How to install Windows 11
This Windows 11 install manual was first published by us soon after the operating system's October 2021 debut. We updated it in October 2024 to reflect changes made by Microsoft in the Windows 11 2024 Update, often known as 24H2, in order to keep it up to date and as helpful as possible.
Although it still goes by the name Windows 11 and has the same appearance as Windows 11, Windows 11 24H2 has been made available to the general public. This is likely the biggest update to the operating system since October 2021.
Some of the new generative AI elements may or may not interest you, but there are a lot of other features as well. There are still many situations in which you must use Windows, even if you don't enjoy it or its current direction.
We've gathered a wealth of information to produce an in-depth installation and upgrade guide for Windows 11. Since Microsoft is not your parent and cannot advise you on what to do, this includes guidance and some detailed instructions for turning on officially required features like your TPM and Secure Boot, as well as official and unofficial ways to get around the system-requirement checks on "unsupported" PCs.
The 24H2 update has some modifications that prevent you from installing it on any outdated machine that is capable of running Windows 10, and some of the new generative AI elements in the operating system have new hardware requirements. Everything you require is included in our new guide.
How can I install Windows 11?
Checking Windows Update on a compatible, fully updated Windows 10 PC is the simplest way to obtain Windows 11. However, there are other ways if you're not seeing it there or if you want to download the new OS just once and need to upgrade multiple PCs.
Microsoft provides multiple methods for downloading Windows 11 by hand. One way is to utilize Windows Update's Installation Assistant software, which you install on your computer, to start a standard upgrade installation. Using the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool is the second option, since it streamlines the process of downloading an install ISO file or making a bootable USB install drive. Once you have a USB drive, you can use it to either launch the Setup software from within Windows 10 to make a standard upgrade install or you may boot from it to complete a clean install. Although installing from any USB drive—even an outdated USB 2.0 drive—will be considerably faster, you can alternatively burn the ISO to a DVD. Lastly, all you have to do is download an ISO file. Straight from the Microsoft website.
Must I make a payment for it?
An upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 is free. That means that if your computer is running Windows 10 Home or Pro, you can install and activate the corresponding version of Windows 11 on it, even if it isn't officially supported.
Officially, you should purchase a Windows 10 or Windows 11 license if you're installing Windows 11 on a newly constructed PC. These retail for between $120 and $140 on websites like Amazon, Newegg, Best Buy, or straight from Microsoft. Unofficially, for as low as $12, you can get a functional Windows product key from websites that resell them. We won't directly link to any of these websites because many of them are dubious, but it's one choice for obtaining a functional key.
The Windows 10-era bug, which allowed fresh OS installations to use outdated Windows 7 and Windows 8 product keys to activate comparable editions of Windows 11, has finally been fixed by Microsoft. However, even if you forget to enter a product key during installation, your system should still be able to activate correctly when it connects to the Internet if you were able to use one of these keys to activate an earlier version of Windows 10 or 11.
What is required for my PC to be "supported"?
The official system requirements for Windows 11 remain unchanged with the 24H2 release. To restate, you require:
- 4GB of RAM
- 64GB of storage
- UEFI Secure Boot supported and enabled
- A Trusted Platform Module (TPM), version 2.0
- A DirectX 12-compatible GPU with a WDDM 2.0 driver
- A 720p display larger than 9 inches in size
Although there are still a number of workarounds available if you prefer to utilize a local account, both the Home and Pro versions of Windows 11 require a Microsoft account to log in. These we will discuss later.
The most stringent requirement is for a processor; supported processors include AMD Ryzen 2000-series processors and up to 8th-generation Intel Core processors. All of these chips were introduced in late 2017 and early 2018. Officially, Windows 11 cannot be installed on older PCs. This is a significant change from Windows 10, which prioritized compatibility with almost all devices running Windows 7 or Windows 8.
We go into greater detail in our initial Windows 11 review regarding the logic behind these specifications—as well as whether they are reasonable. The CPU requirement, the TPM need, and the Secure Boot requirement, however, are the three main ones.
How do I find out if my computer is supported
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| Pc is supported |
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Windows Update in Windows 10 may inform you if your computer is supported or not. However, using Microsoft's PC Health Check software is the simplest manual method of checking. The current version of this tool will inform you whether or not your PC is compatible and why, even though the earlier versions weren't that great.
If your processor isn't supported, you can either upgrade to one that is or move on to the part where we discuss installing Windows 11 on unsupported computers.
In the event that your processor is compatible with Secure Boot and TPM, even if you don't match the requirements, you should still be able to enable both capabilities through your PC's BIOS, barring a serious malfunction.
The majority of motherboard manufacturers have also published new BIOS updates since Windows 11 launched, which automatically enable the functionalities required to support Windows 11. See the support page of the manufacturer of your motherboard for the most recent BIOS upgrades and flashing guidelines.
How can I access the BIOS on my PC?
Generally, once your computer has turned on but before Windows boots up, you can access your BIOS by hitting a key. Although the key varies, notable ones include F10 (for HP computers), F2 (for Dell systems), and F1 (for Lenovo systems).
To access your BIOS, the method that is more reliable but requires more work is to navigate to the Windows Settings app, select Windows Update, Recovery, and then Restart Now from the "Advanced startup" menu. Select Troubleshoot from the menu, followed by Advanced options and UEFI Firmware Settings in the subsequent basic blue screen.
How can I turn on my TPM?
The built-in firmware TPM on your processor is simple to enable, however occasionally it can be difficult to locate the setting. Try Googling for "[manufacturer of your computer or motherboard] enable TPM" if you're not sure what you're doing. A lot of manufacturers have made help sites especially for Windows 11.
In Intel systems, check for "Platform Trust Technology," or "PTT," and enable it if you can't find a setting labeled "TPM" elsewhere in the chipset or security settings. It is commonly referred to as a "fTPM" in AMD systems, although it is also sometimes dubbed a "Platform Security Processor," or "PSP."
After turning on your TPM, restart Windows and check to see if everything is functioning correctly by using the Health Check tool or by examining the Device Manager.
How can I make Secure Boot active?
Since Windows 8 was introduced in 2012, all computers should be able to handle Secure Boot. This feature helps shield your computer from potentially harmful and unsigned applications loading while it is booting up. If it's not enabled already, you should be able to activate it in your computer's BIOS; typically, this may be found in the "Security" or "Boot" sections. Similar to activating your TPM, consult the instructions for your motherboard or PC if you are unable to locate the setting.
Don't panic if your computer still won't start up after you enable Secure start; there are a few more procedures you need to follow. If your hard drive or SSD won't start, it's probably because it's configured using an older MBR (Master start Record) partition table instead of the more recent GPT (GUID Partition Table) format that UEFI and Secure Boot both demand.
Use the Windows + X keyboard shortcut or right-click the Start button to bring up a menu, and then select Disk Management to check. Select the drive on which Windows is installed (usually Disk 0 on most PCs, but this may not always be the case if you have numerous hard drives), right-click, select Properties, and then select the Volumes tab. This is the time when you will need to convert the drive if your partition style is indicated as MBR.
How to change Windows 10's MBR to GPT format:
- Open Settings, then Windows Update, then Recovery, and click "Restart now" under "Advanced startup."
- When your PC reboots, click the Troubleshoot button, then Advanced options, then Command Prompt.
- In the Command Prompt window, type
mbr2gpt /validateto check to make sure the drive can
be converted. Then, typembr2gpt /convertto convert the drive. - When it's finished, re-enable Secure Boot in your BIOS, and your PC should boot normally.
The simplest course of action in the event that this conversion is unsuccessful could be to completely reinstall Windows 10 or 11 with Secure Boot enabled. GPT will be used in place of MBR when you format the drive and install Windows from a bootable USB stick.
What Software Requirements for install windows 11?
The simple workaround for evading TPM, Microsoft account, and Secure Boot requirements: Make use of Rufus
Although more difficult, systems without support for Secure Boot or a TPM are nonetheless manageable. Those of you who would rather know precisely which settings you're altering and why will find a detailed explanation of all the procedures you need to follow to manually circumvent Windows 11's install restrictions.
However, since Windows 11 was released, Rufus, an open-source program, has been able to eliminate the Microsoft Account requirement for Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 22H2, as well as add features that automate some of the install tips we include below.
You'll need a USB disk that is 8GB or bigger and a Windows 11 ISO that you downloaded from Microsoft in order to utilize Rufus. With all other settings at their default, choose the USB device and the ISO file from within Rufus, then click Start. A confirmation pop-up will then ask you if you wish to modify your installation. Here is where you can select which install checks to omit, such as the RAM and storage requirements (though we don't advise doing so), in addition to the Secure Boot and TPM requirements.
It should be noted that the Rufus utility just restores the installer to the Windows 10 state, not completely removes the Microsoft account sign-in need. Even if you have an Internet connection during setup, you will still need to log in before proceeding. You will notice a "limited setup" fallback option if you disconnect your PC, which will allow you to continue using a local Windows account.
Importantly, after you install Windows 11, you may still use Secure Boot and TPM capabilities even if you remove these required checks via Rufus or another technique. Without compromising security or functionality, Windows 11 may be installed on both supported and unsupported devices using the same Rufus-made USB stick.
Importantly, after you install Windows 11, you may still use Secure Boot and TPM capabilities even if you remove these required checks via Rufus or another technique. Without compromising security or functionality, Windows 11 may be installed on both supported and unsupported devices using the same Rufus-made USB stick.
Installation Manually on a Computer without a TPM or secure Boot
If you prefer not to use Rufus, you can get a vanilla Windows USB installer to function on a system that lacks a TPM, support for Secure Boot, or both by making a few relatively easy registry adjustments. (A clean install is your best option, as far as I can tell, as there's no way to perform an upgrade install from within Windows 10 on one of these older computers.)
- Once you've booted to the Windows 11 Setup screen, press Shift + F10 to open a Command Prompt
window, typeregeditand press Enter to open the Registry Editor. - Navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup. Right-click theSetupfolder and create
a new key calledLabConfig(as with all registry edits, this is case-sensitive). - Right-click the
LabConfigfolder and create one new DWORD value
namedBypassTPMCheckand another namedBypassSecureBootCheck. If your PC has
Secure Boot but no TPM (or vice-versa), you can omit the key you don't need. - Double-click each entry you just created and change the values from 0 to 1. Proceed with the install as you normally would.
This method will allow you to install Windows 10 on any device that can support the higher CPU requirements of the 24H2 upgrade. On more recent machines, when Secure Boot was turned off for whatever reason, this technique ought to also function. However, I believe that in those situations, turning on Secure Boot, installing Windows 11, and then turning it off again is the simpler course of action.
What dangers come with using an unsupported computer to run Windows 11?
The main risk you assume when using an unsupported Windows 11 PC is the one Microsoft makes you aware of when you install the operating system: the corporation has the right to prevent certain devices from receiving updates, including security patches.
I don't think Microsoft is going to just cease updating these computers at random, based on the past three years. However, since Microsoft is not required to continue supporting these machines, it may choose to make internal modifications that prevent these PCs from running Windows 11 at all. This is similar to what happened with the 24H2 update.
I don't think Microsoft is going to just cease updating these computers at random, based on the past three years. However, since Microsoft is not required to continue supporting these machines, it may choose to make internal modifications that prevent these PCs from running Windows 11 at all. This is similar to what happened with the 24H2 update.
Furthermore, your unsupported PC may not be completely safe even if it is receiving current Windows security updates. Disk encryption capabilities that are advantageous to more recent PCs will be absent from systems without TPMs. Antiquated and vulnerable driver software has very little chance of getting patched. At most, firmware-level security flaws will seldom, if ever, have fixes available (although some applications can offer mitigations), which is one reason to at least keep Windows updated on these machines.
Relying on outdated drivers may also put your computer at risk of instability and incompatibility, particularly if it was built before 2015 or 2016. Although they are not on Microsoft's list of supported processors, first-generation AMD Ryzen chips and sixth and seventh-generation Intel Core processors at least support the sorts of contemporary "DCH" drivers that Microsoft mentions in relation to Windows 11 system stability.
Relying on outdated drivers may also put your computer at risk of instability and incompatibility, particularly if it was built before 2015 or 2016. Although they are not on Microsoft's list of supported processors, first-generation AMD Ryzen chips and sixth and seventh-generation Intel Core processors at least support the sorts of contemporary "DCH" drivers that Microsoft mentions in relation to Windows 11 system stability.
However, the further back in time you go, the greater the chance of seeing outdated graphics, trackpad, or networking drivers, which, if malfunctioning, might lead to serious issues. Furthermore, there is generally no motivation for PC makers and chipmakers to revert back to their 2013-era chips and develop new drivers or verify that their old ones are still functional.
