After a long run of Windows 10, the Microsoft Windows 11 upgrade has finally been announced. The latest version of Windows brings a host of new features and design improvements that will take user experience to the next level.
With that said, not everyone can upgrade their Windows to the latest version, unfortunately.
Now you might be wondering: How do I know if my laptop will support the Microsoft Windows 11 update?
Worry not; the answer is relatively straightforward. As long as your laptop meets the minimum requirements as laid out by Microsoft, it should be upgradable to the latest version of 11.
So keep on reading to find out if your laptop meets the Microsoft Windows 11 update requirements!
What is Microsoft Windows 11?
Windows 11 is the latest version of Windows from Microsoft, scheduled to be released on October 5, 2021.
At the heart of Windows 11 is essential user interface changes guaranteed to improve the Windows user experience.
What’s more, this Windows version is optimized for work-from-home environments that have taken off ever since the Covid’19 pandemic, bringing better integration with Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
For a complete list of Windows 11 latest features, check out the Microsoft Windows 11 official page.
Is My Laptop Eligible for Windows 11 Upgrade?
It sounds like a sweet deal so far, but you may be wondering if your laptop will be able to support the Windows 11 upgrade.
Well, the good news is that as long as you have a new laptop, one that was manufactured within the previous five years, you can safely upgrade your laptop to Windows 11.
There are several ways you can check if your laptop can install Windows 11. We’ll mention a few of these below.
Method 1: Use Microsoft PC Health Check App
The Microsoft PC Health Check app is a handy little tool that can perform many functions. One of these functions is checking whether or not your laptop meets the minimum requirements for running Windows 11.
If you’ve signed up for the Windows Insider program, all you have to do is follow the steps below to determine your laptop’s upgradeability:
Step # 1
Download the official Microsoft PC Health Check app. Once the file is downloaded, execute it to run the installer.
Step # 2
You should see the terms of service displayed on the screen. Agree to the terms of service, then click Install.
Step # 3
Now, check the box that says Open PC Health Check, then click on Finish.
Step # 4
Next, run the newly installed app. The app’s home page should display “PC Health at a glance.”At the top of the home page, a box should display “Introducing Windows 11”. Navigate to the box and click the Check now button.
Step # 5
You’re done! You should now be able to see whether or not you can upgrade your laptop to Windows 11.
If your laptop doesn’t meet the minimum system requirements, you’ll see a prompt stating, “This PC doesn’t currently meet Windows 11 system requirements”.
On the other hand, if your laptop meets the requirements, you will be prompted with a success message. You can download Windows 11 on your laptop once it’s available or try out the Insider Preview Build version.
Method 2: Check The Full List of Windows 11 Upgrade Requirements
If you don’t prefer using the Windows 11 Health Check app, you always have the option of simply checking the full list of system requirements for Windows 11 from the list below.
Note that you can upgrade some laptops so that they can meet the minimum requirements for installing and running Windows 11. To upgrade to Windows 11, your laptop must have:
Processor:
At least 1GHz with two or more cores, either on a System on a Chip (SoC) or compatible 64-bit processor.
RAM:
At least 4GB RAM.
Storage:
At least 64GB of storage on HDD or SSD.
System Firmware:
UEFI and Secure Boot capabilities. To find out more about how your PC may fulfill this requirement, click here.
TPM:
Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0. To find out more about how your PC may fulfill this requirement, click here.
Graphics Card:
At least a DirectX 12 compatible GPU with WDDM 2.0 driver support.
Display Resolution:
At least 720p (HD) display. The display must be greater than 9 inches diagonally and have at least 8 bits per color channel.
Internet Connection:
Internet connectivity (preferably high speed) and a Microsoft Account.
Current Laptop Operating System:
Windows 10, at least version 2004. If you do not have the latest Windows 10 system update, you can update your current Windows version for free through Settings > Update and Security > Windows Update.
Note that these are just the minimum system requirements for the Windows 11 Update. Naturally, some apps may have higher requirements to run than the minimum system requirements.
Additionally, Microsoft may roll out Windows 11 updates in the future that may have higher system requirements than the minimum.
Method 3: Check The Full List of Laptops That Support Windows 11 Upgrade
Hey, we get it: reading through technical specs and computer jargon isn’t’ everyone’s cup of tea. That’s why you always have the option of browsing the full list of laptops that support the Windows 11 upgrade.
To see the list of laptops that you can upgrade to Windows 11, click here. Note that this list is by no means exhaustive, as it is also possible to configure some lower-end laptops for Windows 11 upgrade as long as they meet the minimum requirements.
To purchase a new Windows 11 laptop, check out Microsoft’s official store with trusted retailers here.
Conclusion
Windows 11 is just around the corner and is packed with exciting new features and an improved user interface.
To check whether or not your laptop supports the Windows 11 upgrade, you can either use the official Microsoft PC Health Check app with the Windows Insider program, check the full list of requirements, or manually browse through the list of laptops supporting Windows 11.
As long as you follow one of the methods above, you’ll be able to determine your laptop’s eligibility for Windows 11 in no time!