How to Fix the “This PC Can’t Run Windows 11” Error? Your Complete Guide is Here

On June 24, Microsoft announced Windows 11 officially and released a tool called “PC Health Check” for Windows 10 users to see if their machines are compatible with the new operating system. PC Health Check displays one of two results:

This PC can run Windows 11. Great, this PC meets all the system requirements for Windows 11.

This PC can't run Windows 11. This PC doesn't meet the system requirements for Windows 11.

If you received the first message, congratulations – you can upgrade to Windows 11 without any issues, and it will run smoothly on your device. However, if you saw the second error message, it means that your current computer is incompatible with Windows 11, and you won't be able to install it directly. Follow this guide, and we'll show you how to fix the error that prevents your PC from running Windows 11.

Error: This PC can't run Windows 11

"What does 'This PC can't run Windows 11' mean?" This is an error message displayed by the PC Health Check app, a tool used to check the compatibility with Windows 11. You will encounter the "This PC can't run Windows 11" error when your computer does not meet the following minimum system requirements for Windows 11:

Due to varying levels of computer hardware compatibility with Windows 11, the "This PC can't run Windows 11" error message might differ. Here's a list of all error messages that the PC Health Check tool might display. If you encounter one of these, follow the corresponding solution to fix your computer issue:

• This PC can't run Windows 11. Secure Boot is required.
• This PC can't run Windows 11. The system disk needs to be 64 GB or larger.
• This PC can't run Windows 11. The processor isn't supported by Windows 11.
• This PC can't run Windows 11. TPM 2.0 is required to run Windows 11.
• And more...

So, how to fix these issues and let your PC install the Windows 11 update? Follow the respective solution for each problem and get your computer updated or installed with Windows 11 right now.

#2 Guide: How to Fix "This PC Can't Run Windows 11. Your PC must support Secure Boot" Error

The detailed error message is: "This PC can't run Windows 11. Your PC must support Secure Boot. Although this PC doesn't meet the system requirements to run Windows 11, you'll continue to receive Windows 10 updates."

Most modern Windows 10/8 computers come with Secure Boot enabled. It's a security feature that keeps your computer safe, and you'll need to turn on Secure Boot if you're updating or installing Windows 11.

How to Fix Guide:

1. Check if your system supports Secure Boot

Step 1: Press Windows key + R, type msinfo32.exe, and press Enter.

Open System Information from the Run dialog box

Step 2: In the System Information window, select Software > System Summary.

Step 3: Scroll down to look for a section named Secure Boot State, as shown below.

If Secure Boot State says “Disabled,” your computer supports Secure Boot, and you can skip to Part 3 to enable it.

If the Secure Boot state says “Unsupported,” it means your computer's hardware doesn't support Secure Boot. To fix this, proceed to the next section to check if your computer supports the UEFI mode.

Check the status of Secure Boot support

2. Check if your computer supports UEFI mode

Step 1:  Restart your computer and press F2/F10/Delete to enter BIOS.

Step 2. Look for the Boot Mode section in the boot menu to see if your computer supports UEFI.

If you see an entry for "UEFI Mode," that means your computer supports booting in this way. If it's currently disabled, proceed to the next guide to enable UEFI and Safe Mode.

Note that if your PC doesn't support UEFI mode, you won't be able to enable Secure Boot and upgrade to Windows 11.

3. Enable UEFI mode and Secure Boot

Enable UEFI mode:

Step 1: Open Disk Management and check if the system disk is of GPT type.

If not, convert the OS disk to a GPT disk first, because UEFI and Secure Boot require the GPT disk type.

Here, we recommend using the Partition Master Professional tool with disk conversion capability. It can convert a disk to MBR or GPT without deleting any data or partitions.

Step 2. After the conversion, restart your computer and enter the BIOS. Go to the Boot menu, click on Boot Mode, and select “UEFI.”

Step 3: Save the changes and restart your computer.

Enable Secure Boot:

Step 1. Restart your computer and enter the BIOS settings again.

Step 2. Access the boot menu and enable Secure Boot.

After this process is done, you should now be able to proceed with installing the Windows 11 update on your computer.

Guideline 2: How to Resolve the Error "This PC Can't Run Windows 11. System disk needs to be 64 GB or larger."

Detailed error message: "This PC can't run Windows 11. Your system disk needs to be 64 GB or larger. Though this PC doesn't meet the system requirements for running Windows 11, it will still receive Windows 10 updates."

This error message indicates that your system disk space is running low, which often happens on older computers. Here are two suggestions for you:

1. If your computer is older than 2015, we recommend staying with Windows 10.

2. If your computer is new but the system disk has too small space, you can upgrade the system disk to solve this issue.

Title: How to Upgrade the OS Disk to a Larger One: A Step-by-Step Guide Introduction: In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of upgrading your operating system (OS) disk to a larger one, ensuring that you have ample storage space for all your applications, files, and system requirements. The instructions provided here assume a UTF-8 encoded environment. Step 1: Back up your data Before beginning any major system change, it's crucial to back up all important files and data. Use an external hard drive or cloud storage service to safeguard your documents, photos, and other essential items. Step 2: Check your current disk information Open the Disk Management utility on your computer to view the current disk details. On Windows, press Win+R, type "diskmgmt.msc," and hit Enter. On macOS, open "Disk Utility" from the Utilities folder within Applications. Identify the OS disk and note its size and partition layout. Step 3: Choose a new larger disk Purchase a new, larger internal or external hard drive with the desired capacity. Ensure it's compatible with your system and has a faster interface (e.g., SATA III, NVMe, or USB 3.0). Step 4: Create a system image Windows users can use the built-in "Create a system image" tool found in Settings > Update & Security > Backup. macOS users should create a bootable clone of their system disk using tools like Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper!. Step 5: Connect the new disk Connect the new, larger disk to your computer. If using an external drive, make sure it's properly connected via USB, Thunderbolt, or another supported interface. Step 6: Clone the OS disk Use a cloning software such as Clonezilla, Acronis True Image, or macOS's Disk Utility to clone your existing OS disk to the new, larger one. Follow the software's instructions carefully, selecting the source (current OS disk) and destination (new disk) appropriately. Step 7: Verify the clone Boot from the new disk to ensure that the clone was successful and everything is functioning correctly. If there are any issues, refer to the cloning software's support resources. Step 8: Remove the old disk and expand the partition Once you've verified the new disk works, safely remove the original OS disk. In Disk Management (Windows) or Disk Utility (macOS), expand the partition on the new disk to utilize the full available space. Step 9: Update system settings and boot order If using an internal drive, update your BIOS/UEFI settings to set the new disk as the primary boot device. This step may not be necessary for external drives, as they typically boot automatically when connected. Step 10: Restore your data Connect your backup drive and restore any additional user files that weren't included in the system image or clone. Conclusion: By following these steps, you should now have successfully upgraded your OS disk to a larger one without losing any data or causing disruptions to your system. Remember to keep your backups up to date and always proceed cautiously when making changes to your computer's hardware or software.

1. Purchase and prepare a new hard drive - preferably an SSD

• The new disk must have a capacity greater than 64 GB. • It is recommended to use an SSD when replacing the system disk. • In Disk Management, initialize the disk: right-click on the SSD > Initialize > Select "GPT".

2. Move the operating system to the new disk

It is recommended that you migrate your operating system to the new disk and keep your data on the old one, which is the best way to optimize your computer's performance.

AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional features the “Migrate OS to HDD/SSD” function, which can easily transfer your operating system and installed applications to a new disk in just a few steps.

Note: If there isn't enough unallocated space on the target disk, migrating the operating system to an SSD or HDD will delete and remove existing partitions and data on the target disk. Back up any important data on it to an external hard drive beforehand.

Step 1: From the left-hand menu, choose “Clone.” Select “Migrate the operating system,” then click “Next” to proceed.

Step 2. Select the target disk to which you want to clone. Click “Next”.

Step 3: Review the warning message, then click “OK”. All data and partitions on the target disk will be erased. Make sure you have backed up all important data beforehand. If not, do it now.

Step 4. Preview the layout of the target disk. You can also click on the Layout Options to customize the layout of the target disk as needed. Then, click "Start" to begin migrating the operating system to the new disk.

Step 5: When you see the confirmation message “If you want to boot your computer from the cloned disk”, check the box next to “Change the boot order to boot from the cloned disk”, then click the appropriate button for your needs.

• Reboot Now: Restarts the computer immediately and boots the operating system from the new disk.
• Finish Later: Completes the change at a later time.

When it's done, restart your computer as prompted. If necessary, enter your BIOS and set the new SSD as the boot drive.

Once your computer restarts, you can now proceed with the Windows 11 update process.

Guideline 3: How to Fix the Error "This PC Can't Run Windows 11. Your processor doesn't support Windows 11."

Error message in detail: This PC can't run Windows 11. The processor is not supported for Windows 11. Because this PC doesn't meet the system requirements to run Windows 11, you'll continue to receive Windows 10 updates.

This error message indicates that your computer's processor is not in the list of supported processors.

How to fix it:

1. Check your processor

Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, and click Task Manager. Go to the Performance tab, and check the CPU generation. (The CPU is also called a processor.)

**2. Check if your processor is compatible with Windows 11**

Go to the Intel processors for Windows 11 page to see if your processor is on the list.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/supported/windows-11-supported-intel-processors

3 Ways to Fix an Unsupported Processor

• Option 1: Stay on Windows 10
• Option 2: Replace the processor at a local computer repair shop.
• Option 3: Replace the processor yourself. (Risky) Learn how to upgrade your CPU.

Editor's suggestion: It's recommended to use the current operating system for security purposes.

Guideline 4: How to Resolve the "This PC Can't Run Windows 11. TPM 2.0 is required to run Windows 11" Error

Detailed error: This PC can't run Windows 11. TPM 2.0 is required to run Windows 11. It's recommended that you check if TPM 2.0 is enabled.

The error message carries two implications: 1. Your PC has a TPM chip but it's not enabled; 2. Your PC doesn't have a TPM 2.0 chip, making it ineligible for the Windows 11 upgrade. How to fix this? Check out the solutions below.

How to fix:

< strong > 1. Check if your computer has a Trusted Platform Module

Step 1: Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard, then type tpm.msc in the Run dialog box and press Enter.

Step 2. With the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Utility open, check whether the TPM is in use.

If it does, you'll see it under “Status,” marked as TPM is ready to use.

Step 3. Under TPM Manufacturer Information, you can view the TPM version.

If it's TPM 2.0, your computer can install and run Windows 11. Proceed to the guide on how to enable it.

But if it doesn't have a TPM 2.0, or has an earlier version, that means no Windows 11 for you.

Editor's suggestion: It's best to stick with your current computer operating system if your PC warns that it "didn't find a compatible TPM" or if your TPM module is version 1.2 or lower.

2. Enable a TPM 2.0 chip to install Windows 11

Step 1: Restart your computer and press F2/F10/Delete to enter the BIOS.

Step 2: Click on the left to enter the “Security” menu.

Step 3. Check the TPM state and change it to Enabled if it's set to Disabled.

Step 4. Save the changes and exit the BIOS.

You can now restart your computer to get the Windows 11 update on your PC successfully.

Not being able to run Windows 11 isn't the end of the world, fix it now and install Windows 11 on your PC

On this page, we explain the “This PC can't run Windows 11” error mainly occurs when you use the Microsoft PC Health Check app to check your computer's compatibility with Windows 11.

You'll see this error when there's a compatibility issue with your PC. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to resolve the error and get your system ready for the new OS. We've gathered four common error messages and their corresponding fixes for you.

If you encountered one of them, follow the instructions to fix it, and then get your PC ready for Windows 11 right now.

Frequently Asked Questions About "This PC Can't Run Windows 11"

We've listed four main errors related to “This PC can't run Windows 11” that users running Windows 11 have encountered while using the PC Health Check app. According to some Windows users, they seem to be encountering similar issues when trying to install Windows 11 through the Insider program.

If you see one of these, follow the troubleshooting guide for that error.

How can I resolve the issue "This PC can't run Windows 11. TPM 2.0 is required. Secure Boot is required."?

To address this issue, you can refer to Guide 1 and Guide 2 for assistance. Alternatively, you can follow the steps outlined below:

1. First, verify if your computer supports Secure Boot and TPM 2.0. 2. If it doesn't, continue using Windows 10 or your current operating system. 3. If it does, enter the BIOS and enable UEFI mode, along with turning on Secure Boot. Also, activate the TPM mode.

**How to fix "This PC can't run Windows 11. RAM must be at least 4GB"?**

This issue can occur when there's not enough RAM. If your processor meets the requirements for Windows 11, you can resolve this issue by adding more memory to your computer.

• In most cases, the new RAM should be from the same brand as your current RAM. • If your computer doesn't have any open RAM slots, replace your old RAM stick with a larger one.

3. Why do I get the "PC doesn't meet the requirements for Windows 11" message?

First, it is important to understand that the “This PC can't run Windows 11” error is not caused by the Windows 11 compatibility check tools, such as PC Health Check or WhyNotWin11.

The reason your PC is incompatible with Windows 11 is that the operating system has certain minimum system requirements for your computer.

Compatibility issues arise when the hardware or software on your computer doesn't meet the demands of the new operating system. Let's review Windows 11's requirements one more time:

• UEFI and Secure Boot must be enabled.
• TPM 2.0 chip must be activated.
• The operating system disk storage should be 64GB or larger.
• The processor must be an Intel Core processor from 2017 or later, or an AMD Zen 2 processor from 2019 or later.
• At least 4GB of RAM or more is required.
• The graphics card needs to be DirectX12-compatible or newer with a WDDM 2.0 driver.
• The display resolution must be 720P or higher.