Microsoft has announced that Windows 11 can be installed on PCs with older CPUs that do not meet the recommended hardware requirements. The operating system installation limitation is that the upgrade through Windows Update is applied, but if you download the ISO file and install it manually, you are not limited by this limitation.
The minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11, announced by Microsoft in June, include Intel’s 8th-generation core and later CPUs as official support targets. However, Microsoft explains that this requirement is mainly to ensure driver responsiveness or system-wide operation reliability when companies evaluate Windows 11 installations, and does not prevent individuals from trying to upgrade at their own risk.
Of course, that’s what Microsoft said, not recommending it. It is necessary to understand that installing on a PC that does not meet the Windows 11 requirements increases the likelihood of problems such as unstable operation or a blue screen.
Perhaps the majority of personal PC users will not deliberately download an ISO file, prepare installation media, and install an operating system on their PC that might run. However, if you try, you can try it if it meets the minimum requirements in the true sense, such as a dual-core 1GHz or faster 64-bit CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage space.
In addition, Microsoft is updating the Windows 11 compatibility checker program by performing verification work in cooperation with Intel and AMD for many processors that correspond to Windows 11. With the release of Windows 11, Microsoft really wants to urge the transition to a PC equipped with new security technologies such as DCH (Declarative, Componentized, Hardware Support Apps) drivers, TPM (Trusted Platform Module), and VBS (Virtualization-based Security). can be However, replacing a PC is also a big burden for general users. Providing alternatives without applying the minimum requirements will also have the effect of resolving user complaints. Related information can be found here.