In a surprising reversal, Microsoft has published new guidelines for installing Windows 11 on devices that do not meet the operating system's minimum requirements. This decision came less than a week after the company reiterated that the need for a TPM 2.0 chip was "non-negotiable" for official Windows 11 use, as reported by TechSpot.
Microsoft has released a support page showing the process of installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware. However, the company has laid out some key disclaimers. First, it doesn't recommend taking this route. Second, if you go ahead, you'll need to be okay with the risk of possible compatibility problems.
On top of that, devices with unsupported hardware might miss out on updates—even critical security patches. Lastly, if something goes wrong with your PC because of compatibility issues, don't expect it to be covered by the manufacturer's warranty.
Users who install Windows 11 on unsupported systems will see a watermark on their desktop and may receive notifications in Settings about unmet requirements. Microsoft has also provided instructions for rolling back to Windows 10 if users experience issues, adding that this option is only available for 10 days after installation.
Microsoft hasn't said why they made this change, but it might have something to do with recent trends. Statcounter shows Windows 10's market share went up again last month, while Windows 11's dipped a bit.
With Windows 10 support ending in October 2025, and no real option other than paying $30 to extend security updates just once, Microsoft might keep tweaking the requirements for Windows 11.