Microsoft has been telling its customers that Windows 11 requires a special security chip called TPM (Trusted Platform Module) 2.0 for months. Does this mean you have to go out and buy a module to fulfill this requirement? For the majority of PC users, the answer is no.

You can easily get around the TPM 2.0 restriction with a bypass provided by Microsoft themselves.

When should you upgrade?

Does your PC already meet the Windows 11 hardware requirements? You can find out by checking this PDF provided by Microsoft.

If you’ve recently purchased a new PC or hardware to fulfill these requirements, you can also skip the search for a physical TPM 2.0. In fact, your computer should already include a firmware version of TPM 2.0 – it just needs to be enabled in your BIOS settings before you install Windows 11.

To enable TPM 2.0 in BIOS:

-If you have an AMD Ryzen processor, look for “fTPM”

-If you have an Intel Core processor, look for Platform Trust Technology (or PTT)

Next, make sure your BIOS is set to firmware TPM instead of discrete. If you’re already using the recommended hardware, it’s as simple as that.

Warning

Although most PCs can get around the TPM 2.0, Microsoft warns that installing Windows 11 on an unsupported PC may cause unexpected malfunctions.

So if you do use unsupported hardware, unfortunately, buying a module won’t solve the major problem with upgrading to Windows 11 altogether — as all systems with unsupported hardware run the risk of being shut out of Windows updates.

Of course, you could go out and buy a physical module to pair with an older CPU (assuming you have a motherboard with a TPM header), but you still won’t be as secure as Windows 11 supported PCs. So what should you do?

Should some users stick with Windows 10?

So you were thinking about an upgrade to Windows 11, but your hardware isn’t supported. Maybe you don’t have a TPM header on your motherboard, or maybe you just don’t want to take the risk of upgrading and losing support in the future due to unsupported hardware. What should you do? Stick to Windows 10, here’s why.

Windows 10 will have support for another four years, so you still have quite a bit of time until you’re really forced to upgrade your hardware. On top of that, you’ll still get a hassle-free experience with solid security and major Windows 11 features like DirectX Storage will still be available. Not to mention, you’re not missing out much because at the launch of Windows 11 there aren’t a lot of enticing features that would compel the average Windows operating system user to upgrade. Furthermore, performance issues are still being worked out with Windows 11 – like those on Ryzen systems. In fact, by the time Windows 11 becomes robust enough for an upgrade (between now and four years from now) you’ll probably be in the market for newer, compatible hardware anyway.

So if your hardware isn’t compatible, it is recommended that you just stay with Windows 10 for a little bit longer. It’s also worth mentioning that physical TPM pin-outs aren’t standard, so if you were going to go out and attempt to buy a physical TPM module to try to make Windows 11 work (for a limited time) on unsupported hardware, you’ll have to find a discrete TPM that is a reasonable price and that is compatible with your system.

Windows 11 requirements

The requirements to run Windows 10 were relatively tame: a 1GHz processor, 1GB of RAM (2GB for the 64-bit version), 16GB of storage, and a display capable of 800×600 resolution.

However, for Windows 11, you’ll need a much more sophisticated computer. You can check the full requirements already mentioned above, but this is the first time Microsoft has required a multicore processor to run Windows.

To run Windows 11, you’ll need a 1GHz, 64-bit processor with 2 or more cores. The latest Microsoft OS will also require an 8th-gen Core CPU and above – the Ryzen 2000 series and above is also supported. When it comes to the Arm side of things, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 850 and up are also supported by Windows 11. A full list of supported PCs was published by PCWorld on August 7th here.

Eliminating older 7th-generation Core processors will definitely leave a lot of users out of the Windows 11 upgrade, although it isn’t exactly clear if this will hold true. However, we are already seeing Microsoft declare a substantial chunk of its Surface lineup ineligible for Windows 11 upgrades.

To run Windows 11, you’ll also need more memory – Microsoft has increased the minimum amount of RAM to 4GB and requires 64GB of storage (rather than 16GB in Windows 10). According to Microsoft, the amount of storage required is “highly variable” and the storage controller must meet the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) 2.3.1 or higher. The amount of storage you’ll need depends on what version of Windows has been previously installed, the size of your page file (also known as the swap file), and more. 

You’ll also need a DirectX 12-capable GPU and at least a 720p display.

Can my PC run Windows 11?

To find out if your PC can run Windows 11, there are two options:

First, figure out whether your PC contains a TPM already. Type tpm.msc into your Windows 10 PC’s search bar – your PC will then open the Trusted Platform Module Management application. Then scroll down to the TPM Manufacturer information and see whether a TPM is installed and whether it’s TPM-certified.

Second, Microsoft has provided a free application to determine which PCs are capable of running Windows 11: the PC Health Check app. This app is live on Microsoft’s website and is worth downloading to find out if your PC is compatible with the latest OS. This small Win32 app provides a summary of what is on your computer and offers a one-click check of your PC’s capabilities at the top of the window to see if your PC can run Windows 11.

In the end, the choice is yours – but it is recommended to only upgrade to Windows 11 if your PC meets the requirements listed above.

Not sure what to do? Try an IT Consultant

If you’re still not sure whether you should upgrade or not, it’s best to consult an IT consultant before installing anything on your computer. Computer Service Now has been in business for over 30 years assisting customers in the world of IT.

Do you have questions or need assistance installing Windows’ latest operating system? Contact us today for help from an experienced computer technician, call 513-422-1907. Need more help? Learn about the rest of our services: https://www.computerservicenow.com/services