Microsoft has provided details about why it has set minimum requirements for installing and running Windows 11. Microsoft claims that Windows 11 on unsupported PCs not meeting the minimum requirement results in 52% more BSOD errors. Microsoft also claims that Windows 11 devices meeting minimum requirements have 99.8% crash free experience.
We have included more details below on our principles that guided us in establishing Windows 11 minimum system requirements. Here are some insights from the data we gathered over the last couple months that affirmed our decision.
Reliability: Devices that do not meet the minimum system requirements had 52% more kernel mode crashes. Devices that do meet the minimum system requirements had a 99.8% crash free experience.
Security: Windows 11 raises the baseline of Windows security by improving the security default configuration to combat increasing cyber-attacks. These requirements were informed based on trillions of signals from Microsoft’s threat intelligence as well as input from leading security experts like the NSA, UK National Cyber Security Center and Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. Additional details on the background and value of Windows 11 baseline are below.
Compatibility: People continue to increasingly use their PCs for video conferencing, productivity and gaming. To ensure all Windows 11 devices can run a core set of applications to meet those needs, we set the minimum system requirements to align with some of the most commonly used apps.
Microsoft has updated the Windows 11 supported processors list adding some more Intel processors. With these new additions Surface Studio 2 and more Windows 10 PCs support Windows 11 officially.
We did identify a set of PC models that meet the principles while running on Intel 7th Gen processors that we did not originally include in our minimum system requirements. Based on those findings, we have expanded the list of compatible 64-bit processors to include the following:
Microsoft has also released an updated version of the PC health check app to Windows insiders. After testing by insiders Microsoft will release it to general public with update for newly added processors.
Today, we are releasing an updated preview version of the PC Health Check app to Windows Insiders. This updated version expands the eligibility check functionality with more complete and improved messaging on eligibility and links to relevant support articles that include potential remediation steps – the screenshot below illustrates this. After a feedback period with Windows Insiders and with the additional updates for the newly added processors, we plan to re-release the PC Health Check app for general availability in the coming weeks. Today, we are also simultaneously releasing versions that support 64-bit Windows, 32-bit Windows, Windows on Arm and Windows 10 in S mode PCs to Windows Insiders. Windows Insiders can provide feedback on the PC Health Check app by going to Feedback Hub > Apps > PC Health Check.
The eligibility check functionality in the PC Health Check app includes improved messaging on eligibility and links to relevant support articles that include potential remediation steps.
Windows 11 release date and new features/changes:
For those interested, Windows 11 update release will be known as Windows 11 October 2021 update or Windows 10 version 21H2 and is targeted at a October 2021 release. Windows 11 brings lots of UI/UX changes and new features over Windows 10.
