Not sure whether your PC supports Windows 11, or why Windows Update says it doesn't? Microsoft's PC Health Check app checks hardware eligibility and identifies unmet requirements. Start with that result, then investigate any TPM or Secure Boot failure and refresh Windows Update after making changes.
Start with Microsoft's PC Health Check
PC Health Check tells you whether your Windows 10 PC meets Windows 11's hardware requirements.
Search the taskbar for PC Health Check.
Open PC Health Check if it appears in the results.
If the app isn't installed, open Microsoft's Windows 11 specifications page.
Find Check for compatibility.
Select Download PC Health Check app.
Install the downloaded app.
Open PC Health Check.
Install any offered app update.
Select Check now.
Read the eligibility result, including the explanation of each unmet requirement.
See what Windows Update offers
Windows Update shows upgrade availability; upgrading through it requires Windows 10 version 2004 or later.
- 1.On Windows 10, open Start > Settings.
- 2.Select Update & Security.
- 3.Open Windows Update.
- 4.Select Check for updates.
- 5.Read the Windows 11 offer or eligibility message. A missing offer does not establish that your hardware is incompatible. Check hardware requirements opens a webpage; it does not scan your PC.
Investigate a TPM 2.0 blocker
Press Windows+R to open Run.
Enter tpm.msc.
Select OK.
Check Specification Version under TPM Manufacturer Information. Windows 11 requires 2.0. A missing compatible TPM result does not tell you whether the TPM is absent or disabled.
To investigate a disabled TPM on Windows 10, open Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
Select Restart now.
Follow Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart.
Inspect the manufacturer's TPM setting. Names vary by model and include Intel PTT, Intel Platform Trust Technology, AMD fTPM switch, and AMD PSP fTPM.
Enable the supported TPM using your model's instructions.
Return to Windows.
Select Check now in PC Health Check again.
Use the full eligibility result to judge the PC, because TPM 2.0 satisfies only one requirement.
Check what Secure Boot being off means
Windows 11 requires UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability. Secure Boot being off does not establish that the PC lacks that capability.
Press Windows+R to open Run.
Enter msinfo32.
Press Enter to open System Information.
Select System Summary.
Inspect Secure Boot State. On confirms that Secure Boot is enabled.
If the capability remains unclear or PC Health Check still reports a Secure Boot problem, consult your model's documentation for its UEFI and Secure Boot configuration before changing the boot mode.
Refresh an eligibility result after changes
This refresh updates a stale Windows Update assessment after hardware or firmware changes.
Search the taskbar for Task Scheduler.
Open Task Scheduler, providing administrator access if prompted.
Navigate to Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Application Experience.
Right-click Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser.
Select Run.
Use Action > Refresh to update the display.
Wait for Status to show Ready.
Return to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
Select Check for updates. Automatic eligibility refresh otherwise takes up to 24 hours; refreshing does not bypass any requirements.
Compare the requirements behind your result
Windows 11 requires an approved 64-bit processor with at least two cores at 1 GHz and 4 GB of RAM. Settings > System > About shows the processor, RAM, and architecture under Device specifications. The exact processor model must meet Microsoft's requirements; clock speed alone isn't enough.
Settings > System > Storage shows storage information; the minimum is a 64 GB storage device. Alongside TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot capability, Windows 11 requires DirectX 12-compatible graphics with WDDM 2.0 and a display larger than 9 inches supporting 720p and 8 bits per color channel. PC Health Check doesn't check the graphics card or display, so compare those two requirements yourself. Individual checks explain failures but do not establish overall eligibility.
Hardware eligibility and upgrade readiness differ: apps or drivers can also block installation. For an incompatible app on What needs your attention, Learn more or update instead provides the update route, and Refresh checks again after the app is updated. No action is needed means waiting for the known issue to be resolved.
Manufacturer support is a separate check against your exact model and intended release. Dell's compatibility matrix lists tested models by release, including 24H2 and 25H2. Lenovo's Windows 11 24H2 list covers that release, not every later Windows 11 version.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a website check my PC without downloading anything?
Microsoft's compatibility webpage supplies the PC Health Check download, not a browser-based hardware scan. Manufacturer model lists establish model support rather than assessing your PC's current configuration.
Should I use WhyNotWin11 for a second opinion?
WhyNotWin11 supplies per-requirement results as a supplementary check. Open the developer's GitHub repository, select Download latest stable release, and run the downloaded checker. Use Microsoft's assessment as the primary result.
What if my work PC passes but Windows 11 isn't offered?
Organizations control upgrade offers on managed PCs. Ask your IT team about your device's upgrade availability. Administrators with the required Intune setup can also inspect readiness reports for hardware, app, and driver issues.
Can I check compatibility with Installation Assistant without installing Windows 11?
Yes. Run Installation Assistant with administrator access on an x64 PC running Windows 10 version 2004 or later. If prompted, run PC Health Check, then select Refresh in Installation Assistant. Read the result and stop before Accept and install. Installation Assistant does not run on Arm PCs.
