This goes without saying, upon the launch of the latest iteration of Windows, there has been a lot of confusion on Windows 11 requirements. The introduction of TPM 2.0 and its compatibility with the newer chipsets further escalated the confusion.
Though there are ways to check the Windows 11 compatibility of your PC, it’s always better to know the minimum configuration requirements by Windows 11 before proceeding to any PC Health Check apps. So, let’s get straight to the point.
Windows 11 Minimum System Requirements
To install Windows 11 on your PC, these are the minimum system requirements. If you are unsure whether your PC meets the requirements, try checking your PC’s OEM.
You can either opt for a fresh Windows 11 install or upgrade from Windows 10. Your device must run version 2004 or later. To access free updates, go to Settings > Security.
| Processor | 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip(SoC). (Intel- 8th Generation or Newer / AMD- 2nd Generation Ryzen (Zen+) chips or Newer) |
| RAM | 4GB or more |
| Storage | 64 GB or Larger Storage Device |
| System Firmware | UEFI, Secure Boot capable |
| Graphics Card | Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver |
| Display | High definition (720p) display that is greater than 9” diagonally, 8 bits per color channel |
| TPM | Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0 |
| Internet Connection and Microsoft Account | Yes |
Note: These are the minimum system requirements. There may be some applications that require specific hardware and exceed the minimum hardware specification. Try checking your device compatibility with the specific apps.
Suggestion: Try to equip your system with hardware a few folds higher than the minimum system requirement to future-proof your machine.
Processor Compatibility List for Windows 11
Which processor can run Windows 11 without a hitch? This is one of the biggest questions that come to your mind. Microsoft considers the feasibility of running the OS on specific platforms and hardware. Here’s our curated list in terms of processor requirements for both team blue and red.
Intel Processor Windows 11 Compatibility
Windows 11 is officially compatible with Intel’s 8th Gen or newer processors. This includes the processors launched mid-2017 onwards. Here’s Microsoft’s full list of all the supported processors, all the way from Atom, Pentium, Celeron, Core, and Xeon series. Here’s our brief version of the list.
1. Intel 8th generation (Coffee Lake; Whiskey Lake; Amber Lake)
- Desktop: Core i3-8100 to Core i7-8086K
- Mobile: Core m3-8100Y to Core i7-8750H
2. Intel 9th generation (Refreshed Coffee Lake)
- Desktop: Core i3-9100 to Core i9-9900K
3. Intel 10th generation (Comet Lake; Ice Lake; Amber Lake)
- Desktop: Core i3-10100 to Core i9-10900K
- Mobile: Core i3-10100Y to Core i9-10980HK
4. Intel 11th generation (Tiger Lake)
- Desktop: Core i3-11100 to Core i9-11900K
- Mobile: Core i3-1115G4 to Core i7-11375H
AMD Processor Windows 11 Compatibility
As far as AMD is concerned, the list of compatible CPUs dates back to 2018. Here’s Microsoft’s full list of all the supported AMD processors. The list includes Ryzen 2000 series (Zen+) processors and higher. Microsoft offers extensive support for Athlon, Ryzen, EPYC, and Ryzen Threadripper series.
1. AMD Ryzen 2000 series (Zen+; Zen)
- Desktop (Consumer): Ryzen 3 2300X to Ryzen 7 2700X
- Desktop (Server): Ryzen Threadripper 2920X to Ryzen Threadripper 2990X
2. AMD Ryzen 3000 series (Zen 2; Zen+)
- Desktop (Consumer): Ryzen 3 3100 to Ryzen 9 3950X
- Desktop (Server): Ryzen Threadripper 3960X to Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
- Mobile: Ryzen 3 3300U to Ryzen 7 3750H
3. AMD Ryzen 4000 series (Zen 2)
- Desktop: Ryzen 3 4300G to Ryzen 7 4700G
- Mobile: Ryzen 3 4300U to Ryzen 9 4900H
4. AMD Ryzen 5000 series (Zen 3)
- Desktop: Ryzen 5 5600X to Ryzen 9 5950X
- Mobile: Ryzen 3 5400U to Ryzen 9 5980HX
Given that there is a lot to consider while choosing the processors, we have to acknowledge that it might be possible to install and run Windows 11 on an earlier generation of these CPUs. However, it is unlikely that you would be getting any update on the base version of the OS if you plan to do so. Moreover, Microsoft will be adding more to this list as and when new versions are introduced in the market.
How Much Space Do You Need?
This is also one of the initial requirements to ensure you have adequate space when you are installing or updating Windows 11. Microsoft clearly specifies:
Storage: 64 GB or Larger Storage Device is required.
It is imperative to understand that not only would the base version of the OS take a substantial amount of space to run, you also have to consider the need for storage for future updates.
The Bottom Line
So that was our curated guide on the minimum Windows 11 system requirements. Make sure to prepare your systems with adequate hardware. Furthermore, certain features of Windows 11 are hardware-specific and would exceed the minimum requirements stated here.
