On October 5, Microsoft released the new Windows 11, which had previously been available through Microsoft Insider. Although Windows 10 was supposed to be the last version of Windows, the original “Windows as a Service” (WaaS) model remains in place, with the option to obtain a free upgrade using an existing Windows license—almost. While it’s still possible to use a Windows 7/8/10 license key for activation, the same hardware is no longer supported. Although tests have already shown that Windows 11 would, in principle, run on the same hardware, Microsoft apparently wants to break with old practices and ensure certain functionalities that wouldn’t be possible without specific requirements.
In addition to the requirements already in place for Windows 10, these specifically include a certain processor from a list maintained by Microsoft, an activated Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0, and the computer must boot via UEFI configured for Secure Boot (secured by certificates). Although it is currently possible to enable an installation or upgrade by making entries in the registry even if the hardware does not actually support it, I would strongly advise against doing so. First, as things stand, Windows 10 will continue to be supported until October 14, 2025; second, there is no guarantee that this option will remain available, nor that Microsoft will continue to allow future updates on such a system.
Since Windows Update in Windows 10 already checks whether your PC is compatible with Windows 11—so it can offer an upgrade if applicable—you may see a message on the update page stating that an upgrade to Windows 11 isn’t possible. However, this is just a snapshot of your current configuration and isn’t necessarily set in stone. The PC Health Check application is responsible for this message, and you can run it directly. However, there are two different versions, and only one of them explicitly shows which requirements are not met. If you have the older version installed, you can download the latest version from Heise, for example, install it, and run it. It not only shows which components are missing but also provides instructions on how to fix the problem.
If nothing works, keep in mind that Windows 10 will continue to receive updates until at least October 2025. A lot can still happen in that time, and even Microsoft may change its mind a few times.