Windows 10 PC Health Check Says This PC Can’t Run Windows 11: Checking What Is Really Missing
With Windows 10 past its end of support date, many owners run Microsoft’s PC Health Check app and receive a red cross. When Windows 10 PC Health Check says this PC can’t run Windows 11, it does not always mean YYPAUS the hardware is too old.
Windows 11 has firm requirements, including TPM 2.0, Secure Boot capability, and a supported processor. Some of these exist on many PCs but are switched off in the firmware.
Reading the exact reason given by the app tells you whether a setting change will do or whether the processor itself is not supported.
Possible Causes
The check typically fails for one of these reasons:
- TPM 2.0 is present but disabled in the BIOS or UEFI settings.
- Secure Boot is turned off, or the PC is starting in legacy BIOS mode.
- The processor is not on Microsoft’s supported list.
- There is not enough RAM or storage.
Intel and AMD often label the TPM differently, as Intel PTT and AMD fTPM.
Quick Fixes to Try First
Find out the exact reason.
- Open PC Health Check, select “Check now,” and then “See all results.”
- Note every item marked with a red cross.
- Press Windows + R, type tpm.msc, and press Enter. It will show the TPM status and specification version, or report that no TPM was found.
- Type msinfo32 in the search box and check “Secure Boot State” and “BIOS Mode.”
- Update PC Health Check itself through its own prompt or Windows Update.
A “UEFI” BIOS mode with Secure Boot “Off” is good news, because it can usually be enabled.
Advanced Steps for Stubborn Cases
Enable missing features in the firmware.
- Restart and enter the BIOS or UEFI setup using the key shown at startup.
- Look under Security or Advanced for TPM, Intel PTT, or AMD fTPM, and enable it.
- Look under Boot or Security for Secure Boot, and enable it if the PC is already in UEFI mode.
- Save, restart, and run PC Health Check again.
- If the processor is listed as unsupported, check Microsoft’s published processor list, since there is no setting that can change this.
If BIOS Mode is Legacy, Secure Boot cannot be enabled without converting the drive from MBR to GPT. Microsoft’s MBR2GPT tool can do this, but it is best done with a backup and some experience.
A Word of Caution
Do not switch from Legacy to UEFI mode in the firmware without first converting the drive, or Windows will not start. Write down any setting you change. Avoid unofficial tools that bypass Windows 11 requirements, as unsupported installations may not receive updates reliably.
Conclusion
A failed compatibility check is often caused by a disabled TPM or Secure Boot rather than missing hardware. Read the exact reason, enable features in the firmware where possible, and accept that unsupported processors need new hardware.
If your PC is simply not eligible, plan ahead. Windows 10 no longer receives regular security updates, so a newer PC or a supported operating system is the long-term answer.