If you run into the "This PC doesn't currently meet Windows 11 system requirements" warning when trying to upgrade or move to Windows 11, the problem is most often a disabled TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot setting. The good news: most modern computers already have these features, you just need to turn them on in the BIOS.
First, Find Out What's Missing
Download and run Microsoft's PC Health Check app. When you click "Check now", the app tells you exactly which requirement isn't being met: TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, processor compatibility or RAM. In most cases, the TPM and Secure Boot that appear to be missing are actually present but turned off in the BIOS.
Fix 1: Enable TPM 2.0 in the BIOS
Restart the computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI with the Del / F2 / F10 key during startup. Find the TPM setting under the Security or Advanced menu. It is named differently depending on the manufacturer: on Intel systems it's PTT (Platform Trust Technology), on AMD systems it's fTPM. Set this option to Enabled, then save and exit.
To check the TPM status from within Windows, press Win + R > type tpm.msc. If you see "The TPM is ready for use" and version 2.0, you're all set.
Fix 2: Enable Secure Boot
Again in the BIOS, set the Secure Boot option to Enabled under the Boot or Security menu. If the Secure Boot option appears greyed out/disabled, you may first need to switch Boot Mode to UEFI (turning off CSM/Legacy). If your disk is MBR, you'll need to convert it to GPT to switch to UEFI (using the mbr2gpt tool, without data loss).
Fix 3: Convert the Disk to GPT if It's MBR
For UEFI and Secure Boot, the disk partition style must be GPT. From your current Windows, in an administrator Terminal, first check eligibility and then convert:
mbr2gpt /validate /allowFullOS
mbr2gpt /convert /allowFullOS
After converting, set Boot Mode to UEFI in the BIOS and enable Secure Boot. It's recommended to back up your data before this operation.
Fix 4: If the Processor Really Is Incompatible
If PC Health Check says your processor isn't supported, the hardware really is old. Microsoft does not officially recommend installing on unsupported hardware; these devices fall outside the update guarantee. Still, for those who want to try it on an older device, there are ways to bypass the requirements with the registry or tools like Rufus; however, these methods carry update and stability risks and are not recommended on critical devices.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I know if my computer has TPM 2.0?
Press Win + R > type tpm.msc. If the window that opens says "The TPM is ready for use" and Specification Version 2.0, you have it. If it doesn't appear, you need to enable PTT/fTPM in the BIOS.
The Secure Boot option is greyed out and I can't change it, why?
It's usually because the system is in Legacy/CSM mode. You need to switch Boot Mode to UEFI and, if necessary, convert the disk to GPT; after that, Secure Boot becomes available to enable.
Is it safe to install Windows 11 on an unsupported processor?
It can be installed, but Microsoft doesn't recommend it. These devices fall outside the update guarantee and may run into trouble with major version updates. They shouldn't be the preferred choice for critical devices.
Conclusion
The "This PC can't run Windows 11" error is most often caused by TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot being turned off in the BIOS. Enabling these two settings and, if needed, converting the disk to GPT solves the problem. If the processor really is incompatible, a hardware upgrade comes into play.