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Most PCs built in the last 15 years can run Windows 11, even if they fail compatibility checks.
PCs sold with Windows 10 can usually upgrade after a simple registry edit.
On older or unusually configured PCs, a third-party utility gets the job done.
On Oct. 14, 2025, Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 10. Your old PC will no longer receive security updates unless you enroll it in the Extended Security Updates program.
If you try to upgrade to Windows 11 on a PC that's more than five or six years old, you'll probably encounter an error message telling you -- in no uncertain terms -- that your old PC doesn't qualify because its CPU isn't on the official list of compatible processors. You will also hit roadblocks if your PC doesn't have a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0, or if the TPM is not enabled.
Also: How to get free Windows 10 security updates through October 2026
That might be the official policy, but -- as with everything Windows-related -- it pays to read the fine print.
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