How to Upgrade Your Old PC to Windows 11

As of October 14, 2025, Microsoft will cease security updates for Windows 10 PCs unless you join the Extended Security Updates program—at a steep cost.

If you’re feeling the pressure to upgrade to Windows 11 but are concerned your older hardware won’t make the cut, you’re not alone! This guide will walk you through supported methods to upgrade your PC, even if it doesn’t meet Microsoft’s stringent compatibility requirements.

Understanding Windows 11 Compatibility

Before we dive into the upgrade process, let’s clarify what Windows 11 requires. Microsoft mandates that PCs must be equipped with specific CPU models and a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0. If your older PC falls short, you might be left wondering how to proceed.

Key Requirements to Check

1. BIOS Mode: Your PC must be configured to boot using UEFI rather than Legacy BIOS.
2. Secure Boot: This feature needs to be enabled in your firmware settings.
3. TPM: A TPM version 1.2 will suffice, but having TPM disabled will prevent any upgrades.

Check your system compatibility by running System Information (Msinfo32.exe), and verify the BIOS Mode. If it says “Legacy,” you will need to switch to UEFI mode.

To confirm if TPM is enabled, use the Trusted Platform Module Management tool (Tpm.msc). If TPM is functioning, you should see relevant details; otherwise, a message will indicate that “Compatible TPM cannot be found.”

What If You Can’t Meet These Requirements?

If your hardware doesn’t support UEFI or lacks TPM entirely, don’t fret. There are several workarounds, and we’ll explore those in detail below.

Upgrade Options for Windows 11

Option 1: Registry Edit to Bypass Compatibility Checks

You can perform a simple registry edit to bypass the stringent CPU and TPM requirements:

1. Open Registry Editor: Launch regedit from the Start menu.
2. Create a New Key: Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup. If the MoSetup key doesn’t exist, right-click on Setup, select New > Key, and name it MoSetup.
3. Add a New DWORD: Right-click in the right pane of the MoSetup key, select New > DWORD (32-bit), name it AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU, and set the value to 1.
4. Restart Your PC: Save your changes and restart your computer.

Next, follow these steps to proceed with the upgrade:

1. Download Windows 11 ISO: Visit the Windows 11 Download page and download the Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices.
2. Mount the ISO: Double-click the downloaded ISO file to mount it as a virtual drive.
3. Run Setup: Navigate to the newly mounted drive in File Explorer and double-click on Setup.exe. Follow the prompts to begin your upgrade process.

Option 2: Use Rufus to Make a Bootable USB Drive

For those with older systems lacking TPM or Secure Boot, using the Rufus utility is your best bet. Here’s how to get started:

1. Download the Windows 11 ISO: Ensure you have the ISO file available.
2. Get Rufus: Download Rufus from its official website or the Microsoft Store.
3. Prepare Your USB Drive: Insert a USB drive (minimum 16 GB) and launch Rufus. Select your USB drive and pick the “Disk or ISO image” option.
4. Create the Installer: Choose the Windows 11 ISO and check the first box labeled “Remove hardware requirements” before starting the process.

After Rufus has created the bootable USB drive, plug it into your PC and open it in File Explorer. Double-click Setup to start the Windows 11 installation process.

Conclusion

Upgrading to Windows 11 doesn’t have to be a daunting task, even if your PC is an older model. By following the methods above, you can successfully upgrade while circumventing some of Microsoft’s compatibility roadblocks.

If you run into any issues during the upgrade, please share your experiences or ask for help. If everything works smoothly, share your success story too!

For more tech tips and guides, keep following our blog and stay up-to-date with the latest in the tech world!