Over the past week, whispers about a supposed change in Microsoft’s policy have been swirling, originating from a mix of PCWorld and PC-WELT. The buzz suggests that Microsoft is now letting folks install Windows 11 on computers that don’t quite hit the mark on their rather strict minimum system requirements.
Naturally, Reddit and social media sites were quick to light up with discussions about Microsoft’s alleged shift in stance. After all, loosening these requirements would be monumental news. However, if you pause for a quick fact check, it becomes clear that this story doesn’t hold water.
Let’s dive into what PCWorld claimed: the article banks on the notion, “With Windows 11, Microsoft’s chief requirement is the availability of a TPM 2.0 chip… but now, users can upgrade directly to Windows 11 without the necessary hardware.” They back this claim by pointing to a Microsoft support article, commenting that it offers guidance on installing Windows 11 even on PCs deemed incompatible. According to PCWorld, “the company is issuing instructions for installing Windows 11 on incompatible PCs in an unexpected and puzzling move. ”
Here’s the kicker, though. If you actually sift through that support document, you won’t find any such instructions. Instead, the document simply outlines the potential consequences of installing Windows 11 on an unsupported system, not how to circumvent the requirements.
Moreover, this document isn’t new. It’s been around since Windows 11 version 21H2 debuted. It first appeared on Windows 11’s launch day and was only updated recently to explain how to revert to Windows 10 if you did push ahead with installing Windows 11 on a machine that didn’t fit the bill.
Adding to the confusion, nowhere within the support document does it even mention the TPM requirement, nor does it suggest that TPM 2.0 has been ditched during upgrades to Windows 11. So, figuring out why outlets like PCWorld are broadcasting the supposed non-requirement of TPM 2.0 is a head-scratcher.
For those unfamiliar, Windows 11 has been steadfast in refusing installation on computers that fall short of its minimum specifications. If you go for an installation on a less-than-qualified PC, the installer just won’t budge. Yes, there have always been unofficial workarounds, but these bypass methods are far from being endorsed by Microsoft.
In a bid for clarity, Microsoft has updated the very support article referenced by PCWorld, reaffirming that Windows 11’s minimum requirements, TPM 2.0 included, remain strict. Any attempt to install or upgrade to Windows 11 on hardware that doesn’t adhere to these standards will hit a brick wall, just like before. Microsoft has no intentions of easing these requirements.
Here’s the newly updated message from their support article:
“This support article was initially published on October 4, 2021, coinciding with Windows 11’s launch. From then and continuing today, the core message of this page is to outline considerations for those thinking of installing Windows 11 against Microsoft’s recommendation on devices that don’t meet the necessary requirements. If you’ve installed Windows 11 on a device that doesn’t meet these requirements, Microsoft advises you to roll back to Windows 10 without delay. The minimum requirements for Windows 11 remain firmly in place.”
