Can I Install Windows 11 on Unsupported Hardware PC?

We are all aware that Windows 11 is not compatible with all PC hardware combinations. Microsoft has modified the installation criteria for Windows operating systems, necessitating the use of Secure Boot and TPM 2.0. There will be no acceptance of liability for any damage to your device or data. This is the reason why Microsoft does not recommend deploying Windows 11 on hardware that is not compatible.

Can I set Windows 11 on unsupported hardware?

The reality is, though, that many people—who utilize Windows 11 for everyday usage or study—may not all have a PC that meets the rigorous system requirements of Windows 11. 

Microsoft therefore lets customers manually do a clean install or in-place upgrade using a bootable USB flash drive or ISO file. Still, anybody can upgrade at their own risk knowing that driver compatibility and system stability are not assured.

Stated differently, should you choose to install Windows 11 on inappropriate hardware, you could go ahead and manually set things up. You have to declare, nonetheless, that the upgrade will be in a "unsupported status." Microsoft defines a "unsupported state" as one whereby a device is not qualified for Windows Update updates as it does not fulfill the minimum system requirements.

Although these devices could still get updates, the vendor is not obliged to provide technical support, security and driver upgrades, either.

install Windows 11 on unsupported hardware

Installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware via USB

Generating a bootable media using Command Prompt will help you start the setup process with a USB flash drive after usage of the ISO file to finish a clean installation. You also have to make sure the device can be turned on using USB, which calls for modifying the UEFI settings. See your manufacturer's help website for more exact information as most computers have different settings.

Stage 1. Download Windows 11 ISO files

To do a clean Windows 11 installation, please download Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft web.

Stage 2. Create Windows 11 bootable USB via CMD

Section 1. Delete data on your USB

Step 1. Type “diskpart”, press “Enter”.

Step 2. Type “list disk”, press “Enter”.

Step 3. Type “select disk 1” (You need to change“1” to the number of your USB), press “Enter”.

Step 4. Type “clean”, press “Enter”.

Section 2. Create a primary partition

Step 1. Type “create partition primary”, hit “Enter”.

Step 2. Type “select partition 1”, hit “Enter”.

Step 3. Type “format FS=FAT32 quick”, hit “Enter”.

Step 4. Type “assign letter=X” (“X” is the letter of the partition, change it to the letter you wish to use.), hit “Enter”.

Step 5. Type “exit” and hit “Enter” to quit the tool.

Section 3. Move ISO files to USB

Step 1. Open CMD again, type “PowerShell Mount-DiskImage -ImagePath "C:\path\to\Windows11.iso"(make sure the path is right), press “Enter”.

Step 2. Type “diskpart”, press “Enter”.

Step 3. Type “list volume”, press “Enter”.

Step 4. Type “exit” to exit Diskpart, press “Enter”.

Step 5. Type “E:” to access ISO files, press “Enter”.

Step 6. Type “cd boot”, press “Enter”.

Step 7. Type “bootsect /nt60 X:”, press “Enter”.

Step 8. Type “xcopy E:\*.* X:\ /E /F /H”(change E and X to the drives with Windows 11 ISO image and your USB.)

Stage 3. Bypass TPM and SecureBoot check

Plug the USB into your PC, and press any key to continue. Use the Shift + F10 keyboard shortcut to open Command Prompt. Type regedit and press Enter.

Step 1. Navigate the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup

Step 2. Right-click on the right, and select “New” > “Key” to add a new registry key on the left side of the editor. Please name it “LabConfig”.

Step 3. Under the “LabConfig” key, right-click to create two “DWORD (32-bit) Value” options to create a new DWORD value.

Step 4. Name them as “BypassTPMCheck” and “BypassSecureBootCheck”, then click these two each twice, changing the “Value data” from “0” to “1”.

Stage 4. Install Windows 11

Then you’ll back to the Windows Setup window, please follow the order to finish the settings.

Step 1. Click “Install now”.

Step 2. Choose “I don’t have a product key”.

Step 3. Choose an OS edition you wish to install and click “Next”.

Step 4. Accept the License Term and click “Next”, click “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)” in the next window.

Step 5. Choose the target disk you wish to install Windows 11 OS, then click “Next”.

Step 6. Please wait for the process and your PC will reboot.

Then you can continue the settings according to your needs and situation.

Safer approach to run Windows 11 on unsupported hardware computer

on incompatible hardware As you can see, your PC and data run the risk of erratic failure of installation or updating regardless of the approach you pick from the aforementioned ones. Both approaches will so expose your devices to danger and cannot ensure system stability. Still, there always another path to get to your target. While Windows 11 cancels the Win to go capability, a useful program can enable you construct a Windows 11 to go disk for operating Windows 11 on incompatible PC.

Designed for Windows 11/10/8/8.1/7/XP, AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional manages disks and partitions. Its "Windows To Go Creator" feature allows you to create a portable disk including required Windows OS. Following your run, this disk on the target PC runs like a regular system; you may upgrade it just as with a standard Windows operating system. Running your own Windows 11 on any other PC, including Mac PC, using this disk is possible.

Step 1. Connect a USB drive larger than 13GB and download Windows 11 ISO file on your current computer.

Step 2. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. Then click "Tools" > "Windows To Go Creator".

Step 3. Choose "Create Windows To Go for personal computer" and click "Next". If you want to boot Windows from USB on Mac, just tick the second option.

Step 4. Choose the first option and click the folder icon to select Windows 11 ISO file you downloaded before manually. After that, click "Next" to continue.

Step 5. Select the prepared USB drive as your target drive and click "Proceed".

Step 6. Read the warning about all data will be erased carefully, and then click "Yes" to start creating.

After that, any time when you need to use Windows 11, you can boot the computer from this Windows 11 To Go device.

To sum up

It is risky to install Windows 11 on hardware that is not supported; however, the AOMEI Partition Assistant can be employed to install Windows 11 on an ancient PC or an unsupported CPU. The operation is also user-friendly for all consumers. There is no intricate procedure.

Additionally, users can clone disks, convert to MBR/GPT without data loss, relocate installed applications and large folders to a different location, allocate free space, and perform other tasks as a comprehensive disk tool. Additionally, it includes the Server Edition for Windows Server users, which is designed to support Windows Server 2025/2022/2019/2016/2012(R2).