🚀 How to Upgrade an “Incompatible” Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 for Free

 

Microsoft officially requires modern hardware for Windows 11 (TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and newer CPUs). But many perfectly good Windows 10 machines can still run Windows 11 smoothly — with just a little workaround.

Here’s how you can install or upgrade to Windows 11 on unsupported PCs safely and for free.

✅ Step 1: Back Up Your Data

Before anything else, back up important files. While the upgrade usually keeps your data, it’s always better to be safe.

✅ Step 2: Check Why Your PC is “Incompatible”

Download one of these tools:

• PC Health Check (official, but basic)

• WhyNotWin11 (detailed, shows CPU/TPM/Secure Boot status)

Most older PCs fail because of:

• Unsupported CPU

• Missing or disabled TPM 2.0

• Missing or disabled Secure Boot

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✅ Step 3: Get the Windows 11 ISO

1. Go to Microsoft’s Windows 11 download page.

2. Download the ISO file.

3. Mount it (right-click → Mount) or create a bootable USB with Rufus.

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✅ Step 4: Bypass Microsoft’s Restrictions

Option A: Registry Edit (for in-place upgrades)

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, press Enter.

2. Navigate to:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup

3. Right-click → New → DWORD (32-bit) → name it:
   AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU

4. Set its value to 1.

5. Run setup.exe from the Windows 11 ISO → choose Keep personal files and apps.

Option B: Use Rufus (for clean installs)

1. Insert a USB drive (8GB+).

2. Open Rufus → select the Windows 11 ISO.

3. Under “Image options,” choose:
   “Extended Windows 11 installation (no TPM / no Secure Boot / no RAM check).”

4. Boot from USB and install Windows 11 fresh.

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✅ Step 5: Finish Setup & Updates

• Sign in with your Microsoft account.

• Run Windows Update to fetch drivers and patches.

• Confirm your license: most upgrades from activated Windows 10 will stay activated automatically.

⚠️ A Few Notes

• Unsupported PCs might miss some feature or security updates — but most users report they still receive them.

• If you don’t like Windows 11, you can roll back to Windows 10 within 10 days (Settings → Recovery).

🎉 Conclusion

Even if Microsoft says your PC is “incompatible,” you can still upgrade and enjoy Windows 11’s modern design and features. With a simple registry tweak or a Rufus-created USB, almost any Windows 10 machine can make the jump — for free.