If you have a computer with unsupported hardware, you may still be able to upgrade to Windows 11, but not from Windows Update. Instead, you will have to use a bootable USB flash drive or ISO file to perform a clean install or in-place upgrade manually.

Microsoft will leave the workaround open, but it won’t mention it anywhere in the documentation, nor will it be supported. According to the company, installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware will be an option for organizations to test Windows 11. However, anyone could upgrade at their own risk knowing that there won’t be any guarantee on system stability and compatibility for drivers.

All of this only means that if you choose to install Windows 11 on incompatible hardware, you will be able to continue with the setup manually. However, you will need to confirm that the upgrade will be in an unsupported state. Microsoft defines an “unsupported state” as a computer that does not meet the minimum system requirements, and as a result, it won’t be entitled to receive updates from Windows Update. Although these devices will likely receive updates anyway, the company won’t be obligated to provide security and driver updates or technical support.

In this guide, you will learn the steps to install Windows 11 on a computer with incompatible hardware. Since the device does not officially support the new OS, it’s not recommended to use this workaround unless you know the risks and understand that stability, compatibility, and updates are not guaranteed.

• Install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware with bootable USB
• Upgrade to Windows 11 on unsupported hardware with ISO file
• Upgrade to Windows 11 on unsupported hardware with Microsoft Registry workaround

Install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware with bootable USB

If you would be using the ISO file to perform a clean installation, you will need to create a bootable media using a third-party tool like Rufus or with Command Prompt to start the setup process with a USB flash drive.

In addition, you also have to make sure the device can start from USB, which means you will have to change the UEFI settings. Since these settings are different on most computers, you will have to check your manufacturer support website for more specific details.

To install Windows 11 on an unsupported PC, use these steps:

1. 1. Start the unsupported PC with the Windows 11 USB flash drive.
   2. Press any key to continue.
   3. Use the Shift + F10 keyboard shortcut to open Command Prompt.
   4. Type the following command and press Enter:

      regedit

      

   5. Navigate the following path:

      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup

   6. Right-click the Setup (folder) key, select New, and then Key option.

      

   7. Name the key LabConfig and press Enter.
   8. Right-click the LabConfig (folder) key, select New, and then the DWORD (32-bit) Value option.
   9. Name the key BypassTPMCheck and press Enter.
   10. Double-click the newly create key and set its value from 0 to 1.

       

   11. Click the OK button.
   12. Right-click the LabConfig (folder) key, select New, and then the DWORD (32-bit) Value option.
   13. Name the DWORD BypassSecureBootCheck and press Enter.
   14. Double-click the newly create key and set its value from 0 to 1.

       

   15. Click the OK button.
   16. Click the Next button.

       

   17. Click the Install now button.

       

   18. Click the I don’t have a product key option if you are doing a reinstallation. If Windows 11 was already activated after the installation, reactivation would happen automatically.

       

   19. Select the edition of “Windows 11” that your license key activates (if applicable).
   20. Check the I accept the license terms option.
   21. Click the Next button.
   22. Select the Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) option.

       

   23. Select each partition in the hard drive you want to install Windows 11 and click the Delete button. (Usually, the “Drive 0” is the drive that contains all the installation files.)

       

       Warning: When you delete a partition, it also deletes all data on the drive. Also, it is not required to delete the partitions from a secondary hard drive.
   24. Select the hard drive (Drive 0 Unallocated Space) to install Windows 11 on an unsupported device.

       

   25. Click the Next button.
   26. Select your region setting after the installation on the first page of the out-of-the-box experience (OOBE).

       

   27. Click the Yes button.
   28. Select your keyboard layout setting.

       

   29. Click the Yes button.
   30. Click the Skip button if you do not need to configure a second layout.
   31. If the computer is using an Ethernet connection, it will connect to the network automatically. If you have a wireless connection, you will need to set up the connection manually (a security key may be required).
   32. (Optional) Confirm a name for the computer.

       

   33. Click the Next button. (The device will restart automatically.)
   34. Select the Set up for personal use option if you are setting Windows 11 Pro. The “Home” edition does not have this option.

       

   35. Click the Next button.
   36. Confirm your Microsoft account email, phone number, or Skype identification to create an account.

       

   37. Click the Next button.
   38. Confirm your Microsoft account password.
   39. Click the Next button.
   40. Click the Create PIN button.

       

   41. Create a new four-digit PIN.

       

   42. Click the OK button.
   43. Select the Set up as new device option. Or select to restore your settings from a previous installation.

       

   44. Click the Next button.
   45. Confirm your privacy settings that best suit your situation by turning on or off the toggle switch for each setting.

       

   46. Click the Next button.
   47. Click the Next button again.

1. Click the Accept button.

   

2. (Optional) On the “Customize your device” page, select one or more ways you plan to use the device to allow the setup to suggest tools and services customization during this experience.

   

3. Click the Accept button to continue. Or click the Skip button to skip this part of the setup.
4. Select the Back up my files with OneDrive to automatically upload your Desktop, Pictures, and Documents folders to the cloud. Or Select the Only save file to this PC option.

   

5. Click the Next button.
6. Click the No, thanks button to skip the Microsoft 365 setup.

   

Once you complete the steps, Windows 11 will install in an unsupported state, which means that you may or may not get security or driver updates.

Upgrade to Windows 11 on unsupported hardware with ISO file

Alternatively, you can also perform an in-place upgrade of Windows 11 with an ISO file on a device that doesn’t meet the system requirements. However, you will first need to run a script to bypass the TPM, Secure Boot, and processor check.

1. Bypass Windows 11 requirement checks

To bypass the minimum system requirements to install Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open MediaCreationTool.bat GitHub page.
2. Click the Download button from the top-right corner.

   

3. Save the Zip file on your computer.
4. Navigate to the folder with the files.
5. Click the Extract all button.

   

6. Click the Browse button.
7. Select the extraction location.
8. Click the Select folder button.
9. Click the Extract button.
10. Open the available folder (if applicable).
11. Right-click the Skip_TPM_Check_on_Dynamic_Update.cmd file and select the Run as administrator option.

    

Once you complete the steps, you can mount an ISO file to begin the installation of Windows 11 on unsupported hardware. If the script seems not to be working, restart the computer, and try to run it a few more times.

2. Upgrade to Windows 11 using ISO file

To upgrade to an incompatible computer to Windows 11 with an ISO file, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Support website.
2. Under the “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO)” section, select the Windows 11 option.
3. Click the Download button.
4. Select the installation language.
5. Click the Confirm button.
6. Click the Download button to save the Windows 11 ISO file on the device.
7. Right-click the ISO file, select the Open with submenu, and choose the Windows Explorer option.
8. Click on the mounted drive from the left navigation pane.
9. Double-click the Setup file to begin the Windows 11 upgrade process.
10. (Optional) Click the Change how Windows Setup downloads updates option.

    

11. Select the Not right now option.

    

12. Click the Next button.
13. Click the Accept button to agree to the terms.

    

14. Click the Install button to upgrade while keeping your files and apps.

    

If you want to start fresh with a clean installation of Windows 11, click the Change what to keep option, select the Nothing option, click the Next button, and then click the Install button.

After you complete the steps, the setup will continue upgrading the laptop or desktop computer to the new release of the OS. However, Windows 11 will run in an unsupported state that won’t guarantee updates of any kind, nor you will be able to receive support from Microsoft.

Upgrade to Windows 11 on unsupported hardware with Microsoft Registry workaround

Although it’s not supported, Microsoft has published a workaround to bypass the Windows 11 requirements to continue with the setup process by editing the Registry. However, the computer still needs a device with at least TPM 1.2 and UEFI firmware with Secure Boot enabled.

1. Edit Registry to bypass official checks

To bypass the minimum system requirements to upgrade to Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for regedit and click the top result to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to the following path:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup

4. Right-click the MoSetup (folder) key, select the New submenu and choose the DWORD (32-bit) Value option.
5. Name the key AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU and press Enter.
6. Double-click the newly created key and set its value from 0 to 1.

   

Once you complete the steps, you can mount an ISO file or connect a USB media to begin the installation of Windows 11 on unsupported hardware.

2. Upgrade to Windows 11 using ISO file

To begin the Windows 11 upgrade process, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Support website.
2. Under the “Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO)” section, select the Windows 11 option.
3. Click the Download button.
4. Select the installation language.
5. Click the Confirm button.
6. Click the Download button to save the Windows 11 ISO file on the device.
7. Right-click the ISO file, select the Open with submenu, and choose the Windows Explorer option.
8. Click on the mounted drive from the left navigation pane.
9. Double-click the Setup file to begin the Windows 11 upgrade process.
10. (Optional) Click the Change how Windows Setup downloads updates option.

    

11. Select the Not right now option.

    

12. Click the Next button.
13. Click the Accept button to agree to the terms.

    

14. Click the Install button to upgrade while keeping your files and apps.

    

If you want to start fresh with a clean installation of Windows 11, click the Change what to keep option, select the Nothing option, click the Next button, and then click the Install button.

Once you complete the steps, the setup will continue upgrading the device to Windows 11.