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 →

Stop! And think, before you act on that email

Don’t fall victim to cyber criminals. We explain what a BEC attack is and how to protect your business.

Unlock the Hidden Productivity Gems within Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is a cornerstone for many businesses, but its vast potential often remains untapped. While applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams are widely used, there's a treasure trove of productivity-enhancing tools waiting to be discovered. Embark on...

Tech Tip: How to create a voting poll using Outlook

Welcome to a new Tuesday tech tip video where we will be exploring how to create a voting poll using Outlook and Microsoft Forms. Sometimes, when we need to get people's opinions on something, it can be a bit like herding cats! Maybe we need to get a consensus of...

How to get faster Wi-Fi in your office and for remote workers

The quickest way to upset your staff is by giving them slow access to the internet. Bad Wi-Fi quickly creates tension in the team and is a real productivity killer. You don’t have to suffer slow Wi-Fi. Here’s our guide to making Wi-Fi faster whether you’re working in...

More businesses are proactively investing in cyber security defences

More businesses are investing in cyber security defences

Cyber security: More and more businesses are making the smart business decision to invest in it. Find out why you should join them.

Can your business go green by switching to the cloud?

Cloud computing has quickly become a popular option for businesses that want to streamline their operations, reduce costs, and become more flexible. But are you swayed by the idea that cloud services are automatically better for the environment? Could the need to do your bit ‘cloud’ your decision-making? Sorry. Bad pun. It’s true that cloud services have environmental benefits compared …
Read More

Windows Hello gets a new look and improved security

Windows Hello gets improvments in security usability

Is your business using Windows Hello yet? It offers easier and more secure login methods – and it’s about to get an upgrade. Here’s what’s changing.

Microsoft plans a naming system for hackers

Hacking groups are given different names by different security companies. And that means you don’t know who’s really behind an attack so can’t react as quickly as you’d like. That’s about to change, thanks to Microsoft…

Ransomware Attacks Grow for Small Businesses

Two organisations have recently released reports on the state of ransomware and cybersecurity incidents affecting small businesses. Datto's State of the Channel Ransomware Report Datto has recently released their "State of the Channel Ransomware Report" for 2019...

Tech Tip: How to use Pivot Tables in Excel

Welcome to Tuesday's Two Minute Tech Tip where Matt shows you how you can explore your Excel data using the power of Pivot Tables. Pivot Tables are a powerful feature of Excel that allows you to manipulate your flat Excel data to perform calculations and create charts...

Windows 11 Upgrade Requirements