Thinking about upgrading to Windows 11 but your PC doesn’t meet Microsoft’s official requirements? You’re not alone — and yes, it is still possible. Whether your machine fails the CPU check or your TPM version isn’t the latest, there are two reliable workarounds: a simple registry tweak or using the free Rufus tool to create modified install media.
Below, I’ll walk you through both options. Choose the one that works best for your situation.
Before You Begin: A Quick Note
Both methods below let you bypass CPU and TPM checks — but there are some caveats:
You must run the Setup from within Windows (not by booting from a USB).
Secure Boot and any TPM version are still required for the registry method.
These methods are not officially supported by Microsoft, so proceed at your own risk.
Always back up your data before making changes to the registry or reinstalling Windows.
Option 1: Use a Registry Edit to Bypass CPU/TPM Checks
If you’re already running Windows 10 or 11, you can apply a quick registry edit and run the installer from within Windows. Here’s how.
Step 1: Edit the Registry
Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup
If the MoSetup key doesn’t exist, right-click the Setup folder > New > Key, name it MoSetup.
Inside MoSetup, right-click on the right panel > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Name the value:
AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU
Double-click it, set the Value data to 1, and click OK.
Close Registry Editor and restart your PC.
Pro Tip: Double-check spelling — even a small mistake can prevent the upgrade from working.
Scroll down to Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO).
Choose your edition and language (see note below), then click Download.
Language Tip: If your system uses English (UK), make sure to select English International to avoid losing apps and files during upgrade.
Step 3: Mount the ISO
After downloading, right-click the ISO file > Mount.
It will appear as a new virtual DVD drive in File Explorer.
Step 4: Run Setup
Open the mounted drive and double-click Setup.exe.
You’ll get a warning about system requirements. Click Accept.
Choose what to keep:
Keep everything (apps, files, settings)
Keep data only
Clean install
Let the upgrade run. Most users report smooth installations using this method.
Option 2: Use Rufus to Create a Bootable USB Without Restrictions
If your PC doesn’t support Secure Boot, UEFI, or you want a clean install, Rufus is your best bet. This free tool lets you create a Windows 11 USB installer that skips compatibility checks automatically.
What You’ll Need
A USB drive (16 GB or larger) — this will be erased.
The Windows 11 ISO file (download it as shown in Option 1).
Rufus version 4.6 or newer (older versions won’t work as of 24H2).
Note: Rufus won’t help if your CPU lacks SSE4.2 and PopCnt — these are required in Windows 11 24H2 and later. PCs that old probably aren’t worth upgrading anyway.
Step-by-Step with Rufus
Download Rufus (either from the dev site or Microsoft Store).
Plug in your USB drive.
Launch Rufus:
Select your USB drive.
Under Boot selection, choose Disk or ISO image.
Click Select and open your Windows 11 ISO.
Click Start.
A pop-up will appear: Windows User Experience.
Check the box: Remove requirement for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot, and TPM 2.0.
You can also tweak other settings here.
Click OK, then Start to create the bootable USB.
Install Windows 11
Once the USB is ready, open it in File Explorer.
Don’t boot from it — instead, double-click Setup.exe from within Windows.
Accept the compatibility warning and continue.
Reminder: You must run Setup from within your current Windows install. Booting from USB will cause errors on unsupported hardware.
Did It Work for You?
If you followed either method and successfully upgraded your PC, let me know how it went in the comments!
Ran into issues? Feel free to share:
Your PC’s make and model
Which method you used
Screenshots of any errors
I'm happy to help troubleshoot or point you in the right direction.
Final Thoughts
Microsoft may not officially support older PCs, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. With just a little technical know-how, Windows 11 is still within reach — even on hardware Microsoft says is “unsupported.”
This guide was last updated September 12, 2025, with the latest info on the Windows 11 24H2 release and new Rufus options.