How to Check if Your PC Can Run Windows 11

Open the PC Health Check app and select Check now under Introducing Windows 11. It tells you if your PC meets the Windows 11 requirements, and why if it doesn’t. You can also select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates on Windows 10.

Applies to: PCs running Windows 10 that you want to upgrade. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 29, 2026.

Check with PC Health Check

1. Select Search on the taskbar, type PC Health Check, and open it. If you don’t have it, get it from Microsoft at aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp.
2. Under Introducing Windows 11, select Check now.

3. Read the result. See all results shows each requirement.

Check in Windows Update

On Windows 10, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, then select Check for updates. If your PC is ready, you’ll see an offer to upgrade to Windows 11.

What Windows 11 needs

The main requirements are:

• A supported 64-bit processor
• At least 4 GB of memory (RAM) and 64 GB of storage
• TPM version 2.0
• Secure Boot support (UEFI)
• A supported version of Windows 10

PC Health Check checks all of these for you. To see your processor and memory yourself, see how to check your PC specs in Windows 11.

If your PC doesn’t meet the requirements

• If the problem is TPM or Secure Boot, they’re often just turned off. See how to check and enable TPM in Windows 10.
• If the processor isn’t supported, the PC can’t get the Windows 11 upgrade. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, and Extended Security Updates for home users only run until October 12, 2027, so plan for a newer PC.
• Sometimes Microsoft holds back the upgrade because of a known issue with an app or driver. PC Health Check tells you when that happens, and the upgrade comes later.

The full list of requirements

Part	Minimum
Processor	1 GHz or faster, 2 or more cores, 64-bit, on Microsoft’s supported list
Memory (RAM)	4 GB or more
Storage	64 GB or larger drive
System firmware	UEFI, capable of Secure Boot
TPM	Trusted Platform Module version 2.0
Graphics	DirectX 12 compatible with a WDDM 2.0 driver
Display	Larger than 9 inches, at least 720p (HD)
Internet and account	Needed for updates; Windows 11 Home setup also needs a Microsoft account

On older PCs, the processor, TPM, and Secure Boot are the parts that most often block the upgrade.

Check the requirements yourself

• TPM: press Windows + R, type tpm.msc, and press Enter. Under TPM Manufacturer Information, Specification Version should start with 2.0. If it says a compatible TPM can’t be found, TPM may be turned off in the PC’s UEFI settings.
• Secure Boot and UEFI: press Windows + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter. Look for BIOS Mode: UEFI and Secure Boot State. “Off” means it’s supported but turned off; “Unsupported” usually means the PC is in Legacy BIOS mode.
• Processor: in the same window, note the Processor name. Most Intel 8th-generation and AMD Ryzen 2000-series or newer chips are supported. Microsoft publishes the full lists.

If your drive uses Legacy BIOS (MBR)

If msinfo32 shows BIOS Mode: Legacy, Secure Boot can’t be turned on until the system drive uses GPT instead of MBR. Windows includes a tool that converts it without deleting your files:

1. Back up your files first.
2. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run mbr2gpt /validate /allowFullOS. If it reports that validation completed successfully, continue.
3. Run mbr2gpt /convert /allowFullOS.
4. Restart, enter the UEFI settings, switch the boot mode from Legacy or CSM to UEFI, and turn on Secure Boot.

If you skip the last step, the PC won’t start from the converted drive. Change the setting back to Legacy to boot again, then try once more.

Refresh the check after changing hardware

Windows Update rechecks eligibility on a schedule, so it may still say the PC isn’t eligible after you turn on TPM or upgrade parts. To run the check right away:

1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Run schtasks.exe /Run /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser".
3. Wait a few minutes, then go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates.

You can also run the same task from Task Scheduler under Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Application Experience. Right-click Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser and select Run.

If PC Health Check gives a result you don’t expect

• It says TPM or Secure Boot is missing after you turned them on. Restart the PC and run the check again. Select Refresh in PC Health Check if it doesn’t update.
• It won’t install or open. Download the latest version from Microsoft’s Windows 11 page and run the installer again.
• Windows Update says the PC is eligible but nothing downloads. Microsoft may be holding the upgrade back on your model for a known issue. Leave it a few weeks, or use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant from Microsoft.

Frequently asked questions

Is my PC already on Windows 11?

See how to tell if you have Windows 10 or Windows 11.

My PC is eligible. How do I upgrade?

See how to upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11.

Can I install Windows 11 on an unsupported PC anyway?

There are workarounds, but Microsoft doesn’t support them. Such PCs may not get updates and aren’t covered by Microsoft support, so it’s not a good option for a PC you rely on.

Is the upgrade to Windows 11 free?

Yes, for eligible PCs running a genuine copy of Windows 10. Your files and most apps come with you.

To turn on TPM or Secure Boot, see how to enter BIOS (UEFI) in Windows 11.

If an older program won’t run on Windows 11, see how to run a program in compatibility mode.

Microsoft’s references are How to use the PC Health Check app and Can I upgrade to Windows 11?. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.