If you have run the PC Health Check app and your computer does not meet Windows 11’s requirements, you are not alone. Many PCs that run Windows 10 perfectly well are blocked by the TPM 2.0 requirement. Here is a practical guide to your options.
Why Some PCs Cannot Run Windows 11
Windows 11 requires hardware features that older PCs may not have:
- TPM 2.0 — the most common blocker; required for hardware-based security
- Supported processor — Microsoft only supports 8th generation Intel Core (and newer) and AMD Ryzen 2000 series (and newer), plus a handful of exceptions
- UEFI with Secure Boot — older systems with legacy BIOS firmware do not qualify
If your PC fails TPM 2.0 but is otherwise modern, the chip may simply be disabled in your BIOS rather than absent. Check our guide: Can My PC Run Windows 11? — enabling TPM in BIOS is free and takes a few minutes.
If your CPU is on an unsupported generation, no BIOS change will help. You genuinely need new hardware or an alternative path.
Option 1 — Buy Extended Security Updates (ESU)
Microsoft offers Windows 10 Extended Security Updates for up to three years after end of life (until October 2028). This keeps your Windows 10 machine receiving security patches without upgrading.
Consumer pricing: approximately $30 per device per year (Year 1). Pricing increases in subsequent years.
Business pricing: $61 per device for Year 1, doubling each year.
ESU is a stopgap, not a long-term solution. It buys time while you plan a hardware replacement or switch to an alternative OS. After October 2028, even ESU support ends.
Who ESU is right for:
- Businesses that need compliance coverage (Cyber Essentials, GDPR) while completing a phased hardware refresh
- Individuals who need more time to save for a new PC
- Specialist use cases where a specific piece of software only works on Windows 10
Option 2 — Buy a New PC or Laptop
If your PC is old enough not to support Windows 11, it is likely also due for replacement on performance grounds. Modern Windows 11 PCs offer significantly faster SSDs, better CPUs and longer battery life than machines from 2015–2017.
Windows 11 Home comes pre-installed on all new consumer PCs. Entry-level options that handle everyday tasks well include budget laptops and desktop PCs starting around £350–£500.
If you replace your hardware, your existing Windows 10 licence does not transfer — but Windows 11 comes included with any new PC purchase. You can also transfer your Microsoft 365 subscription and your files to the new machine.
Option 3 — Upgrade Only the Storage and RAM
If your PC fails Windows 11 compatibility only because of an unsupported processor, swapping the storage or RAM will not help — the CPU is the blocker. However, if your machine has an older spinning hard drive and limited RAM, upgrading to an SSD and 8GB RAM can make Windows 10 feel significantly faster while you run it under ESU or make a longer-term plan.
This is only worth considering if your CPU is in the borderline supported range and you are considering enabling TPM and Secure Boot to qualify — not if the processor is genuinely unsupported.
Option 4 — Switch to Linux
Linux is a free, open-source operating system that runs well on older hardware, including machines that cannot run Windows 11. Distributions like Ubuntu, Linux Mint and Zorin OS are designed to be accessible to Windows users and offer a desktop experience that most people can pick up quickly.
Linux is a good fit if:
- You mainly use your PC for web browsing, email, document editing and video streaming
- You are comfortable with some initial learning curve
- You do not depend on Windows-only software like Microsoft Office (LibreOffice is a free alternative), Adobe Photoshop, or specialist business applications
Linux is not ideal if:
- You rely on specific Windows software that does not run on Linux (some applications run under Wine or a Windows virtual machine, but this adds complexity)
- Your business uses Active Directory, Group Policy or Windows-only management tools
The most beginner-friendly Linux distributions are Linux Mint (very similar feel to Windows) and Ubuntu (large community, lots of support resources). Both are completely free to download and install.
See our guide: Best Linux Distros for Beginners
Option 5 — Use the PC for Offline Tasks Only
An end-of-life PC that is not connected to the internet faces far lower risk than one that is online. If you have an older machine that is used purely for offline tasks — running specialist software, controlling industrial equipment, printing labels — keeping it on Windows 10 without internet access is a lower-risk scenario.
This is not suitable for any machine that connects to email, browsers or shared network drives.
Choosing the Right Path
- TPM disabled but hardware is modern? — Enable TPM in BIOS and upgrade for free. No cost at all.
- CPU unsupported but PC otherwise functional? — ESU for 1–2 years while budgeting for a new PC
- Old PC, everyday tasks only? — Linux Mint is free and works well on old hardware
- Business with compliance requirements? — ESU + phased hardware refresh, see our Windows 10 EOL business guide
- Ready to move on? — New PC with Windows 11 pre-installed
