Windows 11 requires a 1 GHz or faster processor with two or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or system on a chip, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB or more of available storage, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability, TPM version 2.0, and a DirectX 12 compatible graphics card.
The TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirements are what block most otherwise capable machines. Many computers have TPM 2.0 present but disabled in firmware, so a machine reported as incompatible is frequently fixable in the BIOS rather than genuinely too old.
Minimum System Requirements
Microsoft publishes the following minimum requirements.
- Processor: 1 GHz or faster with two or more cores, on a compatible 64-bit processor or system on a chip
- RAM: 4 GB or greater
- Storage: 64 GB or greater available disk space
- System firmware: UEFI, Secure Boot capable
- TPM: Trusted Platform Module version 2.0
- Graphics card: DirectX 12 compatible
- Display: high definition, greater than 9 inches diagonally
- Internet connection and a Microsoft account required for some editions and features
Recommended System Requirements
The published figures are minimums for the operating system itself, not for a good experience. Four gigabytes of RAM will run Windows 11 but leaves little headroom once a browser and other applications are open, and 8 GB or more is a more realistic working baseline.
Storage is the other figure worth exceeding. Sixty-four gigabytes accommodates the installation but leaves very little room for updates, which require free space to install, and feature updates have repeatedly caused problems on nearly full drives.
Operating System and Hardware Requirements
The processor requirement is not only about speed. Microsoft maintains lists of supported processor models, and a fast processor not on the list is still unsupported. Check the model rather than only the clock speed and core count.
TPM 2.0 is a hardware security module. On many machines it exists but is switched off, appearing in firmware settings under names such as TPM, PTT for Intel systems or fTPM for AMD systems. Enabling it there resolves the check without new hardware.
Secure Boot similarly must be enabled and requires the disk to use GPT partitioning rather than the older MBR scheme. Converting a disk is possible but back up first.
RAM, Storage and Graphics Requirements
RAM above the 4 GB minimum makes the largest practical difference to how the system feels, particularly with multiple browser tabs open.
A solid-state drive is not a formal requirement but transforms responsiveness compared with a mechanical hard drive, and it matters more than a faster processor for everyday use.
The DirectX 12 requirement is met by essentially any graphics hardware from the last decade. It is rarely the reason a machine fails the check.
Compatibility and Performance Notes
Use the official PC Health Check application to see which specific requirement your machine fails, rather than guessing. It names the failing item, which tells you whether it is a firmware setting or genuinely unsupported hardware.
Requirements can change across Windows 11 feature updates, and Microsoft has adjusted supported processor lists over time. Check the current specification for the version you intend to install.
Where a machine is genuinely unsupported, running Windows 10 past its support date leaves it without security updates. Weigh that against the cost of replacement rather than ignoring it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the minimum requirements for Windows 11?
A 1 GHz or faster dual-core 64-bit processor, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage, UEFI with Secure Boot, TPM 2.0 and DirectX 12 compatible graphics.
Why does my PC fail the TPM check?
TPM 2.0 is frequently present but disabled in firmware. Look for TPM, Intel PTT or AMD fTPM in your BIOS settings and enable it.
Is 4 GB of RAM enough?
It meets the minimum but leaves little headroom. Eight gigabytes or more is a more realistic working baseline.
How do I check compatibility?
Use the official PC Health Check application, which names the specific requirement your machine fails.
Source: Microsoft official Windows 11 specifications, checked August 2026. Confirm the current specification for the version you intend to install, since Microsoft has revised supported processor lists over time. See system requirements and browse all technology requirements.