Fix This PC Can't Run Windows 11 error when installing

Not long after the launch of Windows 11, many readers started running Microsoft's PC Health Check and received the message This PC Can't Run Windows 11. Most likely, you need to turn on TPM and Secure Boot. on your PC and TipsMake has researched and guided you specifically in this article. Let's find out!

Content

1. What is Windows 11 Summary?
2. What is TPM?
3. What is Secure Boot?
4. Why does Windows 11 require TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot
5. How to enable TPM and Secure Boot in UEFI
6. Epilogue

What is Windows 11 Summary?

Windows 11 is the main release of the Windows NT operating system, announced by Mircosoft on June 24, 2021. According to information from the developer, Windows 11 will begin to be widely released at the end of 2021 and Windows 10 devices will be upgraded for free through Windows Update.

Currently, some computers when checking or installing Windows 11 will display the error 'This PC Can't Run Windows 11'. This error means your computer cannot run Windows 11.

What is TPM?

TPM stands for Trusted Platform Module , which is a microchip (or chip) designed to provide functions related to security and encryption keys.

TPM is pre-installed on a computer's motherboard and communicates with the rest of the system using a hardware bus. Currently, PCs after 2016 are equipped with a new TPM 2.0 chip that can run Windows 11.

What is Secure Boot?

Secure Boot is a feature of the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). Secure Boot aims to analyze the code before the user executes it on the system. If the code has a valid digital signature, Secure Boot will allow the code through the port.

Why does Windows 11 require TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot

For some PCs, the root of the problem with PC Health Check is that they have disabled Secure Boot and TPM in UEFI, which is the underlying system that allows the operating system to work with your PC hardware. Many people still refer to UEFI as their 'BIOS', even though that term technically refers to an older standard.

After enabling TPM and Secure Boot, your PC will probably pass Windows 11 compatibility testing if it meets all the minimum system requirements.

How to enable TPM and Secure Boot in UEFI

If your computer displays the message This PC Can't Run Windows 11, you need to do the following.

To enable TPM and Secure Boot in your UEFI, you need to turn off your device first. When you turn it back on, there will be a special keyboard key or button that you need to press at the right time to enter your UEFI settings.

The exact key you need to press will vary depending on the manufacturer, so you'll need to consult your device's manual or do a web search for your device's name along with 'bios keys' or 'UEFI keys'. For some motherboards (especially if you built your own PC), you may see a small message on the screen at startup telling you which key you need to press to enter the BIOS settings.

For example, on the Acer Spin 3 laptop that TipsMake has, you need to access the UEFI configuration menu by powering on the computer and pressing F2 on the keyboard when you see the screen saying 'Acer'.

Once you're in the UEFI setup screen, the instructions will also vary significantly on how to enable Secure Boot and TPM correctly. But in general, you need to look for 'Security' or 'Boot' options.

But in the example Setup Utility by American Megatrends (your setup may look different), you can find the TPM options under the 'Security' tab. Find 'TPM' and make sure it is enabled. If not, change the settings in UEFI to enable it.

Likewise, in TipsMake's UEFI example ' Secure Boot ' can be found in the ' Boot ' tab. Look for ' Secure Boot ' and make sure it is enabled.

Then, save the changes you made to UEFI before exiting.

After exiting, your PC will restart and Windows will start running. If these features are enabled and your PC still doesn't get through, there's another reason why your machine isn't compatible with Windows 11.

Epilogue

Hopefully the above article will help you fix the error This PC can't run Windows 11 when installing. If you have any comments or questions, please leave a comment below this article. TipsMake sincerely thanks you!

David Pac

Update 01 October 2023