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Your computer might be incompatible. Compare your system specs with the minimum requirements for installing Windows 11
By
Updated on October 17, 2023
Reviewed by
Jon Fisher
Reviewed byJon Fisher
- Wichita Technical Institute
Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA-certified technologist with more than 10 years of experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.
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In This Article
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In This Article
- The Causes
- The Fixes
- Minimum System Requirements
- Frequently Asked Questions
Windows 11 has slightly more stringent demands for its host system than previous versions of Windows, including needing more RAM, more dedicated storage space, and a much more recent-generation processor.
If you've hit a brick wall when installing Windows 11, there's a good chance your PC isn't compatible. Here are some of the demands you might struggle with and potential solutions if your PC already meets the minimum specifications.
Why Won't Windows 11 Install?
The most likely reason Windows 11 won't install is that your PC doesn't meet the minimum hardware requirements and is incompatible with this version of Windows. Alternatively, you may have faulty installation media.
How Do I Fix Windows Not Installing?
Follow along below to see if you can figure out how Windows 11 isn't installing and how to hopefully get it going again:
Check and compare your PC's specifications with the official Windows 11 system requirements (listed below).
It's essential to make sure you have enough RAM and storage space and whether your processor is modern enough to run it. If something doesn't match or exceed the hardware requirements, you'll need to upgrade or replace your PC before installing Windows 11.
Run Microsoft's PC Health Check tool to see if your computer can run Windows 11.
Enable Secure Boot. If Secure Boot is disabled, enable it again, as Windows 11 won't install without it.
Enable TMP 2.0. If your PC supports TMP 2.0, you may need to enable it in the UEFI/BIOS.
Make new Windows 11 installation media if the original is corrupt or not working for some other reason.
Use a new drive. If you've been trying to upgrade your Windows 10 installation, try installing Windows 11 from scratch on a new or different drive. Alternatively, completely format your existing drive first before trying to install it.
Before formatting any drive, be sure to back up important data first.
Why Is My PC Not Compatible With Windows 11?
Windows 11 has stricter hardware requirements than Windows 10, so if your PC won't let you install it, you may not have a powerful or modern enough PC to run it.
These are the main hardware requirements for Windows 11:
- A dual-core processor with a clock speed of at least 1GHz. It also needs to be 64-bit compatible and support Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 or greater. (This is any CPU from Intel eighth-generation onwards, and AMD Ryzen 2000-series (non-APU) processors and newer.)
- 4GB or more of RAM.
- At least 64GB of storage space available.
- A GPU compatible with DirectX 12 or later.
- A Secure Boot Capable UEFI.
- 720p display resolution or greater.
- An active internet connection.
If your PC doesn't meet any of these specifications, you may run into difficulties when trying to install Windows 11. For more information on the hardware requirements, see Minimum System Requirements for Windows 11.
FAQ
Why won't Windows 10 install?
If you're having trouble installing Windows 10, it could be because the upgrade process was interrupted, for example, if your PC restarted unexpectedly. Try performing the installation again, making sure your PC stays on throughout the process. The problem could also be driver errors: Open Device Manager and look for drivers with a yellow exclamation mark, then right-click and clickUpdate driverorUninstall device.
Why won't Windows updates install?
Windows update failures can be caused by multiple updates lined up, a lack of drive space, corrupt data files, hardware conflicts, and driver conflicts. There are several ways to fix the problem of Windows updates that won't install, including re-running Windows Update, removing your peripherals and rebooting, checking your drive space, and using the Windows 10 troubleshooting tool (search for troubleshoot settings and click Windows Update > Run the troubleshooter.)
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