A woman looking confused holding Windows 11 upgrade media

The termination of support for Windows 10 by Microsoft in October 2025 means that business leaders need to plan for the transition to Windows 11, and this means understanding the Windows 11 upgrade requirements. Upgrading from Windows 10 to 11 is free, however, Windows 11 has specific hardware requirements and not all computers that currently run Windows 10 can be upgraded and older systems may need to be replaced.

Therefore, it is crucial to understand the technical prerequisites to facilitate a smooth transition.

In this blog post, we will discuss the technical requirements of upgrading to Windows 11 so you can assess its impact on your business.

Technical Requirements

Processors

Windows 11 needs a compatible 64-bit processor with a clock speed of at least 1 GHz and 2 or more cores.

Intel processors will need to be 8th-generation processors or above.

For AMD processors, it is not as simple to determine, but you will find a list of supported processors here:

Windows processor requirements Windows 11 supported AMD processors | Microsoft Learn

RAM

A minimum of 4GB of RAM is needed for Windows 11 to run.

Storage

You will need 64GB or more of storage space to install Windows 11.

TPM (Trusted Platform Module)

Windows 11 mandates TPM 2.0 for security reasons. It is essential to ensure that your system’s BIOS or UEFI firmware has TPM enabled.

Secure Boot

Secure Boot must be supported and enabled in the system’s UEFI firmware. Secure Boot is a feature that ensures only trusted software is loaded during start up, enhancing security.

Graphics Card

Your system must be equipped with a DirectX 12 compatible graphics card and a WDDM 2.0 driver.

Internet Connection

An internet connection will be required to finalize the upgrade process and to carry out updates after installation.

How to check if your systems are compatible

Microsoft provides a PC Health Check app to ascertain whether your system complies with the Windows 11 requirements. Running this tool can help identify any potential compatibility issues. Blisstech Solutions can assist with running this across your environment to audit this automatically.

What if my systems aren’t compatible?

If your systems aren’t compatible, you will need to take action before October 2025 to address this.

If the issue blocking the upgrade is a processor or TPM, you will most likely need to replace the system, as upgrading these items is usually not an option.

If one of the other technical requirements is the issue, then a simple upgrade or configuration change may be all that is needed.

If you need help or advice with the transition to Windows 11, Blisstech Solutions are experts in this field and would be delighted to help. Just get in touch.

← Don’t sleep on this simple, effective security booster The Blue Screen of Death and how to avoid it →

Some bosses think their people do less when working from home

Microsoft has become the leader of productivity over many decades. Can you imagine doing your day to day work without their software? So it’s no surprise the tech giant recently conducted a major new survey into productivity in the workplace – and some of the results might surprise you. Researchers surveyed 20,000 people working for […]

Tech Tip: How to add your availability to an Outlook Email

Today's Tuesday Two Minute Tech Tip will save you time when arranging meetings. Are you wasting time when trying to book meetings by constantly going back and forth with people trying to find a suitable time? There is a better way to find time for a meeting by using...

Tech Tip: Send quick Teams messages from anywhere

We all know that Teams messaging is a great way to communicate with others, but it can be disruptive if it interrupts our flow. Even though Teams messaging is a great way to communicate with colleagues, it can easily break your concentration and flow. You might find...

Is your business data at risk? Don’t take chances with old tech

Old computers and external drives can put your sensitive business data at risk.
We look at how to dispose of old computers and external drives in the safest way possible.

A man talking to his colleagues in an online meeting similar to Microsoft Teams

How to use MS Teams to replace your file server

You all know MS Teams as a video conferencing tool, but do you know about all of its other cool features? One such feature enables businesses to replace file servers, allowing users to work from anywhere and collaborate on documents in real-time. This video shows you...

Why setting up Facebook Wi-Fi for your business is a good idea

Setting up Facebook Wi-Fi for your business is a great way to increase customer engagement and loyalty. When customers connect to your guest Wi-Fi they can check in to your business on Facebook to gain access rather than entering a WiFi code. This allows them to stay...

Tech Tip: How to use a Password Manager

This Tech Tip is a tip on how to manage your passwords. It's a long tip this week, but that's because there is a lot to tell! With so many things being done online now, passwords are needed constantly. But with the advice that every password should be unique and not...

Security Awareness Training Thumbnail Image

Human Error: The Achilles’ Heel of Your Cybersecurity

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are prime targets for cyberattacks, and the most vulnerable element in their defence is their workforce. Effective cybersecurity awareness training is essential for every employee across your organisation. But to implement it...

Tech Tip: How to align in objects in Microsoft PowerPoint

In today's Tuesday's Two Minute Tech Tip Matt shows you how to align objects in PowerPoint. It can be a pain when trying to align things manually in PowerPoint, but there is a handy little feature that makes this easy. This video will show you how to: 👉 How to quickly...

Cybercrime is always evolving. Your training should be too

Cybercrime is an ever-evolving threat, and it's crucial to adapt and stay ahead. The increasing recognition of the value of cybersecurity awareness training among businesses is a positive trend. However, moving away from the "one-and-done" mindset is vital....

Windows 11 Upgrade Requirements