Windows 11 system requirements in 2025

Windows 11 requires a 64-bit processor with a dual-core architecture and a clock speed of 1GHz or faster, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, UEFI firmware, and TPM 2.0 to upgrade or perform a clean installation.
On Windows 11 24H2 and higher, the system also requires CPU instruction support for SSE4.2 and the POPCNT instruction. Otherwise, the system may not boot.
Use Microsoft’s PC Health Check to determine exact compatibility if you’re coming from Windows 10 or an older version.

UPDATED 9/8/2025: Windows 11 has introduced stricter system requirements compared to its predecessors. To upgrade or perform a clean installation, your device must have a 64-bit dual-core processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and support for Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0 and Secure Boot. Without these specifications, upgrading from Windows 10 is (technically) not possible.

Unless, of course, you use the different workarounds to bypass the requirements to install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware.

Historically, Windows versions have maintained consistent hardware requirements. However, Windows 11 marks a significant shift, requiring more robust hardware to support enhanced security features designed to protect computers and data.

Microsoft has emphasized the importance of TPM 2.0, stating it’s “non-negotiable” for Windows 11. This hardware-level component plays a crucial role in encryption, digital signatures, and other cryptographic operations, strengthening system security. Additionally, the operating system is only supported on CPUs released from 2018 onward.

As Windows 10 support approaches its end in October 2025, it’s essential to assess your current hardware’s compatibility with Windows 11.

In this guide, I’ll explain the new system requirements for installing Windows 11 and outline the steps to determine whether your computer meets the necessary specifications to run this version of the operating system.

Windows 11 system requirements in 2025
Windows 11 supported processors
Windows 11 compatibility check
Windows 11 enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot

Windows 11 system requirements in 2025

These are the new system requirements to upgrade to Windows 11:

Processor: 1GHz or faster with two 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 a requirement, but you should enable it anyway. 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.

On the other hand, if you want to set up a dual-boot system with Linux, it’s best to disable Secure Boot.

Windows 11 supported processors

Windows 11 supports a range of processors from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm.

Intel

For example, 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, the 7th Gen Intel processors are also supported for installing Windows 11 in general, but only the 7820HQ chip is specifically supported. Also, 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 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 hardware, you may still be able to upgrade (at your own risk) from the ISO file or USB bootable media. However, the device 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 (capable).

On Windows 11 24H2 and higher releases, it’s important to have the “POPCNT” (Population Count) instruction requirement, 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 processor 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.

If you want to install Windows 11 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 the instructions from SSE4.2 to support version 24H2 and higher releases.

The SSE4.2 set of instructions has been around for many years, meaning that the requirement should not affect devices already running an older version of Windows 11 or Windows 10 (in most cases). 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 Windows 11

Here’s the list of the supported processors from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm.

Intel supported processors

8th Gen (Coffee Lake).
9th Gen (Coffee Lake Refresh).
10th Gen (Comet Lake and Ice Lake).
11th Gen (Rocket Lake and Tiger Lake).
12th Gen (Alder Lake).
13th Gen (Raptor Lake).
14th Gen (Raptor Lake).
Intel Core Ultra 1st Gen (Meteor Lake).
Intel Core Ultra 2nd Gen (Arrow Lake).
Pentium – Gold and Silver.
Xeon – Skylake-SP, Cascade Lake-SP, Cooper Lake-SP, Ice Lake-SP
All supported Intel processors.

AMD supported processors

Ryzen 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000.
Ryzen Threadripper Pro 59xxWX.
Ryzen Embedded V25xx and V27xx.
EPYC 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Gen.
Athlon – Gold, Silver, 3xxx, 300x, 7000.
All supported AMD processors.

Qualcomm supported processors

Snapdragon X Elite.
Snapdragon X Plus.
Snapdragon 850.
Snapdragon 7c.
Snapdragon 8c.
Snapdragon 8cx.
Snapdragon 8cx (Gen2).
Microsoft SQ1.
Microsoft SQ2.
All supported Qualcomm processors.

Windows 11 compatibility check

You can use the Microsoft PC Health Check app to confirm whether your computer meets the minimum requirements. If the system configuration isn’t compatible, the app will also display details of the components that are incompatible. This information will help you determine steps to resolve the problem or whether it’s time to upgrade the device.

To check if your PC’s hardware will run Windows 11, follow these steps:

Open Start.
Search for PC Health Check and click the top result to open the app.
Click the Check now button.
Check if your computer is compatible with Windows 11.
(Optional) Click the “See all results” button to view a list of the components that passed the compatibility.
(Optional) Click the “Device specifications” button to gain a better understanding of the system requirements.

Once you complete the steps, if the hardware is compatible, you’ll receive a message confirming support for the new version. If the hardware isn’t compatible, you will get a message detailing why the device cannot run Windows 11.

If the app isn’t available on your computer, you must get it manually from this Microsoft link.

Windows 11 enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot

On Windows 11, one of the most important requirements is the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0 and Secure Boot. According to Microsoft, the TPM chip and Secure Boot are essential for establishing a more secure environment and preventing sophisticated threats against hardware and firmware, including common malware, ransomware, and other targeted attacks. However, you can install and run Windows 11 without Secure Boot, but if the feature is available, it’s recommended to enable it.

Check if PC has TPM 2.0

To determine if TPM is enabled, follow these steps:

Open Start.
Search for tpm.msc and click the top result to open the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Management tool.
Confirm that TPM is present and the version is listed in the Status and TPM Manufacturer Information sections.

If the device includes TPM, you’ll see the hardware information and its status. Otherwise, if it reads “Compatible TPM cannot be found,” the chip is disabled on the UEFI, or the device doesn’t have the module.

Enable TPM 2.0 on system firmware

To enable TPM 2.0 for Windows 11, follow these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Recovery.
Click the Restart now button under the “Advanced startup” section.
Click on Troubleshoot.
Click on Advanced options.
Click the “UEFI Firmware settings” option.
Click the Restart button.
Click the advanced, security, or boot settings page, depending on the motherboard.
Select the TPM 2.0 option and choose the Enabled option.

If the motherboard doesn’t have a TPM chip, and you are running an AMD processor, the module is likely built into the processor, and the option will be available as “fTPM” (firmware-based TPM 2.0) or “AMD fTPM switch.” If the device is an Intel-based system, TPM will be available as Platform Trust Technology (PTT).

If the device does not have a TPM option, and this is a custom build, you may be able to purchase a module to add the support. However, be sure to consult the motherboard manufacturer’s website to confirm that support is available.

After completing the steps, the Windows 11 check should pass, allowing you to upgrade your computer to the new operating system.

Check if PC has Secure Boot

To determine whether Secure Boot is enabled, follow these steps:

Open Start.
Search for System Information and click the top result to open the app.
Click on System Summary on the left pane.
Check the “Secure Boot State” information and confirm that the feature is set to “On”. If it’s not, you need to enable the option manually.

Once you complete the steps, if the security feature is enabled, you can continue installing Windows 11. Otherwise, follow the steps to enable it inside the motherboard’s firmware.

Enable Secure Boot for Windows 11

If the device uses the legacy BIOS, you must first convert the MBR drive to GPT, then switch to UEFI mode and enable Secure Boot. Otherwise, the computer won’t boot. You can skip the convention if you are performing a clean installation, but this is a requirement if you are upgrading from the Windows 10 desktop.

To enable Secure Boot on your computer, follow these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Click on Recovery.
Click the Restart now button under the “Advanced startup” section.
Click on Troubleshoot.
Click on Advanced options.
Click the “UEFI Firmware settings” option.
Click the Restart button.
Click the advanced, security, or boot settings page, depending on the motherboard.
Select the “Secure Boot” option and choose the Enabled option.

Almost all devices featuring UEFI firmware will include Secure Boot, but if this is not the case, you will need to upgrade your system or purchase a new computer.

After completing the steps, the computer should pass the hardware verification process and proceed with the in-place upgrade or clean install of Windows 11.

Update September 8, 2025: This content has been updated with new information, and it’s been revised to ensure accuracy.