In late June, Microsoft introduced Windows 11, famous that the upcoming OS would have extra stringent {hardware} necessities than Windows 10, and launched a utility named PC Health Check to allow customers to evaluate the improve readiness of their PCs. Just 4 days later, nevertheless, Microsoft withdrew the software from circulation, citing points with its “level of detail or accuracy.” In different phrases, it was telling many customers that their {hardware} couldn’t run Windows 11, nevertheless it wasn’t telling them why.To partially make up for the lack of the PC Health Check app, Microsoft revealed extra detailed minimal system necessities for Windows 11, nevertheless it additionally famous that these necessities would possibly change after the corporate factored in suggestions from testers in its Windows Insider program.As of August 27, the PC Health Check software is again, and there’s no scarcity of third-party choices obtainable to those that’d like a report on a PCs’ compliance with — or violation of — the minimal system necessities for Windows 11, which can start rolling out on October 5. I’ll stroll you thru the system necessities as they stand now, in addition to tips on how to use the PC Health Check app and two various instruments to examine a PC’s Windows 11 improve readiness.Windows 11 system requirementsAccording to Microsoft’s Windows 11 overview web page, the next objects delineate the fundamental necessities a PC should meet for Windows 11 to put in correctly on that machine. At current, Microsoft has relaxed these restrictions, in order that out-of-compliance PCs can run Windows 11 inside the Insider Program. But when the official launch goes out later this yr, these machines will not have the ability to improve to newer Windows 11 variations.Processor: 64-bit structure at 1 GHz or sooner; Intel: eight-generation or newer (particulars); AMD Ryzen 3 or higher (particulars); Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c or larger (particulars)
RAM: 4 GB or larger
Storage: 64 GB or bigger storage gadget
System firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot succesful
TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) model 2.0
Graphics card: Direct X12 or later succesful; WDDM 2.0 driver or newer
Display: High-def (720p) show, bigger than 9” diagonal in measurement, 8 bits per shade channel (or higher)
Internet connection/MSA: Windows 11 Home version requires web connectivity and a Microsoft Account (MSA) to finish gadget setup on first use. Switching out of Windows 11 Home in S mode likewise requires web connectivity. For all Windows 11 editions, web entry is required for updates, and to obtain and use sure options. An MSA is required for some options as properly.
Just not too long ago the corporate additionally relaxed its CPU restrictions to incorporate sure high-end seventh-generation Intel processors present in a few of its Microsoft Surface Studio 2 PCs, in addition to sure Xeon processors. (See the small print hyperlink for Intel within the first listing merchandise above.) Otherwise, the restrictions said above are unchanged.Using Microsoft’s PC Health CheckAs I write this story, PC Health Check has been re-released, nevertheless it’s at present solely obtainable to members of Microsoft’s Windows Insider program. To obtain PC Health Check, you have to be a registered Windows Insider and logged into the related Microsoft account. Otherwise you’ll get a response from Microsoft Software Download that reads “To access this page, you need to be a member of the Windows Insider program.”That hurdle overcome, the obtain is well accessible as a Microsoft Installer file named WindowsPCHealthCheckSetup.msi. Run this file and this system installs itself.To run this system, sort PC Heal into the search field, then run the app from the Start menu. To run its built-in Windows 11 compatibility examine, click on the Check now button contained in the “Introducing Windows 11” pane on the prime of the app window, as proven in Figure 1: IDG
Figure 1: Click Check now within the PC Health Check app to run its compatibility checker. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
The program returns one in every of three potential home windows after the compatibility examine runs. Those that move the examine get a “meets requirements” message (Figure 2, left); people who fail get a “doesn’t currently meet” message (middle); and people from PCs operating Windows Education or Enterprise or one other Windows model managed by an IT division get a message that reads “Your organization manages updates on this PC” (proper) however no compatibility examine. I’m operating Enterprise on my manufacturing PC and have flagged this as an error or drawback with Microsoft through its Feedback Hub. IDG
Figure 2: From left to proper, passing grade, failing grade, and no grade, respectively. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Click the See all outcomes button to see extra particulars for each passing and failing PCs. The failing PC is a 2014 classic Surface Pro 3 that fails as a result of its fourth-generation Intel CPU just isn’t supported. The passing grade goes to a 2018 Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga, which has an eighth-generation Intel CPU and different mandatory elements. Some of the small print for each machines seem in Figure 3. IDG
Figure 3: My 2018 Lenovo X380 Yoga (left) passes, however the 2014 Surface Pro 3 (proper) fails. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Microsoft’s PC Health Check will work for many Windows PCs. Those operating Windows 10 Education or Enterprise could also be out of luck. Ditto for Windows PCs centrally managed through Group Policy in a corporation’s IT atmosphere. YMMV, as they are saying. And, after all, you may not want to be part of the Windows Insider program. That’s why I additionally suggest the 2 third-party compatibility examine instruments within the subsequent part.Two good various Windows 11 compatibility checkersThough extra choices can be found, I’ve discovered two third-party instruments to be eminently helpful to examine a PC for Windows 11 compatibility in sufficient element to make them worthwhile:WhyNotWin11: a GitHub-based undertaking that runs as a standalone Windows software and studies on a collection of checks it performs when run.
Windows 11 Compatibility Check: a Windows batch file that runs inside an administrative PowerShell session or Command Prompt window to report its findings on PC attributes and capabilities.
Either of those instruments can present you ample intelligence to find out in case your PC is prepared for Windows 11, with one caveat. Older PCs whose CPUs qualify beneath the processor requirement could embrace hardware-based TPM chips of model 1.3 or older (decrease in quantity). These CPUs can emulate TPM 2.0, so what seems like a failure to satisfy Windows 11 necessities on the {hardware} degree will be offset in software program. I’ll clarify additional within the part on the Windows 11 Compatibility Check script under.WhyNotWin11WhyNotWin11 is a GitHub undertaking whose supply code is publicly obtainable. The newest launch as I write this story is model 2.4.0 (however you may at all times click on the “Latest” button on the house web page to leap to probably the most present vesion). Click the hyperlink labeled Download the most recent secure launch and also you’ll find yourself with a file named WhyNotWin11.exe. By default it resides within the Downloads folder (C:Users<username>Downloads), the place you may execute this system immediately.It takes a short while to obtain the WMIC (Windows Management Instrumentation command-line utility) on which it’s primarily based. When it completes its numerous checks, it shows their outcomes as proven in Figures 4 (from an incompatible system) and 5 (from a appropriate one).IDG
Figure 4: WhyNotWin11 outcomes for a PC operating on a sixth-gen (i7-6700) Intel chip with no TPM assist. This PC won’t assist Windows 11.
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Figure 5: WhyNotWin11 outcomes for a PC operating on an eleventh-gen (i7-1180G7) Intel chip with TPM 2.0 assist. This PC is operating Windows 11 and meets all necessities.
Understanding WhyNot11’s output is easy: inexperienced meets it meets a requirement, crimson means it doesn’t, and amber means it might or could not meet the ultimate necessities however doesn’t meet present necessities. There’s been quite a lot of flap about the place Microsoft ought to draw the road on CPU generations, so amber is a sop to these with excessive hopes for inclusion of older generations. As of the tip of August, just a few choose seventh-generation Intel Core and Xeon processors have been allowed into the “meets requirements” group, however no additional additions are on the desk, in line with Microsoft.Windows 11 Compatibility Check scriptThis software, named Windows 11 Compatibility Check, comes from the neighborhood web site Windows ElevenForum. Its creator, JB Carreon, affords his work as freeware. It comes within the type of a batch file named W11CompChk.bat. Downloads for this software reside on its History web page. As I write this story, probably the most present model is numbered 1.4.1, for which dates and obtain hyperlinks are readily seen.Once it’s loaded onto your PC, you may merely right-click its entry in File Explorer whereas holding down the left-hand Shift key on the keyboard. From the ensuing pop-up menu, choose Copy as path. This copies the complete file path into your paste buffer. Next, open an administrative Command Prompt window, paste within the string, and take away the main and trailing citation marks (“”).The batch file will then execute. It will present progress, after which a report when it finishes its numerous checks. Figure 6 reveals outcomes from an incompatible PC (the identical one as in Figure 4 previous); Figure 7 reveals outcomes from a appropriate PC (the identical one as in Figure 5).IDG
Figure 6: Script output for a sixth-generation Intel i7-6700 CPU PC with no TPM. Again, this PC doesn’t meet Windows 11 necessities.
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Figure 7: Script output for an eleventh-generation Intel system with TPM 2.0 emulation, which Windows 11 Compatibility Check incorrectly identifies as model 1.3. Despite the script’s evaluation, this PC is appropriate with Windows 11.
Note in Figure 7 how the Windows 11 Compatibility Check script has been tripped up. While the software does present that TPM is enabled, it erroneously studies an outdated 1.3 model primarily based on the bodily TPM chip current. That chip is emulating TPM 2.0 and due to this fact does meet the Windows 11 necessities.Any of those instruments will do, however…Microsoft’s PC Health Check will get the job finished, apart from these operating Enterprise or Education variations, these whose PCs are beneath central IT administration, or those that aren’t Windows Insiders. Both it and WhyNotWin11 are good sufficient to examine which model of TPM is lively within the Windows runtime atmosphere. Thus, they appropriately determine the TPM as assembly the “version 2.0 or higher” requirement.If you run the TPM.msc snap-in for the Microsoft Management Console on that PC (you have to be logged in with administrative privileges), in actual fact, it reveals you that its “Specification version” is certainly 2.0 (see Figure 8, decrease proper). That meets the said requirement and signifies that the Lenovo X12 ThinkPad in query (in-built 2021) will fortunately and efficiently run Windows 11.IDG
Figure 8: The vital subject is “Specification Version,” which reads 2.0 and meets necessities.
Any software lined right here will assist you determine if (and why) a PC meets or fails the Windows 11 system necessities. I like all three, however I give WhyNotWin11 a slight edge as a result of it will get TPM proper and runs on Enterprise, Education, and centrally managed Windows PCs.

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