How to fix “this PC doesn't currently meet Windows 11 system requirements”
This appears in Windows Update when a check decides your PC is not eligible for Windows 11. A disabled TPM or Secure Boot is the usual reason, and PC Health Check tells you exactly which test fails. Jump to your situation below or work through the methods in order.
By Neeraj Singh ~7 min Updated Jun 2026 89% found this helpful
Error message
This PC doesn't currently meet Windows 11 system requirements.
Summary
The message this PC doesn't currently meet Windows 11 system requirements shows in Windows Update when the eligibility check decides the machine is not ready for Windows 11. The most common reasons are that TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot is turned off in the firmware, even on hardware that fully supports them, or that the CPU is not on Microsoft's supported list. On Windows 11 it can also mean a different thing, that setup could not update the small System Reserved / EFI partition because it is full. The fix is to run PC Health Check to see precisely which requirement fails, then enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot in UEFI, confirm the CPU, and free space in the system partition if that is the cause. Most eligible machines just need the TPM and Secure Boot switched on.
What this error means
Windows Update runs a compatibility check before offering Windows 11. When that check fails, it shows this message rather than the upgrade. The check looks at TPM, Secure Boot, the processor, RAM, storage and firmware type.
On a lot of machines the hardware is fine and the requirement is simply disabled, TPM and Secure Boot ship off on some systems, so turning them on clears it. When the same message appears with the note about the system reserved partition, the cause is different: that small partition is full and setup cannot stage the update there.
Common causes
TPM 2.0 is disabled in the firmware.
Secure Boot is disabled.
The CPU is not on Microsoft's supported list.
The system is booting in legacy mode rather than UEFI.
The System Reserved or EFI partition is full.
RAM or storage is below the minimum.
Expert insight
“This message scares people into thinking they need a new PC, but most of the time the hardware is perfectly capable and TPM or Secure Boot is just switched off in the BIOS. So I run PC Health Check first, because it tells you exactly which box is unticked instead of guessing. Nine times out of ten I flip TPM and Secure Boot on in the UEFI and the upgrade appears. The odd one out is when it mentions the system reserved partition, that is a full little partition, not a hardware gap.”
Manager, Tech Support & Operations · 19+ years fixing Windows and system errors
✓ How to fix it
Method 1
Run PC Health Check to see which test fails
1Install and run Microsoft's PC Health Check app and choose Check now under Windows 11.
2It names the specific requirement that fails, TPM, Secure Boot, the CPU, RAM or storage.
3Fix the named item rather than guessing.
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
Confirm the CPU is supported
1Check your processor against Microsoft's supported CPU list for Windows 11.
2If the CPU is supported, the block is almost certainly TPM or Secure Boot being off.
3If it is genuinely unsupported, only the documented bypass (see our This PC can't run Windows 11 guide) will proceed, with the unsupported caveat.
Method 4
Make sure you are in UEFI mode
1Secure Boot needs UEFI mode with a GPT system disk.
2If the PC boots in legacy CSM mode, switch firmware to UEFI and convert the disk to GPT if needed.
3Then enable Secure Boot.
Method 5
Free space in the system partition
1If the message mentions the system reserved partition, that partition is full.
2Free space in the System Reserved / EFI partition (for example clearing old fonts), or extend it.
3Then re-run the update.
This is an eligibility check, so run PC Health Check first to see the exact requirement that fails rather than guessing. On most capable machines the fix is simply enabling TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot in UEFI. Treat the system-reserved-partition variant separately, that is a full partition, not a hardware gap.
Frequently asked questions
Why does it say my PC doesn't meet Windows 11 requirements?
The Windows Update eligibility check found a requirement not satisfied, most often TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot disabled in firmware, or an unsupported CPU. PC Health Check names the exact one.
How do I find out which requirement fails?
Run Microsoft's PC Health Check app and choose Check now under Windows 11. It tells you precisely which test fails, so you can fix that item rather than guessing.
How do I enable TPM and Secure Boot?
Enter the UEFI firmware, enable the TPM (Intel PTT or AMD fTPM) and Secure Boot, then save and reboot. Both are required, and disabled is the most common cause.
What if my CPU is not supported?
If the processor is genuinely off Microsoft's list, only the documented registry bypass will let the upgrade proceed, and Microsoft warns unsupported PCs may not be entitled to updates.
Why does it mention the system reserved partition?
That variant means the small System Reserved or EFI partition is full and setup cannot stage the update there. Free space in that partition or extend it, then retry.
Do I need to buy a new PC?
Usually not. Most machines showing this just need TPM and Secure Boot enabled. Only a truly unsupported CPU or missing TPM 2.0 is a genuine hardware limit.
Still not working?
If PC Health Check still reports a failure after enabling TPM and Secure Boot, confirm the firmware actually saved the change (some boards reset it) and that the disk is GPT in UEFI mode. You can also submit your error to us for a tailored fix.
