Windows 11 26H2 system requirements and hardware compatibility explained

Windows 11 26H2 keeps the same minimum hardware requirements as versions 24H2 and 25H2.
Computers already running Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2 should be compatible with version 26H2.
Copilot+ PCs still require a Snapdragon X, Ryzen AI 300, or Core Ultra 200V processor, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, and a 40+ TOPS NPU.
Supported processors remain unchanged, including Intel 8th Gen and newer, AMD Ryzen 2000 series and newer, and select Qualcomm Snapdragon chips.

Windows 11 26H2 (2026 Update) is keeping the same core hardware requirements as version 25H2, since both operating systems share the same file system. In other words, if your device is already running Windows 11 25H2 or 24H2, it’ll be compatible with version 26H2.

On the other hand, if you plan to upgrade a Windows 10 computer, the hardware must meet the minimum requirements, including a 64-bit dual-core processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0, and Secure Boot.

In this guide, I’ll outline the new hardware requirements for installing the Windows 11 2026 Update.

Windows 11 26H2 hardware requirements
Copilot+ PC system requirements for version 26H2
Windows 11 26H2 supported processors
Pureinfotech’s Take

Windows 11 26H2 hardware requirements

If you want to install Windows 11 26H2, your computer should meet the basic system requirements:

Processor: 1 GHz or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC).
RAM: 4 GB.
Storage: 64 GB or larger hard drive.
System Firmware: UEFI with Secure Boot capability.
TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.
Graphics Card: Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver.
Display: 720p HD display (or greater) that is larger than 9 inches diagonally.
Connectivity: Internet connection and a Microsoft account for setup.

Secure Boot isn’t technically required, but it’s highly recommended. You can install Windows 11 without Secure Boot, but it may be required in certain scenarios, such as playing modern games that also require the anti-cheat system. However, if you want to set up a dual-boot system with Linux, it’s best to disable Secure Boot.

Copilot+ PC system requirements for version 26H2

These are the minimum hardware requirements to be considered a Copilot+ PC:

Processor: Snapdragon X, AMD Ryzen AI 300 series, or Intel Core Ultra 200V series.
NPU: 40+ TOPS (Trillion Operations Per Second).
RAM: 16 GB or greater.
Storage: 256 GB SSD or larger.
System Firmware: UEFI with Secure Boot enabled.
TPM: Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0.
Graphics Card: DirectX 12 compatible with WDDM 2.0 driver.
Display: HD 720p resolution or greater, on a display larger than 9 inches diagonally.
Connectivity: Internet connection and a Microsoft account are required for setup.

These system requirements are necessary to access the new AI features.

Windows 11 25H2 supported processors

The Windows 11 2026 Update is compatible only with specific processors from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm.

Intel

On the Intel side, the operating system supports Core 8th Gen and higher processors, as well as select Pentium, Atom, Celeron, and Xeon chips.

Furthermore, 7th Gen Intel processors are generally supported for installing Windows 11, but only the 7820HQ chip is specifically supported. Additionally, Intel’s Core X and Xeon W processors are supported, provided the device comes with Declarative, Componentized Hardware Support Apps (DCH) drivers.

AMD

On the AMD side, the operating system only supports second-generation Ryzen (including Threadripper) and newer processors, as well as some EPYC and Athlon chips.

ARM

As for ARM support, the latest version first supports the Qualcomm Snapdragon 850, 7c, 8c, and 8cx (first and second generations), as well as the Snapdragon X Elite (and Plus), and the Microsoft SQ1 and SQ2.

Unsupported

On unsupported devices, you may still be able to upgrade (at your own risk) from the ISO file or USB bootable media. However, the devices will still need a 64-bit processor with the “POPCNT” instruction, at least two cores, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and an enabled TPM 1.2 chip and Secure Boot.

On Windows 11 24H2 and later releases, it’s important to have the “POPCNT” (Population Count) instruction, as the computer won’t boot if this feature is missing. Although most devices with unsupported hardware will continue to be able to upgrade, this hardware requirement will affect processors released before 2007, as they don’t include the “POPCNT” instruction.

Additionally, the CPU must support SSE4.2 (Intel) or SSE4A (AMD). These instruction sets are designed for x86 processors, specifically to enhance their multimedia processing capabilities. They are part of the Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE) family, which provides instructions for performing operations on multiple data elements simultaneously.

For version 26H2 to install and boot correctly, the process must have the following features:

64-bit processor with two or more cores.
1 GHz or faster.
Intel, AMD, or ARM.
SSE4.2 instruction set support.
“POPCNT” (Population Count) instruction.

It’s worth clarifying that “POPCNT” is an instruction part of the “SSE4.2” instruction set. Originally, the POPCNT was the only requirement to boot the system. However, the processor must now include all SSE4.2 instructions to support versions 24H2, 25H2, or 26H2.

The SSE4.2 instruction set has been around for many years, so the requirement should not affect devices already running an older version of Windows 11 or Windows 10. This is likely only to affect a very small set of users trying to install the operating system on an (extremely) old system.

You can always confirm whether the processor includes the required set of instructions by using the CPU-Z app and checking the “Instructions” section in the “CPU” tab.

Supported processors for version 26H2

This is the list of the supported processors from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm.

Intel supported processors

Intel Core
- Core i3 / i5 / i7 / i9: 8th Generation through 14th Generation
- Core Ultra / Core Mobile: Core Processors (Series 1)
- Core m: 8th Generation
- Core X-Series: 7000X, 9000X, and 10000X Series
Intel Celeron
- Standard Series: 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, and 7000 Series
- Desktop & Mobile Variants: G4000, G5000, G6000, J4000, N4000, and N5000 Series
Intel Pentium
- Standard Series: 6800 Series
- Pentium Gold: 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 4000U, 4000Y, 6000Y, G5000, and G7000 Series
- Pentium Silver: J5000 and N6000 Series
Intel Processor (Essential/Budget)
- Intel 300 Processor for Desktop
- U300 Series
Intel Xeon (Server/Workstation)
- Xeon Scalable: Standard, 2nd Gen, and 3rd Gen
- Xeon D (Embedded): D-1700, D-1800, D-2700, and D-2800 Series
- Xeon E (Entry Server): E-2100, E-2200, E-2300, and E-2400 Series
- Xeon W (Workstation): W-1200, W-1300, W-2100, W-2200, W-3100, W-3300, W-10000M, and W-11000M Series

All supported Intel processors.

AMD supported processors

AMD Ryzen (Mainstream Laptops & Desktops)
- Ryzen 3 (Entry): 2300X | 3000 series | 4000 series | 5000 series | 7000 series
- Ryzen 5 (Mid-range): 2000/3000 series | 4000 series | 5000 series | 6000 series | 7000 series
- Ryzen 7 (High-end): 2000/3000 series | 4000 series | 5000 series | 6000 series | 7000 series
- Ryzen 9 (Enthusiast): 3000 series | 4000 series | 5000 series | 6000 series | 7000 series
- Ryzen Z1 / Z1 Extreme: Built specifically for handheld gaming consoles.
AMD Ryzen PRO (Business & Enterprise)
- Identical to the mainstream Ryzen chips above (Ryzen 3, 5, 7, 9 across the 2000 to 7000 generations), but with built-in enterprise security and management features.
AMD Athlon (Budget & Basic Computing)
- Athlon Standard: 3015e, 3020e, 3000/7000 series
- Athlon Gold & Silver: 3000 series (Basic everyday use)
- Athlon PRO: Business-class budget chips
AMD EPYC (Server & Data Centers)
- 7002 & 7003 Series: 2nd and 3rd Generation data center chips (e.g., 7302, 7763)
- 8000 Series (Siena): Telecommunications and edge computing (e.g., 8534P)
- 9000 Series (Genoa/Bergamo): High-performance cloud and enterprise chips (e.g., 9654)
Workstation Chips
- Ryzen Threadripper PRO (3000WX / 5000WX): Extreme power for heavy workstations.
- Ryzen Embedded (R & V Series): Low-power chips for industrial equipment, medical devices, and digital signage.

All supported AMD processors.

Qualcomm supported processors

Snapdragon 7c Series (Entry-Level)
- Snapdragon 7c
- Snapdragon 7c Gen 2
- Snapdragon 7c+ Gen 3
Snapdragon 8 Series (Mainstream / Premium)
- Snapdragon 850
- Snapdragon 8c
- Snapdragon 8cx
- Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2
- Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3
Microsoft SQ Series (Surface Custom Chips)
- Microsoft SQ1
- Microsoft SQ2
- Microsoft SQ3
IoT Enterprise Series (Specialized / Embedded)
- QCM6490
- QCS6490
- QCM5430
- QCS5430

All supported Qualcomm processors.

This information is based on the existing requirements for installing the current version of the operating system, given that versions 26H2, 26H2, and 24H2 are identical.

Pureinfotech’s Take

I think keeping the same hardware requirements for Windows 11 26H2 is the right decision. Over the last few years, the company has faced plenty of criticism for its strict requirements, so avoiding another round of compatibility concerns makes this update easier for existing users to adopt.

Since versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H2 share the same platform, I wasn’t expecting any major changes to the requirements. In fact, this is becoming a familiar pattern where Microsoft uses enablement-style upgrades to deliver new versions without forcing users through a full operating system transition.

For most people already running Windows 11, this news doesn’t change much, but that’s exactly why it’s important. Users can focus on the new improvements instead of wondering whether their computer will still be supported. The only group that should pay close attention is those still planning to move from Windows 10, since the original Windows 11 hardware requirements remain firmly in place.

Do you think Microsoft should relax the Windows 11 hardware requirements for older PCs, or keep the current standards? Let me know in the comments.