Every Windows user is excited to use the new operating system version released by Microsoft this year. However, this time Microsoft seems to get stricter with minimum Windows 11 requirements. Be it hardware, processor, or feature based requirements, your PC should meet them all for a free Windows 11 upgrade. Let’s see what the minimum Windows 11 system requirements are.
What are Windows 11 Requirements?
There are feature-specific requirements and basic Windows 11 requirements that your computer should meet to run Windows 11 operating system smoothly. You can check out all the requirements below.
Basic System Requirements for Windows 11
The below table lists basic system requirements needed to run Windows 11. It includes software as well as hardware requirements for Windows 11.
Processor | A compatible 64-bit processor or System on Chip (SoC) with 2 or more core and 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster speed. |
RAM (Random Access Memory) | 4 GB (gigabyte) RAM |
Storage | 64 GB or more |
System firmware | UEFI, which is Secure Boot capable |
TPM (Trusted Platform Module) | TPM version 2.0 |
Graphics card | DirectX 12 or later, with WDDM 2.0 driver |
Display | HD (high definition) display with 720p, more than 9” diagonally along with 8 bits per color channel |
You will also require Internet connectivity and a Microsoft account, primarily if you use Windows 11 Home edition. In the case of other editions, you will need an Internet connection to perform basic activities like downloading, installing updates, and accessing some features.
If the single system requirement is not met, Windows 11 upgrade won’t be possible.
Feature-specific Windows 11 Requirements
To explore Windows 11 fully, you may need some additional requirements. And these feature specific requirements may exceed the minimum requirements of Windows 11.
Features | Requirements/Needs |
5G support | 5G capable modem |
Auto HDR | HDR monitor |
BitLocker to Go | A USB flash drive (available only in Windows Pro and above edition) |
Client Hyper-V | SLAT (second-level address translation) capabilities processor |
Cortana | Speaker and microphone (available in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States) |
DirectStorage | NVMe SSD to store and run games that make use of a DirectX12 GPU with Shader Model 6.0 support and Standard NVM Express Controller driver |
DirectX 12 Ultimate | Available with graphic chips and supported games |
Presence | A sensor that senses human distance from the device along with the intent to use the device |
Intelligent Video Conferencing | Speaker, microphone, and video camera |
Multiple Voice Assistant (MVA) | Microphone and speaker |
Snap | For a three-column layout, a screen that is 1920 effective pixels or greater in width is needed |
Mute/Unmute from Taskbar | Speaker, microphone, and video camera |
Spatial Sound | Supporting software and hardware |
Microsoft Teams | Speaker, microphone, and video camera |
Touch | Screen/Monitor with multi-touch support |
Two-factor Authentication | Use of pin, a phone with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capabilities, biometric (fingerprint reader or illuminated infrared camera) |
Voice Typing | Microphone |
Wake on Voice | Microphone and Modern Standby power model |
Wi-Fi 6E | new WLAN IHV hardware and driver along with Wi-Fi 6E capable AP/router |
Windows Hello | A camera configured for near IR imaging or fingerprint reader for biometric authentication. Devices that do not have a camera or fingerprint reader can use this feature with a portable Microsoft compatible security key or PIN |
Windows Projection | Wi-Fi adapter that supports Wi-Fi Direct and a display adapter that supports Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) 2.0 |
Xbox (app) | Xbox Live account. To use some features in Xbox app, you will require an active Xbox Game Pass subscription, which is sold separately. |
You can make the most out of Windows 11 features if you have a device with the capabilities mentioned above.
Conclusion
You cannot install Windows 11 fairly if the minimum system requirements are not met. There are always tweaks that can be made to use Windows 11 on an unsupported PC. However, Microsoft says that the update won’t be available on such devices.
You can check device compatibility manually or via the PC Health Check app. So, if you want to upgrade to Windows 11 without any tweaks, you can either buy a new device or make hardware upgrades to your old computer. Also, the new system that has feature-specific requirements will help you make the most out of Windows 11 operating system.
FAQs
Will Windows 11 requirements change?
Microsoft won’t change the overall requirements for Windows 11. It may expand the list of compatible processors, but it will keep other requirements intact. Changing the requirements may compromise the security and privacy aspects of Windows 11.
Does my PC meet Windows 11 requirements?
You can manually check the Windows 11 requirements or use the PC Health Check app to see if your PC meets Windows 11 requirements.
How long will the support for Windows 10 be available?
Microsoft said it will support Windows 10 till October 2025. So if your computer is not compatible with Windows 11, you can use Windows 10 OS and get updates till 2025.
Is 4GB RAM enough for Windows 11?
Yes, 4GB RAM is enough for Windows 11, but more RAM will give better performance.
Is Windows 11 better for gaming?
Yes, Windows 11 is the best-ever operating system for gaming, and gamers should upgrade to Windows 11 to have a fantastic experience while playing games.
