How to fix Windows 11 errors 0xC1900200 and 0xC1900201
These mean the system did not pass the minimum requirements for the upgrade. The cause is usually a hardware minimum not met, or a full system reserved partition. Jump to your situation below or work through the methods in order.
By Neeraj Singh ~7 min Updated Jun 2026 87% found this helpful
Error message
0xC1900200 / 0xC1900201. The system did not pass the minimum requirements to install the update.
Summary
Errors 0xC1900200 and 0xC1900201 mean the system did not pass the minimum requirements to install the Windows 11 update. 0xC1900200 most often points at a genuine minimum-spec gap, the CPU, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot or UEFI. 0xC1900201 frequently has a more specific cause: not enough space in the small System Reserved / EFI partition (you may see we couldn't update the system reserved partition). Connected USB devices and a legacy BIOS layout can also trigger them. The fix is to confirm the hardware meets the minimums and TPM and Secure Boot are on, free or extend the system reserved partition for the 0xC1900201 variant, disconnect non-essential USB devices, and ensure the firmware is UEFI with a GPT disk. PC Health Check pinpoints a hardware gap.
What this error means
Before installing Windows 11 these codes report that the pre-install requirements check did not pass. 0xC1900200 is the broad minimum-requirements failure, while 0xC1900201 is the same family but commonly tied to the tiny system partition that the update needs working room in.
So there are two flavours. One is a real hardware shortfall, an unsupported CPU, too little RAM or storage, or TPM and Secure Boot off. The other is purely the System Reserved or EFI partition being too full for the update to stage there. Identifying which decides whether you adjust hardware settings or free partition space.
Common causes
The CPU, RAM or storage is below the minimum.
TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot is disabled.
The System Reserved or EFI partition is full (0xC1900201).
Non-essential USB devices are connected during setup.
The firmware is legacy BIOS rather than UEFI.
The disk is MBR rather than GPT.
Expert insight
“0xC1900200 and 0xC1900201 both say you did not pass the requirements, but they often mean different things. The 200 is usually a real minimum not met, so I run PC Health Check and turn on TPM and Secure Boot. The 201 is sneaky, it is frequently that tiny system reserved partition being full, with a note about not updating it, so I free or extend that partition. And before either, I unplug every USB gadget except the keyboard and mouse, because a stray device trips this surprisingly often.”
Manager, Tech Support & Operations · 19+ years fixing Windows and system errors
✓ How to fix it
Method 1
Confirm the minimum specifications
1Windows 11 needs a supported 64-bit CPU with 2+ cores, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot and UEFI.
2Run PC Health Check to see which minimum is not met.
3Upgrade RAM or storage if those fall short.
Method 2
Enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot
1Enter the UEFI firmware and enable the TPM (listed as Intel PTT or AMD fTPM) and Secure Boot.
2Both are required for Windows 11, and a disabled TPM or Secure Boot is the most common cause.
3Save, boot back into Windows, and check again.
Method 3
Free or extend the system reserved partition
1For 0xC1900201 with a system reserved partition message, that partition is full.
2Free space in the System Reserved / EFI partition (for example old fonts), or extend it to around 100 MB or more free.
3Then retry the update.
Method 4
Disconnect non-essential USB devices
1Unplug external drives, printers and other USB devices, leaving only the keyboard and mouse.
2A connected device commonly trips these errors.
3Retry the upgrade.
Method 5
Ensure UEFI mode and a GPT disk
1Switch the firmware to UEFI and make sure the system disk is GPT.
2Windows 11 requires UEFI; a legacy BIOS layout can cause the requirements check to fail.
3Convert MBR to GPT if needed (see our GPT/MBR guide).
0xC1900200 is usually a real minimum not met, so run PC Health Check and enable TPM and Secure Boot. 0xC1900201 often means the small system reserved partition is full, so free or extend it. In both cases, disconnect non-essential USB devices and confirm UEFI mode with a GPT disk before retrying.
Frequently asked questions
What do errors 0xC1900200 and 0xC1900201 mean?
They mean the system did not pass the minimum requirements to install Windows 11. 0xC1900200 is a broad minimum-spec failure; 0xC1900201 is often tied to a full System Reserved or EFI partition.
How do I fix 0xC1900200?
Run PC Health Check to find the unmet requirement, enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, confirm the CPU, RAM and storage meet the minimums, and ensure the firmware is UEFI with a GPT disk.
Why does 0xC1900201 mention the system reserved partition?
Because that small partition is too full for the update to stage there. Free space in the System Reserved or EFI partition, or extend it to leave around 100 MB or more free, then retry.
Could a USB device cause these errors?
Yes. A connected external drive, printer or other USB device commonly trips these requirement errors. Disconnect everything except the keyboard and mouse and retry the upgrade.
What are the Windows 11 minimum requirements?
A supported 64-bit CPU with two or more cores, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, UEFI firmware and a DirectX 12 compatible GPU.
Do I need UEFI and GPT?
Yes. Windows 11 requires UEFI firmware, which uses a GPT disk. A legacy BIOS and MBR layout can cause the requirements check to fail, so convert to GPT and switch to UEFI.
Still not working?
If the hardware meets the minimums and the partition has space but it still fails, reset Windows Update components and run setup from a fresh ISO, which sidesteps a corrupt update path that can mimic a requirements failure. You can also submit your error to us for a tailored fix.
