Windows 11 system requirements are bad news for old laptops and PCs
Now 64-bit only
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
As expected,Microsofthas announcedWindows 11at its event today, and it also revealed the system requirements that are needed to run the new operating system.
These system requirements, which we list below, are bad news for people with older laptops and PCs, as it may mean you can’t upgrade toWindows 11. However, you’ll still be able to useWindows 10for the next few years at least –with Microsoft supporting the OS until October 14, 2025.
The bump in hardware required can also been seen as good news for anyone who was hoping for a more revolutionary and ambitious update from Microsoft as well.You can also download theWindows PC Health Checkto see if your current PC meets the requirements to run the new Windows 11 OS, though this doesn’t appear to be accurate at the time of writing, displaying that folk using even a Ryzen 9 5900X CPU and 32GB of RAM don’t meet the current system requirements.
Windows 11 system requirements
Bye bye 32-bit
Perhaps the biggest issue for people running older hardware is that 32-bit systems are not able to run Windows 11.
This may not come as ahugesurprise. Most modern systems are 64-bit these days, and the limits of 32-bit hardware has meant otheroperating systems, such as many Linux distros, to ditch 32-bit support.
By being 64-bit only, Windows 11 can be more ambitious and not held back by catering for 32-bit systems.
However, this probably won’t be too much comfort for people using 32-bit hardware, who will now have to completely upgrade their gadgets to get Windows 11.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
Internet connection required
Another big change is that Windows 11 Home users will need to be connected to the internet when they first set up their device. They will also need to have a Microsoft Account – local accounts won’t be accepted.
While Microsoft claims this will help Windows 11 Home be a more connected operating system which is better customised to your interests, and you’ll only need to be connected to the internet during the initial setup, this will still be concerning for some people.
If you live in an area with poor internet connectivity, for example, then this could cause problems. For people who don’t want a Microsoft Account, this could also prove annoying, but at least they are free.
This only affects Windows 11 Home – Windows 11 Pro will continue to allow offline setup.
Matt is TechRadar’s Managing Editor for Core Tech, looking after computing and mobile technology. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there’s no aspect of technology that Matt isn’t passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. He’s personally reviewed and used most of the laptops in our best laptops guide - and since joining TechRadar in 2014, he’s reviewed over 250 laptops and computing accessories personally.
Alt + Tab trouble: Windows 11’s 24H2 update turns time-saving shortcut into ten-second headache
Windows 11’s Paint and Notepad apps are getting smart new AI features – though one of the best will be for Copilot+ PCs only
I’m a die-hard Apple fan, but even I’ll admit that the Google Pixel 9 Pro is the best-looking phone of the year
