Windows 11 System Requirements and TPM 2.0: The Complete Compatibility Guide

To move to Windows 11, your computer needs to meet these official minimum requirements: a 64-bit compatible processor running at 1 GHz or faster with at least 2 cores, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot support, a TPM 2.0 security module and a DirectX 12 / WDDM 2.0 compatible graphics card. As a practical rule of thumb: if your CPU is roughly an Intel 8th-generation chip (late 2017) or an AMD Ryzen 2000-series or newer, your computer is almost certainly compatible with Windows 11.

Of all these requirements, the one that trips people up most is TPM 2.0. Here's the good news: the vast majority of computers built in the last eight or nine years already have a TPM; it simply ships disabled in the BIOS, which is why Windows shows the "this PC can't run Windows 11" warning. In this guide we lay out the official requirements in a table, explain what TPM 2.0 is and why it is mandatory, and show you step by step how to check whether your computer has a TPM in under two minutes — and how to switch it on in the BIOS if it's off.

Official Windows 11 minimum system requirements

Microsoft's published minimum hardware requirements are shown in the table below; the full, up-to-date list is on Microsoft's Windows 11 specifications page:

Component	Minimum requirement
Processor	1 GHz or faster, at least 2 cores, 64-bit compatible and on the approved CPU list
RAM	4 GB
Storage	64 GB or larger
System firmware	UEFI, Secure Boot capable
TPM	Trusted Platform Module version 2.0
Graphics card	Compatible with DirectX 12 or later, with a WDDM 2.0 driver
Display	Larger than 9 inches, HD (720p) resolution
Internet and account	Internet connection and a Microsoft account during initial setup

One point worth underlining: these are the "it runs" thresholds, not the "it runs comfortably" ones. Windows 11 will boot on 4 GB of RAM, but the system starts to struggle once a few browser tabs and Office are open at the same time. We recommend 8 GB for everyday use and 16 GB for heavier workloads. Likewise, 64 GB of storage fills up quickly with updates; an SSD is not an official requirement, but it is the single component that changes the experience the most.

What is TPM 2.0, and why is it mandatory?

The TPM (Trusted Platform Module) is a small security processor that stores encryption keys, passwords and certificates in a secure area isolated from the operating system. It can be a separate chip soldered to the motherboard, but on most modern systems it exists as a firmware module built into the processor itself: on AMD platforms it goes by the name fTPM, on Intel platforms PTT (Platform Trust Technology). Functionally the two are identical, and Windows 11 accepts either.

A significant part of Windows 11's security architecture is built on top of this module: BitLocker stores its disk-encryption keys in the TPM, Windows Hello relies on it for PIN, face and fingerprint sign-in, and together with Secure Boot it makes it much harder for malware to infect the system at the boot level. In other words, the TPM requirement is not a marketing move but a genuine security decision: hardware-based key storage seriously complicates life for attacks that steal passwords or encrypt your disk.

Does your computer have a TPM? Check in two minutes

The fastest method is Windows' built-in TPM management tool:

1. Open the Run dialog with the Windows key + R shortcut, type tpm.msc and press Enter.
2. If the window that opens says "The TPM is ready for use", the module is active.
3. In the TPM Manufacturer Information box at the bottom right, check the Specification Version line: it should read 2.0. If it says 1.2, the module exists but is not sufficient for Windows 11.
4. A "Compatible TPM cannot be found" message can mean one of two things: the module genuinely isn't there, or it is disabled in the BIOS. In our experience, it is usually the latter.

You can also check through Settings: go to Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security > Device security; if a "Security processor" section appears on the page, the TPM is active, and its details include the version number.

Our support team at Karınca Lisans walks through these compatibility checks every day with a steady stream of customers who want to move to Windows 11; of the people who contact us saying "my computer has no TPM", we find that in perhaps nine cases out of ten the module is simply disabled in the BIOS. The second most common situation is a TPM that is switched on while Secure Boot has been left disabled — which is enough on its own to make the compatibility check fail.

How to enable fTPM / Intel PTT in the BIOS

If tpm.msc reports that no compatible TPM can be found, you need to switch the module on from the BIOS/UEFI interface:

1. Restart the computer and press the BIOS key during startup (Del or F2 on most systems; F10, F12 or Esc on some brands).
2. If a simplified view opens, switch to advanced mode (usually the Advanced Mode button or F7).
3. On AMD systems, find the fTPM option under Advanced > AMD fTPM Configuration; on Intel systems, look for Intel PTT (Platform Trust Technology) in the Advanced or Security menu.
4. Set the option to Enabled.
5. While you're there, check that Secure Boot is also enabled; it usually lives in the Boot or Security tab.
6. Save and exit with F10; once Windows starts, verify the status again with tpm.msc.

Menu names vary from manufacturer to manufacturer; if you can't find the option, searching for "fTPM" or "PTT" together with your motherboard model is the quickest way. One critical warning: enabling the TPM does not erase any data — but do not touch the "Clear TPM" option you may see in the BIOS. If you use BitLocker and your recovery key isn't backed up, clearing the TPM can permanently lock you out of your encrypted disk.

Processor compatibility: the practical rule

Once you've cleared the TPM hurdle, the second cut-off point is the CPU list. Microsoft officially supports Windows 11 only on specific processor families. You don't need to memorize the whole list; this practical rule gets the vast majority of cases right: on the Intel side, 8th generation (Coffee Lake, late 2017) and later; on the AMD side, the Ryzen 2000 series and later are supported. There are a few exceptions — a handful of specific 7th-generation Intel models made the list, for example — but not enough to break the rule. You can find your exact CPU model under Settings > System > About and, if in doubt, confirm it against Microsoft's approved processor list.

Get a definitive answer with PC Health Check

If you'd rather not run all these checks by hand, Microsoft's free PC Health Check app does the work for you: install it, click "Check now", and it tells you whether your computer is eligible for Windows 11 — and if not, exactly which requirement is failing, item by item. One small but important detail: if the tool says "TPM 2.0 not found", that does not necessarily mean the module isn't there — it may just be disabled in the BIOS. Enable the fTPM/PTT setting and run the check again; we regularly see the result flip to green.

What if my computer isn't compatible?

Let's be honest: the internet is full of registry tweaks for installing Windows 11 on unsupported devices, and technically they usually work. But Microsoft does not officially support these installations: there is no guarantee updates will keep arriving, major version upgrades can be blocked, and some of the security features that depend on the TPM stay disabled. On a computer you use for work, or one that holds data that matters to you, we don't recommend living with that uncertainty.

As of July 2026, it has been close to nine months since Windows 10 support ended (October 14, 2025), and going online with a system that no longer receives security updates gets a little riskier every month. We covered your options for an older device — new hardware, extended security updates and the stopgap solutions in between — in detail in our guide on what to do now that Windows 10 support has ended.

If you're compatible: licensing and the Home to Pro upgrade

If your computer passes every check, the only thing left is the license. In our Windows 11 licenses category you'll find OEM and Retail options for both the Home and Pro editions; every key we sell comes from volume-licensing stock, is 100% genuine and ships with an invoice — none of it has anything to do with pirate tools or cracks. If you're not sure which edition suits you, our comparison of the key differences between Pro and Home will make the decision easier.

If you're already running Windows 11 Home and find yourself needing features like BitLocker, Remote Desktop or Hyper-V, there's no need to reinstall: the Windows 11 Home to Pro upgrade key moves your existing installation up an edition in a matter of minutes; check the product page for the current price. And if anything goes wrong during the upgrade, our WhatsApp support line will guide you through it step by step.