How to Check if Your PC Is Compatible with Windows 11

If you’re planning to install or upgrade to Windows 11, the first step is to make sure your PC meets the hardware and firmware requirements. Skipping this check can lead to installation issues or even system instability. In this guide you’ll learn how to verify key components including TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, processor, RAM, storage and more.

What Does “Compatible” Really Mean?

Microsoft lists minimum requirements for Windows 11, but compatibility goes beyond those basics. Your PC needs:

A supported processor with 64-bit architecture
At least 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage (ideally more)
UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability
TPM (Trusted Platform Module) version 2.0
DirectX 12 compatible graphics with WDDM 2.0 driver

Ensuring each of these components is correct reduces errors during installation and ensures full feature support. For example, enabling TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot helps with security and future updates.

Step 1: Use the PC Health Check Tool

The simplest way to check compatibility is to download and run the official Windows 11 PC Health Check Tool. It runs a scan and informs you if your device meets the requirements or which areas fail.

Step 2: Check TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot Manually

Press Windows + R, type tpm.msc and press Enter. Look for “Specification Version 2.0”.
Restart your PC and enter BIOS/UEFI settings (usually ≤ F2, Del or Esc during boot).
Navigate to Security → Trusted Computing (or similar) and enable TPM or fTPM/PTT.
Then find the “Boot” or “Security” tab to enable Secure Boot if it’s disabled.

Step 3: Verify Processor, RAM and Storage

Go to Settings > System > About to view your processor and memory details. For storage, open File Explorer and right-click the system drive (usually C:) then select Properties to check capacity.

Compare your specs to the Windows 11 minimums, but if your PC is only just meeting the minimum, expect slower performance or limitations with features like Windows Sandbox.

Step 4: Graphics and Display Requirements

Under Settings > System > Display > Advanced display settings, check your graphics adapter via Device Manager. Ensure your GPU supports DirectX 12 and WDDM 2.0. Many older GPUs may meet minimums but not provide full feature support.

Step 5: Firmware Settings and BIOS Updates

If your PC fails the Health Check tool but hardware appears compatible, check for BIOS/UEFI firmware updates from your manufacturer. An outdated BIOS may not expose TPM or Secure Boot settings.

When Compatibility Check Fails — What You Can Do

If TPM or Secure Boot fails: Enable them in BIOS following Step 2.
If processor is unsupported: Check manufacturer for firmware updates or consider a hardware upgrade.
If RAM or storage is below requirement: Upgrade to at least 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage for a smoother experience.

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Make sure your PC meets all the requirements for Windows 11. Follow this step-by-step compatibility checklist and use free tools to verify TPM, Secure Boot, CPU, memory and storage.

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