Windows 11 continues to maintain its stringent minimum requirements, which have left a significant number of PCs unable to upgrade to the latest operating system. Recently, a wave of confusion swept through the tech community as many speculated that the list of unsupported devices had expanded dramatically. However, this perception was largely unfounded, particularly concerning the compatibility of Intel’s 8th, 9th, and 10th Generation processors.
Clarifying the Confusion
The source of this misunderstanding stemmed from an official Microsoft support document titled “Windows 11 version 24H2 supported Intel processors.” This document notably excluded several Intel 8th, 9th, and 10th Gen chips, leading to widespread speculation that these processors had lost their support status with the rollout of Windows 11 version 24H2. A closer examination of the document reveals a more nuanced reality.
As it stands, there are no known PC manufacturers currently producing new devices equipped with processors older than Intel’s 11th Generation. Consequently, the changes outlined in the document are unlikely to impact a large segment of users. Microsoft clarified, “OEMs may use the following CPUs for new Windows 11 devices. New Windows 11 devices must use modern device drivers which have passed the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program for Windows 11 or the latest available modern device drivers based on Declarative, Componentized, Hardware Support Apps (DCH) design principles.”
(Image credit: Future)
Importantly, even if a PC is built with a processor that is absent from the list of supported CPUs, it may still be eligible for an upgrade to Windows 11, provided it meets all other minimum requirements of the operating system. A footnote in the support document states, “Devices with these CPUs may not be manufactured with Windows 11 pre-installed and may only be upgraded to Windows 11 by a customer.”
Microsoft has also emphasized that the purpose of the OEM-focused document is to assist manufacturers in determining which processors can be utilized in new Windows devices. “Changes to the processors listed do not indicate or impact a customer’s existing Windows support and are intended for OEMs,” the company explained.
While it is technically correct that some older chips are no longer featured on Microsoft’s list of supported processors, labeling them as unsupported may be misleading. The actual list of Intel 8th, 9th, and 10th Gen chips eligible for upgrading to Windows 11 remains unchanged from previous weeks.
For consumers navigating the landscape of Windows PCs, it is essential to remember that devices must still satisfy the minimum requirements for Windows 11 to qualify for an upgrade. This includes compliance with the TPM 2.0 requirement, which some older processors do not meet. Unfortunately, the recent updates were reported by various outlets without adequate context, leading to a misinterpretation of the situation. In reality, the changes primarily affect OEMs, who likely will not need to adjust their strategies following the publication of the updated list.
