Upgrading to Windows 11: Your Guide to Bypassing the Rules

In the coming years, Microsoft will stop releasing security updates for Windows 10, unless users pay for a subscription. This change will affect many users who are still using older PCs. If one tries to upgrade to Windows 11 on a PC that is more than five years old, they will likely encounter an error message. This message will state that the PC does not qualify because its CPU is not on the official list of compatible processors. Microsoft has been clear that it will not change these requirements. Additionally, users will face issues if their PC does not have a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2. 0. However, there are ways to work around these restrictions. Over the past two years, Microsoft has made it increasingly difficult to bypass these compatibility checks. There are documented workarounds for most PCs that were originally built for Windows 10. These restrictions prevent automatic upgrades to Windows 11 using Windows Update or the Windows 11 Installation Assistant. Yet, there are documented workarounds for most PCs that were originally built for Windows 10. To upgrade, the PC must meet certain requirements. It must be configured to start up using UEFI, not a legacy BIOS configuration. Secure Boot must be supported, although it does not need to be enabled. A TPM must be enabled; version 1. 2 is acceptable, but a system without any TPM or with the TPM disabled will fail. If the PC does not meet these requirements, users can use an undocumented hack to bypass the compatibility checks and complete the upgrade. This involves using the free Rufus utility to create a USB drive that includes a modified file. The instructions assume that the user has a PC running a retail or OEM edition of Windows 10 (Home or Pro) and is signed in as an administrator. There are two main options for upgrading. The first option involves making a small change to the Windows registry. This change tells the Windows 11 Setup program to skip the check for compatible CPUs and to allow installation on a PC with an older TPM (version 1. 2). The usual warnings apply when working with the registry; it is recommended to make a complete backup before proceeding. The second option involves using the Rufus utility to create a USB drive that includes a modified file. This allows the user to bypass the compatibility checks and complete the upgrade. Users should choose the option that is appropriate for their hardware. If they plan to perform a clean installation of Windows 11, they can boot from installation media and run Windows Setup. This option skips the CPU compatibility check completely but still requires a TPM and Secure Boot support. After the installation completes, users will need to reinstall all their apps, restore their data files, and tweak settings to personalize their system preferences.