Windows 11 is finally here, and one can now install the first Insider Preview on any compatible computer or laptop. However, Windows 11 has strict system requirements, brings in many hardware requirements, and supports only specific processors. For example, it requires an 8th Generation Intel, AMD Zen 2, or Qualcomm 7 or 8 Series CPU – but you can install Windows 11 on PCs with older CPUs. There are ways around them, and it is possible to install Windows 11 on unsupported PC and laptops with older CPUs.

In this blog post, we have mentioned several ways how to install Windows 11 Insider Preview on unsupported hardware.

Should You Upgrade an Unsupported PC?

Let’s be clear first: If you’re on the hedge, we recommend against upgrading an unsupported PC or a laptop to Windows 11. Microsoft says that Windows 10 will be officially supported with security updates until October 2025.

Windows 11 doesn’t have any of the vast features that make it a must-upgrade, and Microsoft warns that unsupported devices may experience bugs and problems. In fact, the company also warns that it may eventually stop providing security updates for unsupported PCs running Windows 11.

However, if you are still interested in running Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, we’ll help you out. Whatever you do, we recommend you to take a backup of your important data first. It’s always essential to have a backup, especially when upgrading to a new OS, especially when it isn’t officially supported on your hardware.

READ | What is Windows Hardware Compatibility List (Windows HCL)

How To Install Windows 11 on an Unsupported PC

Microsoft has made it required to have TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot support for Windows 11. Furthermore, it supports only the latest processors, including 8th Gen and newer Intel chipsets. This is why users with older generation processors face issues with Windows 11 on their desktops and laptops.

List of Windows 11 Supported Intel Processors – Click Here
List of Windows 11 Supported AMD Processors – Click Here
List of Windows 11 Supported Qualcomm Processors – Click Here

If you manage to pass the minimum hardware requirement and compatibility, scroll down to the bottom for steps on installing Windows 10 through the official Insider Program. However, if your PC lacks a supported processor or a hardware requirement, proceed with the below-mentioned methods.

Manually Install Windows 11 Build
Registry Edit To Bypass Requirements for Windows 11
Install Windows 11 using OfflineInsiderEnroll Script
Bypass the TPM 2.0 Requirement to Install Windows 11
Update on Bypassing the TPM Requirement
Bonus – Install Windows 11 on Supported PC/Laptop

#1: How to manually install Windows 11 Preview Build on Your PC

Following are the detailed steps on how to manually install Windows 11 Build on your computer and laptop:

Step 1: To begin with, download the Windows 11 Insider Preview build from here (or Google Drive).
Step 2: Once downloaded, right-click the file and extract it to an accessible folder.
Note: Didn’t see the option to extract the downloaded file? Install 7Zip or WinRAR on your computer.
Step 3: Now, open the extracted folder. And click on the setup.exe file to start Windows 11 installation.
Step 4: Accept the license terms and conditions to proceed with the installation once the setup loads up.
Step 5: Then, choose “Keep personal files and apps” and click on Next (so that your existing data is safe).
Step 6: Once you’re on the Ready to Install page, click on the Install button to begin installing Windows 11 on your incompatible device.

Update Microsoft Store: Once you’ve installed Microsoft Windows 11, now it’s time to install the latest version of Microsoft Store as it’s missing on the preview build. To do so, you need to download the Microsoft Store installer file from here. Then, open the setup file and select the Update option to install the new Microsoft Store preview.

That’s it. Wait for the installation process to finish. This way, you can enjoy Windows 11 the unofficial way without having to pass the compatibility check.

#2 – Registry edit to bypass requirements for Windows 11

Proceeding with this method requires users to the registry and bypass the requirements for Windows 11. However, it would help if you made sure to back up the registry before proceeding, as Registry edits can damage your system. So, continue at your own risk.

Also, if you start using Insider Preview Builds on an unsupported PC, you might have to roll back to Windows 10 or upgrade your device once Windows 11 is publicly released.

Following are the detailed steps on how to edit the registry and bypass requirements for Windows 11:

Step 1: Open Settings and navigate to Update & Security > Windows Insider Program on your Windows device.

Step 2: Click on Get Started and then link your Microsoft Account. Make sure you are using the same Microsoft Account you used to register with Microsoft’s Insider Program.

Optional Shortcut Method: Download the registry file from here and open the file to apply the required settings. Once done, you can then directly skip to Step 9. Alternatively, you can also create a registry file yourself by typing the codes below in notepad and saving it with a .reg extension.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\UI\Selection]
“UIContentType”=”Mainline”
“UIRing”=”External”
“UIBranch”=”Dev”

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\Applicability]
“BranchName”=”Dev”
“ContentType”=”Mainline”
“Ring”=”External”

Step 4: Once your device reboots, press the W + R keys to open Run. Here, type Regedit and press Enter.

Step 5: Once the Registry Editor opens, select and copy HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost\UI\Selection and paste it into the address bar. Or, you can also manually navigate to the Selection folder.

Step 6: Right-click on the Selection folder in the sidebar and click Export. And save it in an accessible place as a backup.

Step 7: Now, click UIBranch and change its value data to Dev. Likewise, change the ContentType to Mainline and Ring to External.

Step 8: Now, close the Registry Editor on your desktop and rebook your PC or Laptop.

Step 9: Once your machine restarts, go to Settings > Update & Security and see if your device is enrolled in Windows Insider Program under the Dev channel. If not, select “Dev Channel.”

Now again, open Settings > Update & Security > Check for updates. Now, you shall be able to update your computer to Windows 11 Insider Preview Build.

What if the Windows 11 update fails?

If the Windows 11 update fails or says that your PC is unsupported, cancel or close the setup. Then, download the appraiserres.dll file and copy it to folder C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources (replace the original file if prompted). Then, try updating again through Windows Update.

#3 – Install Windows 11 using OfflineInsiderEnroll Script

The OfflineInsiderEnroll Script uses undocumented settings from the Windows Insider Program. It can enroll you in the Insider Program’s Dev channel on unsupported computers and work even with the local accounts – you don’t need to sign in with a Microsoft Account.

Step 1: Download the OfflineInsiderEnroll Script from the GitHub website.
Step 2: Once the file is downloaded, right-click the script and click “Run as Administrator.”
Step 3: The command window will open and ask you to select from the Available Windows Insider Program channels.
Step 4: Select Dev Channel by pressing the corresponding number, i.e., ‘1’.
Step 5: Press Enter and reboot your PC.
Step 6: At last, go to Settings > Update & Security and click on Check for updates.

You can now download and install the Windows 11 Insider Preview on your incompatible PC or Laptop.

How to bypass the TPM 2.0 requirement to install Windows 11

You may get an error message that reads “This PC Can’t Run Windows 11” while trying to install Windows 11 on an unsupported desktop or laptop without TPM 2.0. Nevertheless, you can bypass the TPM 2.0 requirement with a simple registry edit.

Following are the detailed steps on how to bypass the TPM 2.0 requirement to install Windows 11 on unsupported devices:

Step 1: Press the Win + R keys to open Run. Then type Regedit and press Enter.

Step 2: Now, paste the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup in the address bar or you can manually go to the Setup folder.

Step 3: Here, right-click and create a new key named LabConfig.

Step 4: In LabConfig key, create two new DWORDs with the values below:

BypassTPMCheck – 00000001
BypassSecureBootCheck – 00000001

Step 5: Now, save and close the registry editor. And retry installing Windows 11.

Update on bypassing TPM requirement

Gratefully, users can now install Windows 11 on their PCs even with an older TPM 1.2 module. In addition, Microsoft now allows you to change the registry key in Windows to enable upgrades, providing you acknowledge and know the risks. All you need to do is follow the below-given steps:

Step 1: Press the Win + R keys to open Run. Then type Regedit and press Enter.
Step 2: Select HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup and paste it on the address bar, and hit Enter.
Step 3: Find the AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU key.
Step 4: Set its value to 1. That’s it.

Another method is to modify the actual ISO file. To do so, you need to overwrite the “appraiserres.dll” file in the Sources folder with the same file from a Windows 10 ISO, then recreate the image.

Bonus – How to install Windows 11 on supported devices

If your PC or Laptop is compatible with Windows 11, you can visit insider.windows.com and register for the Insider program under the Dev channel. Then, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Insider Program and connect your Microsoft account.

Once done, restart the computer, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and check for the updates. You’ll likely receive the latest Insider build by now. So proceed with the update to install the newest version of the Insider Preview build, like any other Windows update.

Conclusion

In the above blog post, we have mentioned three methods to download and install Windows 11 on unsupported PC or incompatible laptops. We request you not to try all of them. Also, let us know which method worked for you in the comments section below. Please, proceed with caution and make sure to backup data you find essential.

How To Install Windows 11 on Unsupported PC [Bypass TPM 2.0]