Have you been wondering \u00ab\u00a0can my PC run Windows 11?\u00a0\u00bb If so, we’ve got answers. Kind of Microsoft’s made things confusing, but here’s what we know so far.<\/b>
\nThe latest tech news Your sardonic source for consumer tech stories Human-centric AI news and analysis Driving the future of sustainable mobility No-nonsense stories about startup growth Inside money, markets, and Big Tech Help build the bank of the future Coding for Public Service Small country, big ideas Microsoft just released the first public and stable beta for Windows 11, but not everyone will be able to install it. Even though Windows 11 appears to be more of a visual overhaul than a dramatic reinvention of the OS, Microsoft has made some key changes that make it exclusive to newer hardware. Even some of the company\u2019s own Surface devices won\u2019t be able to run Windows 11, so here\u2019s how to find out if your PC will. These are the official minimum specs for Windows 11: There are some other requirements for specific features, but these are the basic ones needed to get things running. At first glance, that doesn\u2019t seem bad at all.1GHz processor,4GB of RAM,64GB of storage? Even computers from 10 years ago could do that. But there are other factors. Even if your old desktop PC is more powerful than today\u2019s typical laptop, you might be out of luck. For some older computers, the requirement for TPM 2.0 is something that Microsoft has stated is absolutely necessary. But the compatibility is a combination of multiple factors, and even some computers with TPM 2.0 aren\u2019t able to run Windows 11 \u2014 including Microsoft\u2019s Surface Studio 2, which was released in 2018. Microsft has said that only Intel processors from 8th Gen and above will be supported (the aforementioned Surface Studio used a 7th Gen processor), and you\u2019ll likewise not all AMD processors will be allowed. No, not necessarily. Microsoft is letting Windows Insiders run Windows 11 previews on hardware that isn\u2019t officially supported. However, these folks will not be able to install the final version of the OS when that goes live later this year. TPM is a security module that can be either a physical chip or a cryptographic key embedded in your processor. It essentially keeps your drive encrypted before bootup to keep you safe from cyber miscreants. Your PC checks the key before booting up, and if something is wrong, it will keep your contents locked up. Microsoft is trying to make Windows safer going forward, but to do so it needs to leave some older hardware behind. There are many ways to check if your PC is compatible with TPM 2.0. The easiest way might be looking for it in Device Manager. Press the Windows button on your keyboard or click on the Start menu button and type \u2018Device Manager.\u2019 Click that. You should see a list of your PC\u2019s components. Look for an item that says \u2018Security Devices.\u2019 Expand that, and you should see Trusted Platform Module 2.0. If you see TPM 1.2 instead \u2014 or nothing at all \u2014 you won\u2019t be able to run Windows 11. If you have TPM 2.0 but still aren\u2019t sure if your processor is compatible, Microsoft has made some lists of specifically compatible hardware. Here are the lists for AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm CPUs. But keep in mind this list might not be definitive \u2014 some people on different processors appear to be able to run the OS, and things can still change between now and release. Microsoft initially released a \u2018PC Health Check\u2019 app to let users know if Windows 11 is compatible with their PC. But at the time of posting this article, the company has temporarily removed the tool while it makes some changes to provide users more information on their rejection. Still, you might want to see if the tool is ready to download by the time you read this; you\u2019ll find it by going to Microsoft\u2019s Windows 11 page and scrolling down to the \u2018check for compatibility\u2019 section. If you\u2019d like to take a third-party approach, you can download the WhyNotWin11 tool by developer rcmaehl on GitHub. It\u2019ll scan your system and let you know if it can run Windows 11 based on current known requirements. Just keep in mind there\u2019s a chance it can be wrong, being an unofficial tool and all. Hopefully, you\u2019ll know by now whether you can run Microsoft\u2019s latest and greatest OS. Good luck! Did you know we have a newsletter all about consumer tech? It\u2019s called Plugged In \u2013 and you can subscribe to it right here.<\/p>\n