Windows 11 compatibility: Check if your PC can handle Microsoft's upgrade

https://www.cnet.com ^ | Oct. 6, 2021 9:00 a.m. PT | Mary King, Alison DeNisco Rayome

[Red Badger]

Windows 11 started to roll out, but is your laptop ready for the new OS? Find out using the PC Health Check app WhyNotWin11 and other options.

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Microsoft will phase out Windows 10 support over the next few years, so it's important to make sure your device supports Windows 11.

Sarah Tew/CNET Windows 11 arrived Tuesday (here's our full Windows 11 review) and the big question on a lot of PC users' minds since Microsoft unveiled its first major operating system upgrade in six years is, will my computer be compatible? There's been some confusion about device compatibility since Microsoft's big announcement of the updated OS earlier this summer. But the short answer is that Windows 11 should work with most PCs, according to a company blog post. However, though its release date has finally arrived, even compatible devices won't necessarily get the upgrade yet -- Microsoft says you might have to wait until mid-2022 to download and install Windows 11.

Read more: Windows 11 review: Familiar but fresh

Annoyingly, Microsoft's own tool for determining device compatibility -- the PC Health Check app -- wasn't up to par when Microsoft first announced Windows 11 earlier this year (there were reports it didn't give people enough information about why their devices weren't compatible), so the company temporarily removed the app. But Microsoft's PC Health Check is now back online and in working order. The app will tell you if your computer meets the requirements to run Windows 11 and if it doesn't, it will tell you why and provide links for more support.

But that's not the only way to check if your device will work with the free Windows 11 update. Read on for all of your options for checking Windows 11 device compatibility. With the Windows 11 release date finally here (remember, however, that it'll be a staggered rollout), it's a good idea to check your own computer. If your device doesn't meet eligibility requirements, you may need to replace your PC by 2025 as Microsoft phases out Windows 10 over the next several years.

Option 1: Use Microsoft's PC Health Check app to see if your computer can run Windows 11 Follow these steps to test whether your PC meets the system requirements for Windows 11.

1. Download Microsoft's PC Health Check. Open the file, agree to the terms of service and click Install. Make sure the box is checked that says Open PC Health Check, and click Finish.

2. The app home page that pops up says, "PC health at a glance." At the top, a box reads, "Introducing Windows 11." Click Check now.

If your machine isn't compatible, you'll get a message that says, "This PC doesn't currently meet Windows 11 system requirements," with more information below.

If your machine is compatible, you can download the Windows 11 update for free. The official Windows 11 release date is today, Oct. 5, but Microsoft is planning a staggered rollout, and many devices will not see the upgrade until 2022.

Option 2: Try the WhyNotWin11 app to check Windows 11 compatibility An open-source app called WhyNotWin11 is a good alternative to the PC Health Check app. The Github app, created by a developer not affiliated with Microsoft, has a less friendly interface, but it should give you more information and go into more detail about various potential compatibility issues. Here's more information from TechRadar on how to use it to determine your own device compatibility with Windows 11.

Option 3: Check Microsoft's list of system specifications for Windows 11 To determine if your current PC will be able to run Windows 11, you can check out this list of system specifications on Microsoft's website, or in the chart below. If your machine is compatible, you can download the Windows 11 update for free when it becomes available.

What are the system requirements to run Windows 11? Here's the full list of system requirements for Windows 11, including at least 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage and a 720p display larger than 9 inches diagonally.

[TChad]

Tested: AMD CPU Cache Latency Up to 6x Slower in Windows 11:

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/amd-ryzen-windows-11-gaming-benchmarks-L3-cache-bug

[Red Badger]

Ping to this post...................

[newfreep]

Windows 11 review

https://frontnewsonline.com/windows-11-review/

Excerpt...and VERY disturbing - i.e. unable to work offline to use your computer.

“A new requirement for anyone to access Windows 11 will be a Microsoft account and an internet connection.”

“Without these, you’ll be stuck at the set up screen. While understandable from one perspective, it could frustrate others who just want to use a PC occasionally without having to create an account or constant access to an internet connection.”