Windows 11 on Unsupported Hardware

Microsoft ramps up pressure on users running Windows 11 on unsupported hardware and now it’s playing hardball to discourage you from doing just that.

In an update to a Windows 11 support document, Microsoft warns that a watermark will be added to the desktop on any PC that’s been upgraded to Windows 11 without meeting the minimum requirements. Further, a notification may pop up in the Settings app to indicate that the computer doesn’t meet the necessary requirements.

Microsoft is also cautioning people that any unsupported PC running Windows 11 might not receive updates, while any damages may not be covered by the warranty.

Here’s the strong-arm language that could appear on any upgraded PCs that don’t qualify for Windows 11:

This PC doesn’t meet the minimum system requirements for running Windows 11 – these requirements help ensure a more reliable and higher quality experience. Installing Windows 11 on this PC is not recommended and may result in compatibility issues. If you proceed with installing Windows 11, your PC will no longer be supported and won’t be entitled to receive updates. Damages to your PC due to lack of compatibility aren’t covered under the manufacturer warranty. By selecting Accept, you are acknowledging that you read and understand this statement.

On the support page, Microsoft even includes detailed steps on how to roll your unsupported Windows 11 PC back to Windows 10 if you change your mind. This Go Back option is only available for up to 10 days after the upgrade, so you can’t wait too long to make the decision.

Since its release in 2021, Windows 11 has faced resistance from users. That resistance is likely due to a few reasons.

1: People comfortable with Windows 10 have little desire to upgrade.

2: Windows 11 changes certain key features, such as the Start menu and Taskbar, and not for the better.

3: Windows 11 imposes stricter hardware requirements, such as Secure Boot and TPM 2.0. This leaves many older PCs out of the running, forcing you to purchase a new computer just to run the new OS.

It’s estimated that 240 million computers worldwide are incompatible with Windows 11 hardware requirements, lacking Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0, a supported CPU, 4GB RAM, UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability, or supported Graphics card.

With the uptake of Windows 11 slow to start, adoption has lately been inching up. However, Windows 10 continues to be the dominant OS with a 62% share of the market, leaving Windows 11 with around 35%, according to the latest numbers. But as we move closer to the end of support for Windows 10, more people are going to want to upgrade, if not by buying a new PC – then by upgrading their existing one.

Enterprises & individuals will have the option of paying for extended life support – for up to three more years in the case of enterprises, though it becomes quite expensive. Extended Security Updates will be available to consumers for one year only (until October 2026) for the price of $30. Educational organizations will have it cheap – just $7 for three years, while commercial organizations are looking at spending some serious money: $61 for the first year, $122 for the second year and $244 for the third year of security updates, totaling in $427 for every Windows 10 computer over three years.

Switching is always difficult and expensive and since Microsoft seems determined to kill off Windows 10 in less than a year, we all need to start planning for this now.

Microsoft Support Document Update:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-on-devices-that-don-t-meet-minimum-system-requirements-0b2dc4a2-5933-4ad4-9c09-ef0a331518f1