Windows 11 is Microsoft’s latest desktop operating system, and for most Windows 10 users, it’s easy to upgrade. Just head into Settings and download it like you would any other update.
But what if your device isn’t supported by Windows 11? Microsoft introduced lots of new hardware requirements, including a CPU with a TPM 2.0 security chip, Secure Boot support and at least 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
If you’ve clicked on this article, you’re probably one of the unlucky ones. However, the good news is that there’s still a way for you to install Windows 11 and run it without issues.
Of course, this method isn’t officially supported by Microsoft, so you proceed at your own risk. It’s also not urgent, given that Windows 10 will still receive updates until October 2025.
But if you’ve decided now is the time to make the move to Windows 11, here’s what to to do.
How to get Windows 11 on an unsupported device
To install Windows 11 on a PC or laptop that doesn’t meet the hardware requirements, you’ll need to make changes to the Registry. These can be permanent, so it’s worth backing up your device and following the steps in this article carefully.
This article assumes you want to install Windows 11 on the device where you download it, but there are also ways to move it to another device.
Download and install Windows 11
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Go to the official Windows 11 download page. Under ‘Windows 11 Installation Assistant, click ‘Download Now’. To install it on another device, choose the Installation Media or ISO options instead.
Open the downloaded file, then follow the instructions to begin installation. If it doesn’t meet the hardware requirements, you should see a message saying ‘This PC can’t run Windows 11’.
Open the relevant Registry Editor page
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In the search bar next to the Start menu, type ‘registry’ and click the relevant option to open the Registry Editor. Click ‘Yes’ to confirm you allow changes to be made.
Then, in the address bar of the window that appears, type ‘Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup’ and hit enter. In any white space, right-click and choose New > Key
Create ‘BypassTPMCheck’ value
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Enter ‘LabConfig’ as the name for this key. Once created, right-click it and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) value.
Enter ‘BypassTPMCheck’ as its name, then right-click and choose ‘1’ as the Value data. Click ‘OK’ to confirm.
If your device also doesn’t support Secure Boot or have 4GB of RAM, repeat this step for each of these. The only thing you’ll need to change is the names to ‘BypassSecureBootCheck’ and ‘BypassRAMCheck’.
Repeat for Secure Boot and RAM (if necessary)
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If your device also doesn’t support Secure Boot or have 4GB of RAM, repeat step 3 for each. The only things you’ll need to change are the value names to ‘BypassSecureBootCheck’ and ‘BypassRAMCheck’.
Once complete, close the Registry Editor and Command Prompt window (by typing ‘exit’ and hitting the enter key). Then, from the ‘This PC can’t run Windows 11’ screen, click the back button and you should be able to complete installation as normal.
It’s worth noting that following these steps could affect the performance or stability of Windows 11. Proceed with caution.
Is it safe to install Windows 11 on an unsupported device?
Not entirely. Windows 11’s hardware requirements are mainly about security, even if many people believe they’re being too strict. Using an operating system that’s not designed to work without a TPM chip or Secure Boot is a risk, although you’re likely to get away with it if your device meets most of the requirements.
The older the hardware is, the more risky it becomes. In any situation, we’d recommend installing on a laptop or PC that’s not your main device. If this is unavoidable, fully backup your device first to ensure you don’t lose anything.
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Author: Anyron Copeman, Mobile Editor, Tech Advisor
Anyron is Mobile Editor at Tech Advisor, where he’s been a mainstay of the editorial team since 2019. In his current role, Anyron is responsible for all smartphone, tablet and mobile network coverage on the site. A BA Journalism graduate, he has experience with a wide range of consumer tech products and services, including smartphones, tablets, foldables, wearables and more.