Windows 11 is already known for its strict hardware requirements, which Microsoft hasn’t let up on since the OS first released back in 2021. The TPM 2.0 security module requirement has disqualified a lot of older PCs from upgrading, but Windows 11 also requires a decent CPU.
As of two weeks ago, Microsoft updated the list of compatible Intel processors for Windows 11 24H2, the latest version of the operating system that’s now mandatory for all Windows 11 users.
According to Microsoft, only 11th-gen Intel processors and onwards are officially supported now. Previously, Windows 11 supported 8th-gen Intel processors and later. Anyone with an older Intel processor could now have problems updating to Windows 11 24H2.
What does this mean for you?
On paper, Microsoft now requires users who want to update to the latest version of Windows 11 to have even better hardware.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that devices with older CPUs can no longer use Windows 11 at all. Versions 22H2 and 23H2 haven’t had their requirements updated to need stronger processors. (That said, version 22H2 has already reached its end of support and version 23H2 will be hitting end of support November 11, 2025.)
To check whether your CPU is sufficient for the 24H2 update, first check which processor you have installed by going to Settings > System > About, then compare to the list. Alternatively, you can use Microsoft’s PC Health Check app to see directly whether all your system components are compatible with Windows 11 24H2.
Why the higher hardware requirements?
Microsoft states that the processor is “a critical factor for running Windows 11.” The current version of Windows 11 requires more cores and processing power to run all features properly.
Presumably, the AI features coming to Windows 11 are also playing a role in the bumped-up hardware requirements. AI generally requires a lot more computing power and is more demanding on a system.
Further reading: Want to run AI on your PC? Get a bigger hard drive
