How to Fix "This PC Can't Run Windows 11" Error

Introduction

When upgrading to Windows 11, many users encounter the error: “This PC can’t run Windows 11.” This typically happens because the PC doesn’t meet Microsoft’s hardware requirements — specifically TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. However, you can bypass these checks during installation by editing the registry.

Why This Error Occurs

Windows 11 requires:

TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module) — a security chip
Secure Boot — a UEFI feature that prevents unauthorized bootloaders
64-bit CPU with specific instruction sets
4GB RAM minimum
64GB storage minimum

Older PCs often have TPM 1.2 (not 2.0) or have Secure Boot disabled, triggering this error even when the hardware is otherwise capable of running Windows 11.

The Fix: Registry Bypass During Installation

This method works during a clean install from a USB drive or ISO. It bypasses the TPM and Secure Boot checks by adding registry keys before the installer checks compatibility.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Start the Windows 11 installation

Boot from your Windows 11 USB drive or ISO. Proceed until you reach the screen that shows the error “This PC can’t run Windows 11.”

2. Open Command Prompt

At the error screen, press Shift + F10 to open a Command Prompt window.

3. Open Registry Editor

In the Command Prompt, type:

regedit

Press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

4. Navigate to the Setup key

In Registry Editor, navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup

5. Create the LabConfig key

Right-click on Setup → New → Key

Name the new key: LabConfig

6. Add bypass values inside LabConfig

Click on the LabConfig key you just created. Then add the following DWORD values:

Bypass TPM check:

Right-click in the right pane → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value
Name: BypassTPMCheck
Double-click it and set the value to 1

Bypass Secure Boot check:

Right-click → New → DWORD (32-bit) Value
Name: BypassSecureBootCheck
Double-click it and set the value to 1

Optional — Bypass RAM check (if needed):

Name: BypassRAMCheck
Value: 1

Optional — Bypass Storage check (if needed):

Name: BypassStorageCheck
Value: 1

Your LabConfig key should look like this:

Name	Type	Value
BypassTPMCheck	DWORD (32-bit)	1
BypassSecureBootCheck	DWORD (32-bit)	1

7. Close Registry Editor and retry

Close the Registry Editor and the Command Prompt. Click the back button in the installer and try the installation again. The compatibility check should now pass.

Alternative: Rufus Method (Easier)

If you’re creating a bootable USB drive, Rufus can apply these bypasses automatically:

Download Rufus and your Windows 11 ISO
Select your USB drive and the ISO in Rufus
Click Start
In the dialog that appears, check:
- “Remove requirement for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0”
Click OK and let Rufus create the drive

The resulting USB will install Windows 11 without TPM/Secure Boot checks.

Alternative: appraiserres.dll Method

Another approach is to delete or rename appraiserres.dll from the installation media, which disables the compatibility check entirely:

# In the Command Prompt during installation (Shift+F10)
del D:\sources\appraiserres.dll

Replace D: with the drive letter of your installation media.

After Installation: Keeping Windows Updated

Microsoft may block Windows Update on unsupported hardware in the future. To check your update status after installation:

Go to Settings → Windows Update
If you see a message about unsupported hardware, you can still receive security updates but may not get feature updates

As of 2026, Microsoft has continued providing security updates to Windows 11 on unsupported hardware, though this policy may change.

Should You Do This?

Pros:

Get Windows 11 on older but capable hardware
Access to Windows 11 features and security improvements
Avoid buying new hardware prematurely

Cons:

Microsoft doesn’t officially support this configuration
Some security features (BitLocker, Windows Hello) may not work without TPM
Future Windows updates may be blocked on unsupported hardware

If your PC is otherwise capable (good CPU, sufficient RAM, SSD), the bypass is generally safe and the hardware runs Windows 11 well.