Microsoft Ends Supports For Outdated Hardware With Windows 11

Expectations for Windows 11 have been brought to the minimum for hardware which have been dashed by Microsoft. According to the software giant, the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 requirement for Windows 11 is “non-negotiable,” as the end of support for Windows 10 is set for October 2025. 

TPM 2.0 is “non-negotiable” for Windows 11, according to Microsoft. The business stresses the need for safe and adaptable solutions. In order for Windows 11 to be officially supported, consumers must upgrade their hardware.

People are searching for ways to switch to Windows 11 without damaging perfectly good hardware, as Windows 10 will no longer be supported in October 2025. People had hoped that Microsoft would rescind the operating system’s TPM 2.0 requirement, which is the main obstacle preventing official support for older hardware. Though unlikely, it was feasible. As it turns out, Microsoft has completely shattered that optimism by indicating that users must update or risk falling behind.

Microsoft made it clear in a blog post titled “TPM 2.0 – a necessity for a secure and future-proof Windows 11” that it would not relax Windows 11’s stringent hardware requirements in an attempt to entice users to switch from Windows 10. The blog post explains TPM’s definition, the rationale for Microsoft’s creation of the TPM 2.0 requirement for Windows 11, and its functions.

When TPM was first announced in 2021, it was a surprising requirement for Windows 11. Today, almost all current PCs include support for TPM 2.0. It’s a chip or firmware feature at the hardware level that aids in data encryption and decryption, digital signature verification, and other cryptographic tasks.

Steven Hosking, a senior product manager at Microsoft, states that TPM 2.0 is essential for improving identity and data protection on Windows devices and preserving system integrity. TPM 2.0 also contributes to Windows 11’s future-proofing. It accomplishes this, for example, by assisting with the protection of private data as AI advances in server, cloud, and physical architecture.

Microsoft gives details on how TPM works with BitLocker disk encryption and other new security features in Windows 11, such as Credential Guard and Windows Hello for Business. Additionally, Secure Boot—a crucial technique that protects the boot process from any unwanted modifications—is supported by TPM 2.0.

There is no turning back on the hardware requirements because Microsoft has adopted TPM 2.0 “as a non-negotiable standard for the future of Windows,” according to Hosking. Windows 11 is only compatible with CPUs produced in 2018 and beyond since Microsoft additionally mandates that Windows 11 devices be able to implement virtualization-based security and hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI).

Over the years, a number of workarounds have been developed to enable Windows 11 to function on unsupported hardware in spite of the requirements. For virtualized versions of Windows 11, Microsoft did not initially implement a hardware-compliance check. However, in recent years, the corporation has been progressively restricting the upgrading and setup process, particularly with the 24H2 update.

Tools like Flyby11 have been compelled to take advantage of a feature of the Windows 11 setup that uses a Windows Server version of the installation to get around the hardware compatibility checks because of the enhanced compatibility tests with 24H2. Companies can alternatively adopt Microsoft’s official Windows 11 LTSC 2024 release, which mandates a list of supported CPUs but makes TPM an optional requirement.

With full-screen prompts, Microsoft is now attempting to persuade Windows 10 customers to purchase a new computer. The most recent reminders come after earlier this year’s warnings concerning Windows 10’s end of support date. Similar prompts have been used by Microsoft in the past to promote Windows 10 upgrades for users of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.

As a result, it is evident that Microsoft will not compromise on its TPM 2.0 standard; rather, it will place the responsibility for hardware upgrades on the customer. As expected, a guidance on how to check your hardware’s TPM and what to do if you’re still on 1.0 follows this text.

Microsoft has also considered the possibility of installing Windows 11 on hardware that isn’t supported. Microsoft actually issued a warning to all users running Windows 11 on outdated hardware just a few days before now.