing.
- In ‘Security device support’, enable ‘PTT‘ on an Intel motherboard, or enable ‘AMD CPU fTPM‘ on an AMD motherboard.
- Go to ‘Save & Exit‘ to restart your PC.
How to Enable Secure Boot
Secure Boot is a feature that aims to boot up your computer more safely by preventing dodgy software like malware from taking control of the PC during boot-up.
Secure boot can be enabled in your BIOS settings.
- Restart your PC. During boot up, press DELETE or F2 to enter BIOS settings.
- Go to advanced mode.
- Go to ‘Advanced‘ > ‘Windows MS Configuration‘
- Select ‘Secure Boot‘ from the options. Enable it.
- Go to ‘Save & Exit‘ to restart your PC.
Now, you should be set to upgrade to the new operating system. Re-run PC Health Check app, or go to Windows Update to check.
There could be a chance that your system is compatible, but Microsoft is still preparing Windows 11 for you. Microsoft has to prepare it for on PCs with thousands of different hardware combinations. In this case, hold tight while the iron out the bugs and get it ready for your system.