Why Your Computer Might Not Support Windows 11
Why Your Computer Might Not Support Windows 11
TPM 2.0 is just one way it’s working to improve security in Windows 11. One point of contention that’s been popping up since the reveal is that Microsoft says Windows 11 won’t support older PCs.
This is because the operating system is designed to take advantage of features offered on newer processors, like virtualization-based security (VBS) and hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI). Essentially, these two types of protections can help stave off common malware and ransomware attacks.
While TPM has been causing some confusion because of Windows 11, it isn’t new technology.
"TPM chips have been included in most enterprise-grade PCs since 2016, so if your computer is relatively new, this requirement shouldn’t affect you," Riley explained. However, he noted that some non-enterprise computers or PCs older than 2016 might require updated hardware or even need to be replaced to offer TPM 2.0 access.
With the reveal of Windows 11, Microsoft also released a new PC Health App designed to help users determine if their PC is capable of running Windows 11. Because Windows hasn’t required TPM in the past, many PCs that offer the feature don’t have it turned on. Originally, the app simply said that the user’s PC didn’t support TPM. However, the app was updated to provide a bit more clarity before being removed completely. Now, where the app is available says it's "Coming Soon."
The real reason that this is such a big deal, though, is because consumers confused by the requirement have been purchasing new systems or looking into purchasing TPM chips that they can install themselves. While that’s definitely an option, Riley says you should first check to see if your PC supports it before putting any money on the table.
Some experts also are cautious about what actual benefits TPM will add at the moment, and say that Microsoft’s big push feels more like a call to get users to upgrade their machines than an actual push to update security in the OS.
"TPM isn’t the holy grail of cybersecurity, however, it can be a useful element," Dirk Schrader, global vice president of security research at , told Lifewire in an email.
"As these chips and their firmware are man-made, there will be vulnerabilities discovered, as was the case in past implementations of TPM. Pushing this 'security story' is—at least in part—a deviation from other security issues still lurking in Microsoft’s family of products and an attempt to convince consumers to upgrade fast."
Additionally, John Bambenek, a threat intelligence advisor at, says that Microsoft’s move won’t stop the current attacks plaguing most consumers.
"Microsoft is trying to use ransomware, a threat this defense won’t stop, as a way to justify what probably is a good security move generally, but one everyone else but Microsoft is going to have to pay for. The move, however, isn’t really going to stop the most relevant attacks for most consumers or enterprises," Bambenek said.
Windows 11 will run Android phone apps, just like the latest Macs can run iPhone apps, but why will Microsoft allow this?
Microsoft has historically kept a tight control of its dual moneymakers, Windows and Office. But in recent years, these products have become parts of its new goal—to be the go-to vendor for all business software. With this in mind, it makes sense that Windows should do as much as possible, including letting you run all your Android apps on your PC. But things are already a little confusing.
"Not all Android apps in the Google Play Store [will work], only those in the Amazon Appstore will be compatible for use in Windows 11," Michael Knight, co-founder of, told Lifewire via email. "[Also], Windows will attempt to natively sideload Android applications." Got that?
iPhone apps can run on the latest M1 Macs because they all use the same chips and share a common set of tools for building apps. In a sense, the newest Macs are just big iPhones.
Android on Windows is quite different, and conceptually way more complex. Android apps can run on ARM processors (like Apple’s M1, or the Qualcomm Snapdragon chips powering most Android phones), or on the Intel x86 chips found in most PCs.
To serve apps, Windows 11 will include the Amazon Appstore. If the app you want to install is available in native x86 (PC) format, then it will just give you that. If not, then Windows will activate a special in-between layer that translates the phone app to run on the PC.
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