Bad news for people whose PCs can’t run Windows 11

Microsoft has started cracking down on methods to bypass some of the hardware requirements for its Windows 11 operating system (OS).

The company has also issued a stern warning that those who have installed Windows 11 on unsupported PCs should roll back their updates urgently.

The steps come a few months before Microsoft will stop providing new features and security updates for Windows 10, which is still its most-used OS.

According to GlobalStats Statcounter, Windows 11 grew its share of the total Windows user base to approximately 36.65% by January 2025, which is roughly four and a half years after launch.

However, Windows 10 was still dominating overall, with roughly 60.33% market share at the same point.

It appears highly unlikely that Windows 11 adoption will surpass Windows 10 by October 2025, when the older OS will reach its end-of-life.

That could potentially leave millions of devices exposed to security vulnerabilities.

One particular hardware requirement for Windows 11 — Trusted Platform Module 2.0 — had many PC users up in arms in recent years and is potentially one of the factors slowing adoption.

TPM 2.0 refers to a security module on the motherboard or processor required for secure Windows Hello authentication and BitLocker data protection.

While TPM 2.0 support has become widespread in recent years and is even available on many lower-end CPUs shipping in entry-level PCs below R5,000, older flagship processors released before 2018 do not support the feature.

That includes many chips from AMD and Intel that still offer great performance in many modern applications, including the latest video games.

Several tech-savvy users quickly discovered a range of methods for bypassing the TPM 2.0 requirement, including modifying registry keys and creating altered installation media with tools like Rufus.

Microsoft itself provided clear instructions for doing so from the launch of Windows 11, albeit with a disclaimer that installing the OS on unsupported hardware was not recommended.

That was until December 2024, when the company quietly removed the instructions from the “Ways to install Windows 11” page.

Some tech publications have reported that the registry key change still worked despite Microsoft deleting the guidelines.

Microsoft issues vague warning

However, on the same page, Microsoft has also warned users running Windows 11 on unsupported hardware to roll back their machines to Windows 10 “immediately.”

It has not provided new details on the potential consequences of running the new OS on older hardware but has repeated its previous warnings regarding compatibility problems.

“If Windows 11 is installed on ineligible hardware, your device won’t receive support from Microsoft, and you should be comfortable assuming the risk of running into compatibility issues,” the company said.

“Devices that don’t meet these system requirements might malfunction due to compatibility or other issues. Additionally, these devices aren’t guaranteed to receive updates, including but not limited to security updates.”

In addition to removing its guidelines for altering the registry key, Microsoft started blocking another method to bypass the TPM 2.0 requirement by using Windows Server 2025’s system specifications check.

It remained possible to use that workaround via third-party apps, but Microsoft Defender has recently begun flagging some of that software as harmful.

That includes TPM 2.0 removal app Flyby11, which Defender has identified as Win32/Patcher, a known hacking tool.

In feedback to The Register, the developer of Flyby11 alleged that Microsoft subsequently told him the software did not meet malware criteria but it had nonetheless kept blocking the tool.

Microsoft also adds a watermark on the Windows 11 desktop for systems that don’t meet the minimum system requirements.

Additionally, there may be an ever-present notification in the Settings app advising that system requirements are not met.

Limited extended support available — for a price

Those users who are unable to upgrade to a computer meeting the required specifications or must keep running Windows 10 for a particular reason can join the Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme.

Microsoft is charging personal Windows 10 users $30 (R552) for the first year of ESU support.

The price will double for the second year to $60 (R1,104) and then double again to $120 (R2,208) for the third and final year of the Windows 10 ESU programme.

For business users, the prices will be $61 in the first year, $122 in the second year, and $244 in the third year.

The ESU programme excludes new features, customer-requested non-security updates, design change requests and general support.