Many folks are keen to upgrade to Windows 11, but sometimes, our PCs don’t meet the fancy requirements like TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. This guide is for you if you’re looking to upgrade without starting from zero. Yup, that means keeping all your stuff exactly where it is while moving to Windows 11. We’ll show you how to skip those pesky checks for TPM and Secure Boot, making it possible to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 even on PCs that aren’t technically up to the mark.
Also see: Virtualbox Windows 11 “This PC doesn’t meet the requirements”
First up, a word of caution: Microsoft doesn’t recommend running Windows 11 on a PC that doesn’t meet their requirements. It might not work as smoothly, and you could run into problems. So, make sure you’ve got all your important files backed up before you proceed.
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What is a Windows 11 in-place upgrade?
An in-place upgrade lets you move to a new operating system without losing your files, settings, or apps. It’s different from a clean install, which wipes your PC. This upgrade is super handy if you don’t want the hassle of setting everything up all over again. Normally, you’d do this through Windows Update.
Here, we’re focusing on upgrading to Windows 11 on PCs that don’t have TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. It’s a lifeline for keeping your current setup while stepping into Windows 11, without a fresh install.
Linked issue: We couldn’t install Windows 11: Safe_OS with boot operation
How to perform an in-place upgrade to Windows 11 on unsupported hardware
Windows 11 checks for things like TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. If your PC doesn’t have these, normally you’d be stuck. But, there’s a workaround with a script called Skip_TPM_Check_on_Dynamic_Update.cmd. It’s part of the MediaCreationTool.bat on GitHub, but we only need this script to bypass those checks.
Steps to follow
- Download the script: Head over to this GitHub page. Click on “Download raw file” to get it. Or, copy and paste the script into a text file and name it
Skip_TPM_Check_on_Dynamic_Update.cmd.
- Run the script: Find the script file, right-click it, and pick “Run as administrator”. This turns off the checks for Windows 11.
- Check for updates or use Windows 11 ISO:
- Windows Update: After the script, head to Settings > Windows Update and click “Check for updates”. You should see the upgrade option as if your hardware was supported.
- Windows 11 ISO: Or, grab the Windows 11 ISO, mount it, and run the setup from there. Make sure to choose to keep everything.
- Windows Update: After the script, head to Settings > Windows Update and click “Check for updates”. You should see the upgrade option as if your hardware was supported.
- Proceed with the in-place upgrade: Just follow the steps on screen, and you shouldn’t hit any roadblocks with TPM or Secure Boot.
Undoing the changes
If you change your mind and want those checks back, just run the Skip_TPM_Check_on_Dynamic_Update.cmd script again. It’ll switch everything back to how it was.
By following these steps, you can move to Windows 11 even on PCs that don’t officially make the cut.
Related resource: How to Install Windows 11/10 with Digital License from USB
Temporarily using a supported computer to do the Windows 11 in-place upgrade
If you’ve got another computer that does meet the requirements, you can use it as a temporary way to upgrade your own PC. This doesn’t need any special software but does mean you’ll be messing around with the hardware a bit.
Key considerations
- Both PCs should use the same type of boot and partitions. Most new Windows PCs use UEFI and GPT.
- You’ll need the Windows 11 ISO for this trick.
Upgrading a computer running Windows 10 or an older version of Windows 11
- Prepare both computers: Make sure both your PC and the temporary one use UEFI and GPT.
- Move the internal boot drive: Turn off both PCs. Take the boot drive from your PC and put it in the other one. When it starts, it’ll get things ready for a bit.
- Begin the upgrade: Log into the temporary PC, pop in the Windows 11 ISO, and start the upgrade. No problems should pop up since the temporary PC has what Windows 11 wants.
- Transfer the drive back: After everything’s done, turn off the temporary PC, take the boot drive out, and put it back in your own PC.
If you don’t need to keep existing data
- Fresh install on supported computer: Do a clean install of Windows 11 on the temporary PC using the ISO.
- Clone the drive: Use software like Macrium Reflect to make an image of the drive.
- Restore and transfer: Put that image onto your own PC’s drive. Make sure you’ve got a Windows license ready or you’ll need to activate Windows again.
This gives you a way to get Windows 11 up and running on a PC that’s not supposed to support it. Just remember, Microsoft says it’s not the best idea because of potential performance issues.
Final thoughts
Upgrading to a new operating system is always a bit exciting and a bit nerve-wracking, especially when your PC doesn’t meet the new specs. We’ve shared a couple of ways to upgrade to Windows 11, even on unsupported hardware. Whether you use a script to bypass checks or borrow a supported PC for the upgrade, just be sure to back up your files. Keep in mind, running Windows 11 on hardware that isn’t supported could cause problems, so proceed with caution.
