Microsoft support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025. Until now, many computers running Windows 10 could not switch to Windows 11 due to Microsoft’s requirements. Interestingly, Microsoft has updated Windows 11’s requirements for unsupported computers, but we don’t think that will help you much.

Quinten Jochems

To install Windows 11 on your computer, your computer must meet a number of minimum requirements, such as sufficient RAM and storage memory. The most important thing most computers lack is a Trusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0) which is an important building block for security-related functions. For example, TPM 2.0 is used in Windows 11 for Windows Hello for identity security and BitLocker for data security, among other things.

Microsoft has changed these requirements and this TPM module is no longer necessary, but that is not without a major disadvantage. Do you choose to update (which we really advise against) after reading this article? Then read our workshop about Windows 11.

No right to official support

A recently updated article on Microsoft’s support website says you can install Windows 11 on unsupported computers. There is a major disadvantage to this: Microsoft reports that you then lose the right to official support. This means you can miss important software updates. This means that all responsibility for possible problems after installing Windows 11 falls on the user himself. Microsoft also says that users should take compatibility issues into account. After installing Windows 11 on an unsupported computer, users are constantly reminded of this by a watermark in the center of your screen and a notification in your settings menu. While it is now possible to install Windows 11 on unsupported computers, Microsoft is doing everything it can to discourage users from doing so.

Still official support possible!?

Although Microsoft has long reported that it will end official support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, Microsoft does offer an option to still get official support for your Windows 10 computer. This way you can purchase a subscription for one Extended Security Update (ESU)which gives you an extra year of support for your Windows 10 computer for $30. Unfortunately, the price in euros is not yet known.

Another option is to purchase a TPM 2.0 module and have it installed on your motherboard, but that is only an option for desktop PCs and is unfortunately not possible with laptops. Also double check whether your computer already has a built-in TPM 2.0 module that you can activate via your BIOS. Then you can still upgrade to Windows 11, see also this article.